Land and Livestock Post

October 1, 2011

ANNUAL BULL ISSUE

Bullish on the Game herd changer PICKING THE RIGHT BULL CAN PAY BIG DIVIDENDS HELP FOR VICTIMS OF FIRE

PAG E 16 SAY HAY

Assistance for those who lost homes.

Hotline helps producers looking for hay.

BEWARE OF THE BAD GUYS

GOOD CONDITIONS

PAGE 3

Disasters attract the unscrupulous.

PAGE 4

PAGE 12

Now is the time to take care of your bulls.

PAGE 24

2

October 1, 2011 âœŞ

The Land & Livestock Post

From the General Manager

M

By KAY LEDBETTER Texas AgriLife Extension Service

As hundreds of homes have been destroyed in recent wildfires and many more sustained smoke damage, Texas AgriLife Extension Service is trying to help homeowners address “What next?”

AgriLife Extension provides Texans and others with free, objective, researchbased information to help with emergency and disaster preparation and recovery, according to Joyce Cavanagh, AgriLife Extension family economics specialist in College Station. The information is available through two websites and through agency personnel in county offices throughout the state.

The Texas Extension Disaster Education Network, or Texas EDEN, at texashelp.tamu.edu, contains information and materials

relating to specific disasters, such as the recent wildfires and information on disaster preparation and recovery.

The AgriLife Bookstore website at agrilifebookstore .org contains a variety of emergency and disaster-related topics, including general preparedness, first aid, home, property and financial recovery.

Replacing Personal Documents After a Disaster and How to Remove Smoke Smell from a Home are examples of information that can be found on the site.

Most materials can be downloaded and printed free of charge, and several are also available in Spanish.

Cavanagh said a number of safety issues also arise when returning to a home or business after a disaster, including possible structural damage, damage to electrical wires or gas lines, and the

risk of contaminated water.

“After surviving a disaster, people should also be aware of the new dangers that crop up and take the necessary safety measures to ensure they survive the recovery phase too,” she said.

Once it’s safe to return, she said, bring supplies and wear clothing that will help sustain personal health and safety.

She suggested taking a multiuse fire extinguisher, plenty of bottled water and a first-aid kit, and wear sturdy shoes with thick, preferably nonrubber soles, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and work gloves.

“Those with property damage need to contact their insurance company, take photos of the damage and begin an inventory of damaged personal possessions for insur-

October 1, 2011

Robert Fears. In it, we take a look at “bull power” and what it means and how to get it. We also have some tips from the Noble Foundation that can help you with your herd.

Hay is scarce in Texas and we have a few stories that can help you find hay, evaluate hay and get the most out of the hay you do find.

Hope the information in these pages can help in this tough time. Thanks for reading, and enjoy. ’Til next time,

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aybe the only thing tougher than raising cattle during a historic drought is selling ads to people raising cattle during a historic drought.

This is our Annual Bull Issue, and I JESSE WRIGHT think it turned out pretty good, considering the current state of things. Between the drought, the wildfires and monkeys running wild, it’s a wonder the issue got put together at all. But it did, and we’re pretty excited about it.

I’m especially excited about our cover story by

Help available for fire victims

The Land & Livestock Post

News

• See TIPS/Page 27

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located just off Hwy. 6 and OSR 1415 East OSR • Bryan, Texas 77808 Office: (979) 776-5760 • Fax: (979) 776-4818 Website: www.circlexbrangus.com Steve Densmore, Cattle Mgr., (979) 450-0819, cell • (979) 778-1055, home Chris Duewall, Operations Mgr., (979) 777-6803, cell

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The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011

News

Watch out for fraud after recent disasters

By PAUL SCHATTENBERG Texas AgriLife Extension Service

A disaster can bring out the best in people or the worst in people, a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert said. And if it’s the latter, folks need to be aware of how some people may try to take advantage of them.

