BEEF Daily November 4, 2009

Have you heard of Heifer International? One of my best friends is taking a non-profit organization course at South Dakota State University, and he was excited to tell me all about this program. Through the years, I have heard it mentioned in passing conversations, but I never really checked it out, but I’ve learned that there are exciting opportunities to do charitable work globally through the gift of livestock to families. Since 1944, Heifer International has worked to bring help, healing and hope to millions of impoverished families worldwide. In its first 65 years, Heifer assisted more than 10.5 million families in more ethan 125 countries. Heifer International works in the areas of livestock and agriculture to develop programs that alleviate hunger and poverty. Read on to learn more about this non-profit organization.

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As I look at feeder cattle markets across the country and as I have opportunities to talk with cattle producers, it become very apparent that feeder cattle prices have dropped sharply and unexpectedly. In the last month, prices for 5 and 6 weight calves have dropped about $10 per cwt, or $50-60 per head. If you compare prices from July-August to now, the price decline has been about $20 per cwt, over $100 per head. That price decline is substantially more than is typical based on historic seasonal patterns. Because of the large fall calf runs, some price weakness is to be expected, but this decline is of greater magnitude than the typical seasonal decline. It is not only cow-calf producers who have been somewhat surprised by this market weakness, but many market analysts as well. I for one expected fall calf prices to be about $8-10 stronger than current levels.

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What makes a good pasture lease agreement? Creating a good pasture lease requires careful thought by both parties, according to Wesley Tucker, University of Missouri Extension ag business specialist. Most problems with a pasture lease occur when one or more parties don't fully understand what the other expected. Tucker says whether a lease is verbal or in writing, taking the time to discuss these issues ahead of time will prevent 99% of the problems that will arise later.

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Most cattle producers are familiar with the term "feed conversion." It is simply the amount of feed an animal consumes as compared to the amount of body weight gained, expressed as a ratio. Feed conversion ratios in the neighborhood of 6:1 (6 lbs of feed per pound of gain) are common in modern beef cattle feedlots. Stocker cattle producers are also interested in feed conversion, but the calculation is a little different. When feeding stockers that are grazing forage, we are most interested in "supplement conversion," which is the amount of supplement fed compared to the amount of additional gain the cattle exhibit. This additional gain is over and above what the cattle would gain from the forage alone, without the supplement. Supplement conversion is hard for a producer to measure, because they usually don't have a control group of non-supplemented animals.

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Meet BEEF Daily Editor Amanda Nolz. With her boots planted firmly on the ground as both a cattle producer and an agriculture writer and speaker, this young cattle industry professional presents her unique perspective on pertinent industry issues and trends each Monday to Thursday morning.

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