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Directors of the U.S. Arabian Horse Association (AHA) passed a
motion in support of re-establishing horse slaughter plants in the U.S.
They also voiced support for equine rescue and responsible horse
ownership.
The resolution reads: "Whereas, there is great concern regarding the
humane treatment of all equine breeds and livestock, the Arabian Horse
Association and the Arabian Horse Foundation actively supports equine
rescue along with responsible livestock and horse ownership and
breeding; therefore ... after extensive research, as a board of
directors we support the reopening of equine processing plants for
horses in the U.S. We believe the re-establishment of the humane
processing of horses is in the best interest of the horse and livestock
community, and, therefore, direct our AHA president, Lance Walters, to
support the reopening of U.S. equine processing facilities."
The AHA serves 37,000 members across North America.
-- Horsetalk.co.nz
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In a continuing bid to build up its beef breeding stock, Russia has
imported 8,000 Herefords from Australia, with more orders expected to
come, reports abc.com.au.
Pat Pearce, president of the Australian Hereford Society, says Australia
may not be even able to keep up due to purebred numbers reduced by
drought.
Australian live-cattle exports were up 10% in April to a record 62,000
for the month. Most of the cattle were shipped to Indonesia, but there
are signs that regional markets like Malaysia are expanding, as well.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes
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The risk of grazing animals being poisoned by hemlock may be greater
than normal this year, but graze intelligently and losses can be
avoided, advises Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)
Extension forage specialist.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension forage specialist
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Beef ranch money management, natural and Korean beef markets, manure
as fertilizer and cattle carcass disposal are among the topics at the
beef production portion of the North Dakota State University Carrington
Research Extension Center's annual field tours July 14.
The beef production program begins at 9 a.m. with registration and
coffee, and the tours run from 9:30 until noon. Agronomy tours are in
the afternoon.
Among the topics are:
- The business of beef ranch money management.
- Using ultrasound for carcass quality and breeding.
- Update on North Dakota natural beef and Korean markets as an outlet
for locally processed and fed cattle.
- Energy use comparisons between composted manure and fresh manure.
- Composting cattle.
- Cattle disposition and carcass quality.
- Water quality – flood, drought and livestock drinking.
- Cattle feed-out lessons – cold weather, protection and
performance.
- Cow-calf and feedlot research review.
Free water-quality testing also will be offered.
For more info on the beef program, call 701-652-2951 or email karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu.
For more info on water testing, call 701-231-8926 or email roxanne.m.johnson@ndsu.edu.
-- NDSU Agriculture Communications
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Cattle tuberculosis (TB) has been confirmed in a west Texas dairy
quarantined since April when some cattle in the herd responded to a TB
test being conducted prior to a sale. (The sale was cancelled.)
“The infected herd remains quarantined while the final disposition of
the herd is determined - either slaughtering the herd, or repeatedly
testing and removing infected animals until the herd is free of cattle
TB,” says Bob Hillman, Texas state veterinarian and head of the Texas
Animal Health Commission (TAHC). “Dairy, calf-raising and dairy
animal replacement operations with epidemiological links to the infected
herd are being tested to determine both the origin and potential spread
of the disease.”
Hillman encourages ranchers or accredited veterinarians to call the
state of destination prior to shipping bison, beef or dairy cattle out
of Texas, as some states may impose enhanced TB entry requirements on
Texas cattle and bison.
Hillman adds that Texas’ cattle TB-free could be in jeopardy if the
infected dairy cannot be depopulated, or if a second infected herd is
detected within 48 months.
Nebraska, in early June, confirmed TB infection in a beef herd.
Currently, California and Minnesota are not cattle TB-free, and areas in
Michigan and New Mexico have specified zones that are not TB-free. When
TB-free status is lost, breeding cattle and bison moved out of a state
need a negative TB test within 60 days prior to shipment, or animals
must originate from a herd that has accredited TB-free status, achieved
through a formal testing and retesting program.
When exposed to cattle TB, an animal’s immune system will fight the
invasion by encapsulating the bacteria. This can cause the formation of
lesions or growths in and on lymph nodes, mammary glands, lungs and
other internal organs. Although infected, the animals may appear
healthy until the latter stages of the disease, when signs may include
weight loss, coughing or breathing difficulties. The disease is not
treatable in livestock.