“The most common complaints following a disaster relate to price gouging and home repair contractors, but identity theft is also a concern,” said Joyce Cavanagh, AgriLife Extension family economics specialist in College Station.

Cavanagh said following past disasters such as Hurricane Rita, the Texas Office of the Attorney General received numerous complaints of businesses charging excessive prices for essential goods and services such as rental cars, hotels and motels, building materials and groceries.

“Anyone who feels he or she is a victim of price gouging following a disaster should report the incident to the consumer hotline at the Texas Office of the Attorney General,” she said.

The number for the hotline is 800-252-8011, and its website is at www.oag.state.tx.us.

After a major disaster, contractors and others often go door-to-door soliciting home repair work, Cavanagh said.

“While many of them are legitimate, others are not, and the dishonest ones may take your money without completing the job or use inferior materials and perform shoddy work,” she said.

Cavanagh offered the fol-

lowing suggestions before hiring a contractor: • Get more than one estimate and don’t be forced to sign a contract right away.

Ask the salesperson to leave a copy of the contract for you to review.

• Get everything in writing, including cost, work to be done, time schedules, guarantees, payment schedule and other concerns.

• Keep copies of everything you sign.

She added that any contract signed for work on a homestead must contain the following warning next to the space for your signature: “Important Notice: You and your contractor are responsible for meeting the terms and conditions of this contract. If you sign this contract and you fail to meet the terms and conditions of this contract, you may lose your legal ownership rights in your home.

Know your rights and duties under the law.”

“When you sign a contract for home improvements on your homestead, a contractor can legally fix a lien on the homestead,” she said.

“If you sign a contract containing the language quoted above, and you fail to make the payments, the contracting company can take away your home. So it’s imperative that you understand your obligations under the contract, and that you are confident you can meet those obligations.

“If you have doubts, consult an attorney before you sign,” she said.

Cavanagh said people also

• See FRAUD/Page 14

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pletely healed at weaning.

Pasture fence line weaning has been developed to reduce the stress of weaning. It’s a great improvement over corral weaning. Let calves nurse and cows graze until midmorning the day of weaning.

Then pen them and allow calves to have a last nursing.

Afterwards, sort calves from cows and move them to adjacent pastures. The calves soon get over the hysteria of separation from their dams because they aren’t completely separated — they can see and get close to each other across the fence.

By four or five days the calves are happily grazing with no thoughts of their dams.

Fence line weaning requires good fences. Barbed wire fences work fine. Some ranchers prefer a wooden

fence and others use an electric fence.

Creative ranchers have come up with modifications that make fence line weaning go more smoothly. One is to leave two or three older cows on the side of the calves. This leadership helps calm the calves.

Rick Barnes, a leading rancher in my old veterinary practice, weans in stages. He puts steers across the fence from their mothers and the heifer-mother pairs until they have forgotten their mothers. Then he moves heifers in with the steers.

Finally, vaccines administered prior to weaning will help prevent pneumonia. The important respiratory viruses are infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and bovine viral

diarrhea virus (BVDV).

The very most important bacteria of calf pneumonia is Mannhiemia hemolytica (old name Pasteurella hemolytica). Hemophilus somnus also is involved in some pneumonia outbreaks. There are too many details of a vaccination program to cover here. You can read about them in the Extension bulletin AsWeb022 “Establishing Herd Immunity” by Ron Gill.

To provide protection, vaccines must be given before an animal is challenged by infectious agents.

Vaccines require two doses, a primer and a booster ideally 21 days later, for protection. Booster doses are a must for killed-virus vaccines and must be given

October 1, 2011

strated that creep feeding a grain mix to calves prior to weaning will reduce risk of pneumonia.

Creep feeding a pelleted grain/forage mix identical to the weaning ration for only three weeks before weaning will give this benefit. There are two favorable STEVE changes in WIKSE , DVM the calf: micro-organisms needed to digest grain replicate in the rumen and the calves become accustomed to eating from a bunk.

