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| A Primedia Property | |
| December 30, 2005 | |
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Table of Contents It's Time For An Annual Ranch Review Nine Challenges Facing The Industry In 2006 Take Pride In The Great Year That Just Passed Canada Imposes Duties On U.S. Corn Hong Kong Reopens To Imports Of U.S. Beef U.S., Canadian Beef Sold In Japan Six Factors For Better Artificial Insemination Success Bill Addresses Livestock/Poultry Contracts Use Straw in Cattle Rations, But Carefully Ag Takes A Hit In Recent Budget Cuts Allergen Labeling Law Takes Effect Jan. 1 Bill Would Regulate Fertilizer Production & Sale Make 100% Healthy Calves Your 2006 Goal KOMA Cattle Conference Set For Jan. 18 Midwest Value-Added Ag Conference is Jan. 27-28 Early Registration Ends Jan. 4 ADVERTISEMENT Fresh water on demand, 24 hours a day. Ritchie manufactures a complete line of livestock watering products with the highest specifications in the industry. Ritchie fountains are available in stainless steel, heavy-duty poly or both and backed by a 10 year limited warranty. Contact us at 800-747-0222. www.ritchiefount.com  Our Perspective It's Time For An Annual Ranch Review Employees in most businesses undergo at least an annual performance review. To most folks, the prospect of such an exam holds as much allure as a trip to the dentist. But, such exercises are helpful in that they force one to step back from day-to-day activities and take a broader perspective on the job. They also help illuminate activities that may be unproductive, even detrimental, to job performance or the success of the business. Unfortunately, annual reviews aren't standard operating procedure in the ranching business. Still, it would behoove all of us to set aside a few hours, perhaps a full day, to sit with your spouse, partners or key business associates and conduct an annual review. We've never had a formal process for doing this in our operation, but Lorna and I plan to sit down early in the morning and walk though the annual review process. We want to look at the areas in which we've progressed, the challenges and obstacles we need to address, and tweak our key goals and plans for 2006. A great place to start the process is to identify 5-6 key result areas for your operation -- financial performance and personal happiness (mental and spiritual growth, physical fitness, relationships with family, friends and community) are usually on the list. We also look at genetics, marketing, nutrition, animal health, day-to-day management, and our strategic plan. What are the year's goals and our plans to achieve them, as well as our vision of where we want to be in 5-10 years and beyond? We study each area and try to identify activities we performed well and that allowed us to progress toward our goals. We also examine the negatives that impeded our progress and try to identify remedial actions for the coming year. We try to devise 2-3 main goals for each of our key result areas, as well as a plan to achieve them -- with quarterly benchmarks and objectives we'll review quarterly and use in our weekly planning sessions. Each goal includes a series of action steps needed to achieve them. U.S. ag's greatest challenge is what time-management experts call "the demands of the urgent vs. the demands of the important." At times, the demands of today are so pressing it seems impossible to focus on tomorrow. An annual review and a little time spent focusing on the big picture are great ways to start out the new year. -- Troy Marshall Back to Top Nine Challenges Facing The Industry In 2006
Yet, people say we can't compete globally. They say concentration, corporate feeding, multi-national packers, Wal-Mart, pork and poultry, Brazil and Australia will undo us. We don't operate in a zero-sum world. The size of the pie isn't stagnant or, at least, it certainly doesn't have to be. Our responsibility lies in building a better future just as those who preceded us did. As long as the majority continue to strike forward, those who advocate the demise of independence, freedom and free markets, and a shift away from entrepreneurship to government management, will always be held at bay. The fundamentals for the future of the beef industry are strong. If we embrace the future with a progressive and aggressive attitude focused on making the pie bigger, we can make it great. A focus on protection, on stagnation, and the belief that in order for one to benefit another must sacrifice, is our only truly insurmountable obstacle. -- Troy Marshall Back to Top Take Pride In The Great Year That Just Passed It's hard to imagine a better year than 2005 is possible for the U.S. cattle industry. There was widespread profitability in all segments, with prices hovering near record levels. Drought-ravaged areas largely are seeing improved moisture conditions, though parts of Oklahoma, Texas and the Southeast are still hurting. Robust beef demand continues, and the legal controversy surrounding the industry's self-help tool -- the beef checkoff -- finally saw