-- TAHC release
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As a teenager, I thought my Dad was the dumbest man on earth. My
dad, rest his soul, is now a rocket scientist in my mind. Much of what
he said and did is proving to be true. He was a true cowman. I just wish
he’d lived long enough for me to tell him so.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Ron Torell, Nevada Livestock Extension (torellr@unce.unr.edu)
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) research shows feeding dried
distiller’s grains (DDGs) to developing heifers not only provides an
excellent source of energy and protein for growth but also improves
reproduction.
UNL researchers Rick Funston and Sandi Alswager Karstens report that in
two, two-year studies, supplementing beef heifers with DDGs during
development didn’t affect age at puberty and improved artificial
insemination conception and pregnancy rates compared with a supplement
similar in energy, crude protein (CP) and fat. Distiller’s grains have
about 120% the energy of corn in forage diets and contain relatively
high levels of CP, which makes them an economically feasible energy
source in replacement heifer diets.
In each two-year study, weaned heifer calves were fed DDGs or a control
supplement of dried corn gluten feed, whole corn germ and urea.
UNL research also shows favorable results when it comes to feeding other
beef females DDGs.
But researchers caution against taking a "more is better” approach.
Overfeeding protein can have negative effects on reproduction.
The research also counters previous research of other bypass protein
products which demonstrated concerns of feeding bypass protein (BP) on
reproduction. DDGs are high in BP, which means a portion of the protein
bypasses the rumen and is absorbed in the small intestine. Previous work
was conducted with BP sources – some of which are no longer available
to cattle producers – such as feather meal, blood meal and animal
products.
The researchers say that as ethanol production in Nebraska and the Great
Plains expands, DDGs alone may be able to provide the majority of
supplemental nutrients required in forage-based heifer development
diets.
-- June 2009 The Ranch Hand
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The FDA fiscal year (FY) 2010 $3.2-billion budget for the period of
Oct. 1, 2009 to Sept. 30, 2010 will include more than $1 billion for
food safety, and $259.3 million for an initiative called Protecting
America’s Food Supply.
The initiative will develop a system of preventive controls to avoid
foodborne outbreaks, create a system that is integrated with the states
on inspection and enforcement, conduct more domestic and foreign
inspections, and strengthen information technology to support food
safety and security. It will also collect $94 million in new user fees
to register food facilities, increase food inspections, issue food and
feed export certifications, and re-inspect food facilities that fail to
meet the FDA’s safety standards.
A summary of the FDA's FY 2010 budget is available at:
www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/ReportsManualsForms/Reports/BudgetReports/ucm153154.htm.
-- Lean Trimmings
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John Ferrell has been appointed USDA’s deputy undersecretary for
marketing and regulatory programs. Ferrell will help establish policies
which facilitate domestic and international marketing of U.S. ag
products, ensure the health and care of animals and plants, and
participate in setting national and international standards, USDA says.
Ferrell grew up on a hog, cattle, corn and soybean farm in Iowa, and
holds bachelor's degrees in ag science and horticulture from Northwest
Missouri State University and a master's from the University of
Missouri-Columbia.
-- USDA release
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For the seventh consecutive week, the U.S. average price for regular
gasoline increased, moving 5¢ to $2.67/gal., for the week ending June
15. Meanwhile, the national average price of diesel rose for the sixth
week in a row, jumping 7¢ to $2.57.
Despite a 62¢ jump over the past seven weeks, gasoline was $1.41 below
the average of a year ago and $1.44 below the all-time high of July 7,
2008. Except for the Midwest, which slipped 2¢ to $2.69, prices
increased in every region. The West Coast and California each shot up
9¢ to $2.90 and $2.98, respectively, while the East Coast added 8¢ to
$2.62. The Gulf Coast was at $2.53 and the Rocky Mountains at $2.57.
Meanwhile, diesel’s price for the week was $2.12 below the year-ago
price and $2.19 under the all-time high of July 14, 2008. Prices were up
in all regions for the week. The East Coast added 9¢ to $2.60, and the
Midwest and Gulf Coast 7¢ each to $2.55 and $2.54, respectively. The
Rocky Mountains added 8¢ to $2.52, the West Coast 5¢ to $2.66, and
California 6¢ to $2.73/gal.
