Purdue's The Beef Blog

Grain overload

Dr. Bob Larson

Angus Journal

As we move into winter months, cattle in many parts of the country are more likely to be fed or supplemented with grain to offset reduced quantity and quality of available forage. Too rapid or dramatic a change from a roughage diet to a concentrate diet can be accompanied by acidosis or grain overload.

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4-State Beef Conference Scheduled Jan. 14-15 in Four Locations

Angus e-list

Kansas State University (K-State) will team with Iowa State University (ISU), the University of Nebraska (NU) and the University of Missouri (MU) to present the 25th Annual 4-State Beef Conference Jan. 14-15.

The conference, which is designed to give beef cattle producers in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska an annual update on current cow-calf and stocker topics, will take place in four different locations so cattle producers can attend the location most convenient for them. The program will be the same at each location.

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Putting USDA loophole on ‘organic’ out to pasture — maybe

Minnpost.com

I think if you asked the average city person how cows in an organic milk operation are tended, somewhere in the answer the words “pasture” or “hay” or “grass” or “meadow,” if not “free range,” would appear.

None of those words are necessarily accurate under current U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations. A loophole big enough to drive a cattle truck through has existed in USDA rules; it allows giant corporate feedlots to sell their milk as certified organic even though their Holsteins may have rarely sniffed a blade of grass.

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R-CALF at Odds With Farm Bureau

KNEB

R-CALF USA has come to the defense of the Environmental Protection Agency concerning taxes that would result from regulating greenhouse gasses under the Clean Air Act. R-CALF USA notes the American Farm Bureau Federation is claiming regulation would result in new taxes on livestock operations and lead to assessments of 175-dollars for each dairy cow, 87.50 for each head of beef cattle and 20-dollars for each hog.

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EPA tax proposal apparently untrue

Jared Felkins

The Times-Journal            

A proposed greenhouse emissions tax by the Environmental Protection Agency on cattle and hog farmers appears to have been blown out of proportion, according to state and federal officials.

Despite a public comment period that ended Nov. 28, Rep. Robert Aderholt said the livestock emissions tax proposal is untrue.

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American Shorthorn Association Elects New Board

The American Shorthorn Association (ASA) 2008 annual meeting was held during the 2008 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) November 15, 2008. The meeting entailed ASA announcements, financial reports as well as the election of three ASA members to the Board of Directors.

Retiring from the ASA board of directors was the President, Richard Hahn, Hahn Family Shorthorns from Minonk, IL Hahn has served on the board since 2002.

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Nebraska ranchers take on Argentina

North Platte Bulletin

The Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska recently resolved to urge Congress to block meat imports from Argentina.

ICON also wants Congress to force Argentina to pay its debts.

Argentina cattle herds have had disease problems, most notably Foot and Mouth Disease.

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Several Tax Options Available for Farmers for 2008 Tax Season

University of Nebraska

With just a month before the end of the year, now is the time for farmers to be making tax preparations for 2008, says the Nebraska Farm Business Association director.

One big benefit for farmers in 2008 is that they can write off the first $250,000 in depreciation of assets that were bought in 2008, said Tina Barrett, director, Nebraska Farm Business Association.

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Some 72 regional family farms have united to raise all-natural, free-grazing livestock.

Tom Meade

Providence  Journal

The demand for meat from local, humane farmers is growing so quickly that sometimes it is hard to keep up, they say. “Actually, we could keep up,” says Kim Coulter, “but it would mean compromising quality.”

“And we will not compromise,” says her husband, Bill Coulter.

The couple and Nina Luchka, Kim Coulter’s sister, own Stoney Hill Cattle Co., a 150-acre farm in Charlestown that produces beef, pork, turkeys and eggs. They sell their meat and eggs at the farm and at five farmers’ markets.

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A carbon tax on cows

Farmers say it would cripple agriculture

MICHAEL YODER

Lancaster Online

For 33 years, Don Ranck only worried about two products from his cow herd: milk to sell and manure to dispose of.

But the owner of Verdant View Farm in Paradise Township fears that in the near future he and other farmers may have to worry about another emission from their animals — greenhouse gases.

Since July, the Environmental Protection Agency has been considering how to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

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Gill named associate department head for Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Dr. Ron Gill has been named associate department head for Texas AgriLife Extension Service in animal science.