some resolution. Plus, the export markets lost in late 2003 due to BSE are continuing to reopen. On top of that, the industry continues to develop a plethora of new products, brands and marketing arrangements to help the industry be more responsive to customer demands. Industry value chains are moving beyond the goal of merely satisfying customers to exceeding their expectations. Our abilities to select for the right genetics, overcome genetic antagonisms and increase overall system profitability are greater than ever. The industry also recorded one of its most successful legislative years ever, defeating crippling legislative initiatives and making inroads in areas ranging from taxes to the environment. Considering the financial and political clout of the anti-beef and anti-beef production activists aligned against us, it's simply phenomenal how the industry was able to represent its interests so well. Everyone should take pride that the rancher has been able to amass the most critical component of political capital -- integrity and a consistent adherence to a set of principles and values -- that others aspire to emulate. -- Troy Marshall Back to Top ADVERTISEMENT  CattleLog Animal Information Solutions Outstanding Service * Outstanding Value Frustrated with all of the confusion surrounding animal identification? CattleLog Animal Information Systems can help make your life easier. We offer personal service and high-quality products at affordable prices. Give us a call at 866-239-2665 or visit us at www.cattlelog.com to see how we can help you. Foreign Trade Canada Imposes Duties On U.S. Corn The Canadian government has imposed provisional duties of $1.65/bu. on U.S. corn imports. Canada claims U.S. corn imports are dumped and subsidized. USDA Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman in a joint release stated, "Canada has conducted two prior investigations of U.S. corn imports, revoking a countervailing duty order after a GATT panel decision was adopted in 1992 and finding no injury in a second investigation in 2001. We believe Canada should again find U.S. corn imports are not injuring Canadian corn growers and that the unwarranted provisional duties announced today should therefore be terminated." A final determination regarding anti-dumping and countervailing duties is due March 15. -- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent Back to Top Hong Kong Reopens To Imports Of U.S. Beef Hong Kong reopened its markets for U.S. boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months of age under the Beef Export Verification Program. Before Hong Kong banned U.S. beef in 2003, it imported $90 million in beef products annually -- the fifth-largest market for U.S. beef exports at that time. USDA Secretary Mike Johanns says the Hong Kong reopening means the U.S. has regained access to markets valued at more than $2.8 billion, or 74% of the 2003 export value of $3.9 billion. "USDA will continue to focus our efforts on opening additional markets in Asia and around the world by promoting the use of science-based regulations in global beef trade," Johanns said. -- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent Back to Top International Trade U.S., Canadian Beef Sold In Japan Both U.S. and Canadian beef are on supermarket shelves this week in Japan. On Monday, two supermarket chains, Cowboy and Marunaka Co., reintroduced U.S. beef for the first time in two years, according to the Kyodo News. Marunaka received about 6 tons of beef from Kansas, with prices ranging from about $8/lb. for chuck to $14/lb. for sirloin. Phil Seng, president of U.S. Meat Export Federation, predicts the U.S. will sell about 110,000 tons of beef to Japan in 2006, about a third of the total in 2003. He made this prediction last week during a welcome-back luncheon in Tokyo. Seng added it will probably be three years before the U.S. attains pre-BSE levels of exports to Japan. And, for the first time in three years, Canada sent 8 tons of Ontario beef to Hanamasa Co., a supermarket and restaurant chain. Before the ban, Japan was Canada's third-largest export market, behind the U.S. and Mexico. -- Stephanie Veldman Back to Top ADVERTISEMENT  Whether you're familiar with how electronic tracking works, or haven't a clue, we can provide everything you need for a complete turnkey system. Plug into greater peace of mind, more control over your business growth, and higher profits. Call today to learn more about your single-source solution for complete, accurate electronic animal tracking. 800-511-4744 Breeding & Selection Six Factors For Better Artificial Insemination Success Most artificial insemination (AI) programs rely heavily on a wide array of estrous synchronization (ES) programs now available. But success can vary widely, so it's important producers know which factors can negatively impact their AI programs -- and how to manage them. "The key to ES in cows and heifers is knowing the six basic factors that can hurt success, and understanding that management can overcome most of them," says Cliff Lamb, University of Minnesota.