-- U.S. Energy Information
Administration
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Brazil's federal prosecutor's office is investigating JBS S.A.'s
alleged role in a widespread corruption case that involves several beef
companies, according to Reuters. The website buenosairesherald.com says
the investigation that began nearly a year ago also involves meatpackers
and leather and hide firms such as Bihl, Margen and Curtume Nossa
Senhora Aparecida. JBS S.A. is the parent company of JBS USA, which is
headquartered in Greeley, CO.
Under investigation are alleged bribery of public officials,
racketeering, corruption, fraud and collusion as part of a sting
operation covering several Brazilian states. In a statement released on
Tuesday, the prosecutor said several people from the beef, dairy and
leather industries were being arrested in a broad-reaching sting
operation spanning several states.
In addition to the companies in the beef sector entangled in the
investigation, the so-called “Operation Slaughter” also reportedly
involves officials at the Banco da Amazonia bank, as well as local and
federal representatives of several governmental offices and ministries.
In a statement on Wednesday, JBS S.A. said it is cooperating with
Brazilian authorities and affirmed that “it does not have any
involvement in crimes associated with this Federal Superintendence of
Agriculture investigation in the State of Rondonia, or in any other
State."
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes
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The Kingsbury Conservation District Grazing Tour meets July 7 at the
county 4-H Building in De Smet, SD. Registration is at 3 p.m., with
buses departing at 3:30 to tour award-winning grazing systems. A free
supper is included; RSVP to 854-9123. Ext. 3, by June 26. Among the
evening’s presentations are:
- Gary Noem’s grazing system, which consists of five cells 29-33
acres in size, with an 8-ft.-diameter rubber water tank located in a
two-acre hub in the center of the five cells. This grazing system
facilitates 55 pair of Angus, Limousin and Maine-Anjou cattle, with a
calf crop averaging 93% and cow conception rate more than 96%.
- Bruce Penner’s grazing system consists of nine cells of 26-56
acres. Water development includes permanent pipeline installation with
three rubber tire tanks. Cross fencing of interior cells was
accomplished using high-tensile smooth wire. The system supports 130
Angus-Hereford cow-calf pairs, 20 heifers and five bulls. The calf crop
averages 93-94%, and cow conception rate has averaged about 90% for the
last five years.
- Rick Bednarek, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) soil
quality specialist, will demonstrate infiltration rings, looking at soil
structure and root development below the soil surface. He’ll also
discuss soil biology, organic matter and moisture storage in the soil.
- Jason Miller, NRCS conservation agronomist, will discuss cover
crops.
- Brent Woods, NRCS rangeland management specialist, will discuss
grazing cover crops.
-- NRCS release
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Despite the recent announced agreement with the European Union (EU)
regarding its decades-long ban on beef produced with growth implants,
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says negotiations will continue with
the EU in the coming years to find a solution for the longer term.
In a recent speech to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, Kirk acknowledged
the skepticism over the agreement by some quarters in the U.S. beef
industry and stressed the transitional nature of the agreement.
Saying the agreement "gives us the chance to go further with a long-term
agreement," Kirk added: "During the first phase, we will see whether
Europe draws conclusions on the authorization [of antibacterial
treatments]. During the second phase, we will negotiate to settle the
hormone dispute for the longer term."
Kirk insists he reserved the right to take the matter back to the World
Trade Organization in the absence of a long-term agreement.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes
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Rained-on hay plagues everyone eventually, says Bruce Anderson,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension forage specialist. And,
the “windrow disease,” as he calls the striped appearance in fields
where windrows remained so long that regrowth was delayed, presents
lingering challenges.
Anderson says weeds often invade these areas, requiring spraying to
maintain quality and protect stands. And, during the next growth period,
plants that weren’t smothered regrow rapidly, while plants underneath
the windrow suffer delays.
“The result is that part of the field often begins to bloom while
windrow-stressed plants are still short and tender. The question is: Do
you harvest the field when the first plants begin to bloom, or do you
wait until injured plants are ready for cutting?” he says.