In one trial, creep feeding was more effective than vaccines in reducing pneumonia following weaning.

Next, I would evaluate your weaning methods. It’s no surprise that separation from mama is the most stressful event in a calf’s life.

In response to that stress, a weaned a calf has a tremendous surge in serum concentrations of corticosteroids, the stress hormones.

Corticosteroid hormones have a profound detrimental effect on the immune response. They actually blast apart lymphocytes, the main cells of the immune system.

Any management practice that reduces the stress of weaning will reduce the likelihood of pneumonia in weaned calves. Never wean during bad weather. Never dehorn and castrate calves at weaning. Perform those surgeries far enough ahead of weaning to have them com-

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uestion: “I’ve got a small beef herd in the Brazos Valley. I keep all my calves to grass-feed or use as replacements. My problem is pneumonia in calves one to two weeks after weaning. I don’t lose many, but I’m tired of having to treat so many calves in the fall. What vaccines do you recommend to prevent this?”

Answer: “I don’t blame you for wanting to control this problem, however, we must discuss more than a vaccine program. Vaccines alone will not do a good job in prevention of pneumonia.

Successful programs to prevent pneumonia in weaned beef calves require good nutrition, low-stress weaning and a proper vaccination program.

Nutrition is the foundation of beef herd health and productivity. It’s important to wean calves in good body condition that have had a balanced mineral supplement containing recommended amounts of trace minerals necessary for a strong immune response: copper, selenium and zinc.

See the Extension bulletin E-526 “Mineral Supplementation of Beef Cows in Texas” by Dennis Herd for very practical details on mineral formulations that work well under various types of pastures in Texas. It is available online at agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/.

I would consider adding creep feeding to your calf nutrition practices if you haven’t already done so.

Clinical trials have demon-

The Land & Livestock Post

Ask the Vet

• See WIKSE/Page 9

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The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011 6

News

Things to consider before culling herds

By DEKE ALKIRE Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the October 2009 Ag News and Views newsletter.

For most cattle producers, culling cows is not an easy task. However, some culling needs to be done each year to maintain optimal productivity. Records on each cow’s yearly production would be beneficial when making culling decisions, but collecting some information when the cows are processed can give you a good place to start.

Cattlemen should make it a point to evaluate all breeding females at least once a year.

Weaning is likely the most convenient time to do this evaluation.

In addition to their vaccinations, cows also should be pregnancy-tested, evaluated for structural soundness and age based on the condition of their teeth. This information will take a little extra time to collect, but will be valuable when determining a culling order.

In addition, this culling order will be useful during a drought as it is usually more profitable to cull unproductive cows as a drought is beginning than to try to hold on until the drought is over.

Usually, the best cows to cull are the ones that have the least chance of being productive in the long term or are the farthest away from being productive. Use the following list as a guideline for establishing your culling order.

Cull cows in this order until you reach the desired herd size: • Disposition — Some producers can tolerate more disposition problems than others. Disposition should be evaluated both in the pasture and in the pen because some cattle will react differently once corralled. Make a note of those animals that make it difficult to gather the herd or rotate pastures. Any animal that is aggressive should make the list.

• Open females — All open females should be culled.

According to the Cattle-Fax Cow/Calf and Stocker

Photo illustration courtesy of the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

that have not been exposed to a bull. These animals have very good value as feeder heifers. Bred heifers would be next in the culling order.

• Phenotype — Use this as an opportunity to make your herd more uniform. Any cow that does not fit due to breed, size or low productivity should be culled next.

• Bred cows 3 to 9 years old — These are your most productive cows. If you must cull out of this group, 3-yearolds and those cows that are 8 to 9 years old would go first.

The decision about which animals to cull can be difficult. Each operation will have different goals and, therefore, may need to adjust accordingly. Use this list as a guideline for developing a culling order for your herd.

For more assistance, contact the Noble Foundation or your local county extension agent.

According to the Noble Foundation, the best cows to cull are the ones that have the least chance of being productive in the long term or are the farthest away from being productive.