Back to Top Beef Marketing Bill Addresses Livestock/Poultry Contracts U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) have introduced S. 2131, which seeks to limit use of arbitration in livestock and poultry contracts. The legislation would prevent the use of arbitration in livestock and poultry contracts unless both parties have given written consent to use arbitration after a dispute arises. In introducing the measure, Grassley said, "Often when there is a dispute between the packer and the family farmer, and the contract between the two includes an arbitration clause, the family farmer has no alternative but to accept arbitration to resolve the dispute. Arbitration has its benefits in certain cases, so it should be an option, but is should not be the only option." Grassley and Feingold introduced similar legislation in the 108th Congress. -- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent Back to Top Nutrition Use Straw in Cattle Rations, But Carefully When trying to determine how much straw can be used in winter rations for cows, remember straw is a low-energy, low-protein feed that isn't as digestible as hay or green feed, says Juanita Kopp in Alberta Agri-News. On average, the forage beef specialist with Alberta Ag, Food and Rural Development, says a cow can consume 1.25% of its body weight in straw dry matter (DM). Thus a 1,400-lb. cow could consume 17.5 lbs. on a DM basis, or 19.9 lbs. on an "as-fed" basis if the straw was 90% DM (17.5/0.9 = 19.9 lbs., calculation adjust for moisture content of the straw). "Near the end of gestation, rumen capacity is reduced by 12-13% because the growing calf takes up internal space," she says. "Straw-based rations shouldn't be fed at this time or once the cow starts to lactate. Save your best-quality feed for this time." In order of preference, cattle will eat oat straw before barley straw, followed by legume straws, and wheat straw, she reports. The quality of legume straw can be extremely variable. The more leaves on the stems the better, but it can be very coarse and of poor quality. Coarse stems are also harder to dry down, so molds may be present. "Cattle prefer straw that's aged a year or more," Kopp says. "It's slightly more palatable and digestible." She says processing doesn't improve straw quality, but can increase daily straw intake. But to prevent malnutrition, impaction, poor conception rates and lower milk production, it's important to supply adequate amounts of energy, protein, minerals and vitamins to pregnant cows' winter rations, she adds. Treating straw with anhydrous ammonia is one way to improve its crude protein content (CP) and digestibility. She says a Manitoba Ag and Food study found CP content of barley straw went from 5.1% to 9.4% when anhydrous was applied at 3% of forage dry matter. "There are a number of protein and energy supplements that can be used to increase the protein content in winter feed to meet intake requirements," Kopp says. These might include a good energy source, such as cereal grains or good quality pellets or cubes. Protein can also be supplemented by feeding canola or soybean meals. If using pellets, producers should request a nutrient analysis, including both protein and energy values. In feeding straw-based rations watch for impaction problems. When the weather turns cold, cattle will try to keep warm by increasing intake. As straw isn't easily digested, it doesn't pass through the animal quickly enough and can become impacted, which can result in the death of the animal. "Straw and grain are high in potassium (K), and a ration high in K can cause a magnesium deficiency that results in winter tetany," Kopp says. "Winter tetany is similar to grass tetany or milk fever. Limestone or magnesium oxide should be added to the ration to prevent this deficiency." -- Juanita Kopp, 403-742-7901 or juanita.kopp@gov.ab.ca Back to Top ADVERTISEMENT  Lepto hardjo-bovis can cause early embryonic death.1 Spirovac, the original hardjo-bovis vaccine line, offers today's most complete protection with its L5 and VL5** combinations. Spirovac prevents hardjo-bovis infection, the lepto that impacts early reproduction in the United States -- and it prevents hardjo-bovis reproductive and kidney colonization and urinary shedding for up to 12 months. *Based on published label indications **VL5 combination not recommended for dairy cattle 1 Smith, BP, Mosby: Large Animal Internal Medicine, 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo., 2002. SPV05035 Government Ag Takes A Hit In Recent Budget Cuts By a one-vote margin, the U.S. Senate passed an omnibus five-year budget reconciliation package that cuts $39.7 billion from government programs over five years. Included are $2.72 billion in ag-program cuts. The House will vote on budget reconciliation next month. The Senate Ag Committee cuts include:
Back to Top Allergen Labeling Law Takes Effect Jan. 1 Effective Jan. 1, FDA requires food labels to clearly state if food products contain any ingredients with protein derived from the eight major allergenic foods -- milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat or soybeans. These eight major food allergens account for 90% of all documented food allergic reactions. It's estimated 2% of U.S. adults and 5% of children suffer from food allergies. In addition, 30,000 emergency-room visits and 150 deaths annually are attributed to allergic reactions to food. FDA says the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 will be especially helpful to children who must learn to recognize the presence of substances they must avoid. The law applies only to products labeled after the Jan. 1 effective date. For more info, visit www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/wh-alrgy.html. -- Joe Roybal Back to Top Bill Would Regulate Fertilizer Production & Sale The House Subcommittee on Homeland Security Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attacks approved legislation that would regulate production and sale of ammonium nitrate (fertilizer). The legislation will require any individual producing, selling or buying ammonium nitrate to register with the Department of Homeland Security. Sellers of ammonium nitrate will be required to keep records of purchasers, including driver's license numbers or other photo ID, and the amount of ammonium nitrate purchased. -- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C., correspondent Back to Top Calf Health Make 100% Healthy Calves Your 2006 Goal When I was a growing up on our family farm, my father would have been embarrassed if the telephone rang during "working hours" and he was in the house. In his day, you had to be outside doing physical labor to really be "working." Times have changed. Today, most of us realize time spent researching and planning is as important as physical labor. In fact, the time spent on such tasks should reduce your workload later in the year. With that as a backdrop, let's examine some items to discuss with your family or crew in regard to having 100% healthy calves in 2006. Some research-based concepts for producing healthy calves can be transferred directly from research herds to your herd. In 1995, Jim Clement, a North Dakota veterinarian, published an article on the factors associated with calf diarrhea. It initiated a shift in focus from identifying the "bug" to the bigger picture of "what is the largest risk factor to calf disease on our ranch?" As a result, great strides have been made. Clement's work, and that of others, shows that, in most cases, the largest risk factor is calf environment. Do your first-born calves survive the neonatal period with no morbidity, but later-born calves develop diarrhea, pneumonia or navel infections? If so, an environmental buildup of pathogens is the likely culprit. "The solution to pollution is dilution" is a phrase I use with clients to sell the concept of spreading animals as a way to minimize infectious disease. Much as been written about the Sandhills Calving System (beef-mag.com/mag/beef_cleaner_pastures/index.html). Its premise is if every calf can be born in a "clean" environment, the disease challenge will be minimal to non-existent. It's a concept that will work in any herd. A practice that's received much attention since Clement's 1995 study is that of calving heifers in a separate area from cows will reduce neonatal diarrhea incidence in both groups. Mel Pence, a Georgia veterinarian, later noted that wintering cows and heifers together was another risk factor for calf disease. When first presented with this data, my clients weren't anxious to have another separate group to feed in the winter. But, as is often the case, an astute client came up with the solution. In examining the winter rations for his open yearling heifers and his bred two-year olds, he found them to be very similar. By grouping open and bred heifers, he said, both groups get what they need and he doesn't have another group to feed. The concept has worked well everywhere we've used it, and I encourage you to try it. Even if bred females and pairs are on a large acreage, environmental contamination can happen. Areas around the water source, feed bunk or hay ring can become a quagmire for calves. If you must feed in the same area, construct a firm pad so it doesn't become muddy. An option is to roll out hay on frozen ground each day in different areas. Practices to absolutely avoid during calving season are adding cow-calf pairs or buying a calf for a cow that lost hers. Producers don't intend to buy disease when they purchase new animals, but it often happens. In one case, a calf was