Anderson suggests using two factors to determine when to cut — the
health and vigor of the stand and the nutrient needs of your livestock.
“Is your alfalfa healthy and regrowing well? If not, wait to cut until
stunted plants begin to bloom so you can avoid weakening them even more.
But, if your alfalfa is in good shape, then cut when it will best meet
the needs of your animals,” Anderson says.
Anderson points out that dairy cows need alfalfa that is cut early, so
harvest when the first plants begin to bloom. Regrowth of injured plants
may be slow after cutting, but this sacrifice is needed for profitable
milk production. In contrast, beef cows don’t need such rich hay. So
let stunted plants recover, and then cut when they are ready to bloom.
"Hopefully, by next cut, growth will be uniform, plants healthy, and
production back to normal," Anderson says.
-- Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension forage
specialist
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Monsanto and BASF scientists have discovered a naturally-occurring
gene that can help corn plants combat drought conditions and confer
yield stability during periods of inadequate water supplies. The
companies plan to use the gene in developing the first
biotechnology-derived drought-tolerant crop in the world.
The companies says the drought-tolerant corn contains the cspB gene,
from Bacillus subtilis. The gene was first identified in bacteria
subjected to cold stress conditions and further research has
demonstrated that cspB helps plants cope with drought stress. Monsanto
published the findings in the journal, Plant Physiology.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes
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Ty Thompson, Billings, MT, claimed the Livestock Marketing
Association’s (LMA) World Livestock Auctioneer Championship last
weekend in Fergus Falls, MN. His 12th attempt at the title, Thompson had
previously claimed the reserve championship twice, and the runner-up
spot last year, in addition to being a top-10 finalist on seven
occasions.
The 2009 reserve world champion is Tom Frey, Creston, IA, while the
runner-up world champion is Kyle J. Shobe, Lewistown, MT. Shobe also was
named LMA’s Audrey K. Banks “Rookie of the Year” Award, which goes
to the highest-scoring first-time entrant to make the semi-finals and
carries a $500 prize.
Other finalists in the top 10 among a total of 33 contestants were:
Charly Cummings, Yates Center, KS; Justin Dodson, Welch, OK; Jim
Hertzog, Greenwood, MO; Mike Nuss, Minatare, NE; Ted Odle, Brush, CO;
Jason Santomaso, Sterling, CO; and Kevin Schow, Paxton, NE.
Among his championship prizes, Thompson earns a $5,000 check, the
Champion’s sculpture, hand-tooled roping saddle and a custom belt
buckle. During his championship year, he also gets the use of a 2009
Chevrolet Silverado pickup. He also received the custom-designed world
champion ring from the host market.
For more info, go to: www.lmaweb.com/.
The 2010 championship is June 19 at the Oklahoma National Stockyards,
Inc.
-- LMA release
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If EPA grants a petition to allow a 50% increase in the allowable
limits of ethanol in gasoline, it will mean higher commodity costs for
livestock, poultry and food producers, say two new studies released by
Advanced Economic Solutions (AES) and FarmEcon LLC.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
article by TCFA newsletter
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is urging House
Energy and Commerce Committee members to address unresolved issues in a
proposed food safety bill before moving it forward. The Food Safety and
Enhancement Act of 2009, introduced by Reps. John Dingell (D-MI) and
Henry Waxman (D-CA), would pose a myriad of unintended consequences
especially for the meat industry, which is regulated by USDA, NCBA says.
- The bill would authorize FDA to conduct on-farm inspections,
undermining USDA’s regulatory authority in ensuring the safety of meat
and poultry products.
- The bill would require FDA to create a tracing system for the
complete pedigree of all food, including meat which isn’t regulated by
the FDA, thus increasing burdensome production and technology costs.
- Give FDA authority to create farm safety standards, including manure
use and animal control, which are outside of the expertise of FDA and
already handled by other regulatory bodies.
- Grant FDA authority to quarantine a geographical area during a food
health emergency. This would confuse and disrupt the strong
food-emergency response process developed via a decades-old
collaborative effort between USDA, the Department of Homeland Security
and the states.
“The U.S. has the safest food supply in the world,” says Kristina
Butts, NCBA manager, legislative affairs. “Any changes to that system
should be carefully considered to ensure they provide additional
benefits without detracting from successful processes.”