Survey, the average annual poor udder conformation, be culled in the near future cash cost to carry a cow in including bad quarters and and are close to the end of 2006 was $366. It will be very big teats. their most productive years.

• Age — Typically, a cow is Within this group, cull the difficult for an open cow to make up for a year of lost pro- most productive between the thin cows first.

• Replacement heifers — duction. In addition, if a ages of 4 and 9. The condition heifer does not settle in the of a cow’s teeth is indicative First, cull yearling heifers same period as her contempo- of her age. A cow with broken raries, she is telling you that or missing teeth should probshe does not fit your manage- ably be culled. Those with badly worn or separated teeth ment environment.

• Structural soundness — would be next on the list.

At this point, it becomes Evaluate the structural Charlie soundness of each cow based increasingly difficult to make on her ability to raise a calf. culling decisions because you Anything that limits her abil- will have to cull productive ity should be noted. Look for animals.

• Bred cows over 9 years bad feet or toes, a history of prolapse, eye problems and old — These cows likely will

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The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011

pleasE join uS for these special days THE SALE AT 44 FARMS Angus Female Production Sale 200 Females October 21, 2011 • Cameron, Texas

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300 Bulls, 100 Commercial Females October 22, 2011 • Cameron, Texas

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The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011 8

News

Camp Cooley auctioned for $28.5 million

By CASSIE SMITH cassie.smith@theeagle.com

The auction of historic Camp Cooley drew bidders from across the globe.

But the winner was a company not too far away: Circle X Land and Cattle Co. of Bryan purchased the nearly 11,000-acre property for $28.5 million.

Twenty-two qualified bidders, along with their families, attorneys and consultants, attended the private auction on Aug. 4, said Scott Shuman, head of Hall and Hall Auctions, which conducted the sale along with Great Estates Ranches & Real Estate Worldwide.

The price included surface and mineral and royalty interests, he said. All equipment and personal property was offered through a separate transaction.

Camp Cooley was facing

bankruptcy so the auction was private, Shuman said.

Bidders had to show financial stability — $20 million in cash — and put 5 percent down to be invited, he said.

“It was kind of an exciting time,” he said about the almost 100 people who showed up for the auction.

Camp Cooley is the largest ranch in Robertson County and is known for its history.

It’s also recognized as one of the oldest exotic game preserve ranches in the country.

With about 7,400 acres of pastureland, 1,000 acres of high-fenced exotic game preserve land and another 1,400 acres of wetlands, the ranch served as a recruitment camp under Capt. Charles G. Cooley during the Civil War, according to its website.

Two calves were cloned by scientists at the ranch in 1998 and a consistent herd of

Brangus cows has been maintained for the last 15 years.

Former owner Klaus Birkel took the reins of the ranch operations two decades ago.

The ranch was also a vacation place for dignitaries and politicians such as President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960s.

Bernard Uechtritz of Great Estates Ranches called Camp Cooley one of the most beautiful ranches in the nation because of its topography, lakes, meadows and other features.

“Camp Cooley is a major brand name,” he said.

Despite its beauty, the ranch was a hard sell, he said.

For the past several years, Uechtritz said, the ranch has been involved in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Skeptics doubted it could be sold because of a “market stigma.”

In November 2010, he said, he created a settlement agreement between two banks and the borrower that allowed him to begin marketing the ranch.

That agreement was in a document sealed by the court.

“We were in the middle of serious negotiations for selling the ranch when all of a sudden, the sealed document was leaked,” he said.

“That made all the buyers stop. That really made it difficult,” he said.

That’s when a judge ordered the invitation-only auction, he said.

Circle X Land and Cattle Co. plans to keep Camp Cooley a working ranch, Uechtritz said.

“They got an amazing deal.

It was the deal of the century,” he said.

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Novice black farmers harvest crop FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — Several novice black farmers are harvesting their first crops, including okra, black eyed peas and cucumbers, on a demonstration farm in Fresno, Calif.