purchased to replace a stillborn calf, and the next six calves from this herd died of Salmonella. In all, the owner lost more than $3,000 in calves, and medication and veterinary costs as a result of that single purchase. Another way to introduce disease is to purchase another farm's fresh or frozen colostrum. Such diseases as Johne's and Salmonella can be transmitted by colostrum. Do you have purchased feeder cattle right next to your bred females or cow-calf pairs? If they share a water source, are in nose-to-nose contact or have their lot draining into the cow's lot, this can be a source of disease for your herd. If you have bred heifers due to calve this winter/spring, I hope they're bred to known calving-ease bulls. Dystocia continues to be the No.-1 contributing factor to neonatal death loss. I see too many herds where bred heifers and first-calf heifers with calves are kept in a very small area due to its proximity to handling facilities. It's nice to have heifers close to the barn in case of calving difficulty, but it's wiser to have the heifers used to eating near the facilities and locked away the rest of the day. If a heifer needs assistance, she can easily be moved to the barn. I encourage you to discuss your neonatal disease prevention plan with all members of your team. And be sure to let your herd health veterinarian review your plan for completeness. Remember that the environment is the key to disease prevention in young calves. -- W. Mark Hilton, DVM, Purdue University Back to Top ADVERTISEMENT The POWER of one CONSUMER can change your future in the beef business. In five years, the average consumer will purchase 80% of their beef from brand selections. By the end of 2004, the nation's five largest retailers featured an Angus-specific brand. Surveys indicate Certified Angus Beef ® sales contributed to a $468-per-head value difference between average Angus bulls and the average of Continental breed bulls. www.angus.org  Tips for Profit KOMA Cattle Conference Set For Jan. 18 The KOMA Cattle Conference and Trade Show is Jan. 18 at the Washington County fairgrounds in Dewey, OK. Registration begins at 1 p.m. and the program at 1:30. Among the speakers are: Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University (OSU) livestock economist, providing the beef market outlook; Jeremy Powell, University of Arkansas DVM, on calving season health-management issues; K.C. Olsen, University of Missouri beef cattle specialist, on animal traceability and export opportunities; and Cattle-Traq's Dwayne Skidgel on ID technology advancements. A 6 p.m. evening meal concludes the proceedings. Registration is $10 before Jan. 9, and $12 after. For more info, contact Washington County Extension at 918-534-2216. -- Joe Roybal Back to Top Midwest Value-Added Ag Conference is Jan. 27-28 The Midwest Value-Added Ag Conference is designed to help agriculturists explore new market opportunities and learn from farmers, business people and experts involved in value-added farm enterprises. The eight annual conference, themed "Connecting You with Your Customers," is Jan. 27-28 at the Plaza Hotel and Suites in Eau Claire, WI. Attendees will learn how to write a business plan, market as a group and choose between alternative enterprises. They'll also learn about ag products others have created, sources of start-up funds and how to get a loan. To learn more, call Heather Flashinski, River Country Resource Conservation and Development Council, at 715-834-9672. Register before Jan. 1 to save $15. For more info, visit www.rivercountryrcd.org/valad.htm. -- Joe Roybal Back to Top Industry Meetings Early Registration Ends Jan. 4 Advance registration ends Jan. 4 for the 2nd annual Southwest Beef Symposium. Set for Jan. 18-19 at the Tucumcari (NM) Convention Center, the 1 1/2-day program begins with presentations on the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and ID technology, beef exports to Japan, and age and source verification. Jan. 19 focuses on cattle management and health, with presentations addressing forage-based growing programs and BVD occurrence, control and prevention. The afternoon session deals with natural, organic, grass-fed and conventional beef production and marketing; and addresses differences in the final meat products, production system trade-offs and the evaluation of niche-market premiums. The symposium, a collaborative effort by New Mexico State University and Texas A&M University, concludes with a producer/food service panel discussion of experiences in alternative beef product marketing. Visit spectre.nmsu.edu/dept/welcome.html?t=animal to learn more, or call Clay Mathis at 505-646-8022, or Bruce Carpenter at 432-336-8585. -- Clay Mathis, NMSU Extension Back to Top ADVERTISEMENT
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