-- NCBA release
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Pasture and range across the country continue to be in much better
shape compared to year-ago and five-year average levels. That’s eased
the immediate pressures on cow-calf producers and reduced beef cow
slaughter, helping offset the increase in dairy cow slaughter, reports
the CME group in its June 17 Daily Livestock Report.
The latest USDA weekly survey shows that for the week ending June 14,
60% of the pastures and ranges were in Good or Excellent condition. This
compares with 51% a year ago and 50% for the five-year average. It’s
the best year in terms of pasture conditions since 2005.
“For the past 2½ years, producers have had to contend with drought in
key areas as well as surging feed costs, which pushed a significant
number of beef cows to market. The pace of beef cow liquidation has
slowed this summer but we are far from any herd rebuilding. On the other
hand, dairy producers still are struggling with relatively high feed and
energy costs and poor returns. Nearby milk futures closed on Tuesday
afternoon below the $10 threshold and by most estimates producers need
to get around $16-17 to even have a chance of becoming profitable,”
the CME Group reports.
Thus, dairy cow liquidation will likely continue. USDA says overall,
U.S. cow slaughter is only 1.1% larger than last year but almost 20%
higher than the five-year average.
-- CME Group
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The most cattle producers can expect from the economic stimulus
packages is a stronger economy – just what demand needs. If we shore
up the economy, we're helping to shore up demand,” says David
Anderson, Texas A&M University Extension agricultural economist. That's
the primary benefit cattle producers could receive from the government's
myriad economic stimulus packages.
-- Click on headline too read the rest of this
article by Wes Ishmael
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Despite a tough marketing environment for U.S. beef in global
markets, there is optimism ahead.
Just as the U.S. beef industry was slogging its way out of the BSE mire,
the current global economic calamity reminds us again how important the
global picture is to our beef businesses.
-- Click on headline too read the rest of this
article by Clint Peck
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Brazil's three largest supermarket chains, Wal-Mart, Carrefour and
Pão de Açúcar, plan to suspend contracts with suppliers found to be
involved in Amazon deforestation, reports O Globo.
The decision was announced at a meeting of the Brazilian Association of
Supermarkets (Abras) this week and comes less than two weeks after a
Greenpeace exposé of the Amazon cattle industry. The report,
“Slaughtering the Amazon,” linked some of the world's most prominent
brands – including Nike, Toyota, Carrefour, Wal-Mart and Johnson &
Johnson, among dozens of others – to destruction of the Amazon
rainforest for cattle pasture.
A statement from Abras said the association would develop guidelines and
allow independent auditing to ensure cattle products weren’t sourced
from illegally cleared Amazon lands.
The day the expose broke, a Brazilian federal prosecutor filed a
billion-dollar lawsuit against the cattle industry for environmental
damage. Firms that market tainted meat may be subject to fines of 500
reais ($260)/kilo.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes
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The nation’s first case of vesicular stomatitis (VS) in 2009 has
been detected in a horse in Starr County, in far south Texas.
A sporadically occurring virus endemic to the U.S., symptoms include
blisters, lesions and sloughing of the skin on the muzzles, tongue,
teats and above the hooves of susceptible livestock, which include
horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, deer and other species.
Bob Hillman, Texas state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal
Health Commission (TAHC), says many states and countries will place
additional entry requirements or restrictions on the movement of animals
from affected states, or portions of the state.
“Call the state or country of destination before moving livestock, to
ensure that all entry requirements can be met. Do not risk shipments
being turned away, or worse, spreading disease and facing legal action
by animal health authorities,” he says.
VS is painful for affected animals, but the lesions usually heal within
two weeks to a month, Hillman says. For some severe cases, owners may
elect to have an infected animal euthanized, to put an end to the
suffering.
Treatment consists of supportive care, and antibiotics may be needed to
prevent secondary infections in the open sores. Animal health officials
in nearly all states, including Texas, require VS-infected animals and
their herd mates to be quarantined until at least 21 days after all
lesions have healed. A follow-up examination of the animals by the state
veterinarian’s office is required prior to quarantine release.
More For more on VS, visit the TAHC website at: www.tahc.state.tx.us.
-- TAHC news release
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