Gill comes to College Station from Stephenville. He will be continuing work as a livestock specialist serving the northern part of Texas, as well as having statewide involvement with beef safety and quality assurance programs.

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Canada wants WTO help on U.S. meat labelling

CBC News

When is a Canadian cow not Canadian?

That’s the question Canada wants the World Trade Organization to help answer.

On Tuesday, the federal government asked the WTO to assist in solving a festering trade dispute concerning new meat labelling laws in the United States.

Canada wants the trade watchdog to hold consultations on the new U.S. rules, known as country-of-origin labelling, or COOL. The talks are a formalized effort to have the two countries solve the dispute between themselves.

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Hoosier Beef Congress Set for Record Run

Gary Truitt

Hoosier AG TOday

One of the largest cattle shows in the Midwest is set to get underway at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. From humble beginnings, the Hoosier Beef Congress keeps growing larger every year. Julie Wickard, executive Director of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, told HAT this year’s show has set another new record, “We have a record number of cattle in the show which is surprising considering the tough economic times.” She said this shows that the Indiana cattle industry is healthy and growing.

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Hoosier Beef Congress Set for Record Run

Gary Truitt

Hoosier AG TOday

One of the largest cattle shows in the Midwest is set to get underway at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. From humble beginnings, the Hoosier Beef Congress keeps growing larger every year. Julie Wickard, executive Director of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association, told HAT this year’s show has set another new record, “We have a record number of cattle in the show which is surprising considering the tough economic times.” She said this shows that the Indiana cattle industry is healthy and growing.

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Q&A:   What is the best type of feed to feed cattle that is pregnant? Cracked corn, hay, feed that is high in protein and what is the best combination?

Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science, Animal Science, University of Nebraska

A:   The type of ration that you will feed to cows depends on age (heifers vs mature cows), weight, stage of production (lactating or gestating), body condition, and environment (cold, warm, wet hair coat, etc).

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SHORTHORNPLUS SHOW GROWING POPULARITY

ShorthornPlus Cattle Shown at NAILE

ShorthornPlus shows at the North American International Livestock Expo (NAILE) took place for only the second time this year and the entry numbers grew from last year. With 35 head in the Junior Show and 53 head in the Open Show, the composite breed of Shorthorns, is proving its popularity. Chris Mullinix of El Dorado, Kansas sorted the Junior Show, while Brett Barber of Channing, Texas evaluated the Open Show entries on Saturday, November 15, 2008.

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Bovine TB Case Traced to Indiana Farm

 Indiana State Board of Animal Health

Staff of the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) is investigating a case of bovine tuberculosis (commonly called “TB,” or more formally known as Mycobacterium bovis) in a beef cattle herd in Southeastern Indiana. The TB-positive cow was identified through routine testing at a meat processing facility in Pennsylvania.

 BOAH veterinarians are in the very early stages of conducting a thorough investigation of the animal’s movements within the state. Few details are currently known about the herd; as the investigation moves ahead, more information will be released.

 Indiana has held a bovine tuberculosis-free status since 1984 with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under federal guidelines, that status remains. The last time a Hoosier herd tested positive for the disease was in the 1970s.

For more information on Tuberculosis from the University of California Davis

 Click Here

Video Feature: Forage and cattle genetics

John Andrae

Forage Specialist, Clemson University

With proper management and improved forages beef cattle can find something to eat in Southeastern pastures twelve months out of the year, that’s a real advantage for Southeastern beef producers.

A week of glee, leavened

Steve Cornett

Beef Today

. . . The EPA ended public comment on its request for input in how—or whether—to use the Federal Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases.

    USDA, in arguing against using the act against agriculture, said that requiring Title V compliance like that required of big feedlots, from all operations that fell within the Act’s 100-tons-per-year emissions threshold, would apply to dairies over 25 cows, beef cattle operations of over 50 cattle, swine operations with over 200 hogs, and farms with over 500 acres of corn.

    “It is neither efficient nor practical to require permitting and reporting of GHG emissions from farms of this size,” the comment suggested, adding, “The only means of controlling such emissions would be through limiting production, which would result in decreased food supply and radical changes in human diets. “

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Fuel for the Fire: Livestock Inputs and GHG Emissions

Thebeefsite.com

The livestock industry has come under a lot of criticism in the media for having an intensive rate of greenhouse gas emissions in comparison with other food sectors. It has become apparent that this is not an issue that can be avoided and the industry will be forced to work together to reduce the current impact.

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