The 15-acre farm was planted by the African American Farmers of California to attract younger black farmers, teach the community about growing and eating healthy.

The group’s work is a window into various efforts

around the country to rejuvenate the pride of black farmers and reverse the decline of black farms.

Farming has negative connotations among many African Americans due to the legacies of slavery, sharecropping and discriminatory government policies.

Blacks make up just 1 percent of all agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers nationally, down from about 14 percent in 1920.

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October 1, 2011

• Dr. Steve Wikse is a retired professor of large-animal clinical sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University.

T R N A E L C T H E T XAS U O S

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within two months of primer doses.

There are several ways to implement a pneumonia vaccination program. They are primer doses at first working or sometime before weaning and booster doses three weeks prior to weaning or at weaning. It’s best to give booster doses about three weeks before weaning. The primer dose can be given as young as two to three months.

There are so many important details in a beef herd vaccination program such as use of modified-live virus vs killed-virus vaccines that

your veterinarian is critical to a successful plan.

I hope I’ve given you some ideas that will work in reducing pneumonia in calves. A combination of good nutrition with possible creep feeding just before weaning, lowstress weaning methods and a properly timed vaccination program should do the job.

Also, have all surgeries healed before weaning and never wean during bad weather. Don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian in designing these management plans.

40TH ANNUAL

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News

OCTOBER 28-29, 2011

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2011 FALL BULL SALES

Selling 80 Registered Angus bulls Saturday, November 12th, 2011 Meridian Livestock, Meridian, TX

October 1, 2011

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The Land & Livestock Post

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Consider waste when factoring cost of hay

By ROBERT WELLS Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

er in the year.

Thus far, reports indicate hay production is less than 50 percent of normal for the 2011 growing season, resulting in tight supplies and escalating prices. This has led some to

edible hay in a weathered round bale. The calculator can be accessed at www.noble.org/ tools/weathered-hay.

Many other useful agricultural calculators may be found at www.noble.org/tools.

Here is a practical example to demonstrate the relative difference in the value of two

• See BALES/Page 12

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Two factors determine percentage waste of a hay bale: The diameter of the bale, and the depth of the weathered hay.

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The Noble Foundation has developed a tool to help you estimate the actual value of the

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The drought of 2011 will go down in the record books as one of the most severe in history. Most livestock producers

in the Southern Great Plains have not been able to put up enough hay to meet their requirements in a normal growing season, let alone during a drought when they will have to start feeding hay earli-

The Land & Livestock Post

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The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011

News

Bales From 11 bales of hay that are the same size and weight (4 feet x 5 feet weighing 1,100 pounds), but differ by price and how much weathered, inedible hay is present.

The first option was baled this year and has no weathered or inedible hay and has a cost of $55 before freight.

The second option was baled a year ago and has a cost of $45 before freight, but it also has 6 inches of inedible weathered hay.

Which of the two lots of hay is the better deal?

The two factors that determine percentage waste of the bale are the diameter of the bale and the depth of the weathered hay.

According to the hay calculator, the year-old hay has 36 percent waste in the form of weathered, low quality hay that will not be eaten by the cows.

This gives last year’s hay an adjusted value of $70.31 per bale when compared to this year’s hay.

Not only is the older hay more expensive on an edible hay basis, but the producer will need to purchase 36

percent more hay to meet the cow’s total nutrient requirements for the winter or risk running out before spring arrives.

Let’s assume that the livestock producer has 30 cows and plans to feed hay for five months. If the producer purchases this year’s hay, he will need 152 (1,100-pound) bales or four full trucks of 38 bales per truck to meet his needs.

If he purchases last year’s hay, he will need to purchase 206 bales or six truckloads.

If trucking is factored at $3 per loaded mile and the hay has to be hauled 200 miles, the total cost for this year’s hay is $10,760 while the yearold hay would cost $12,870. The yearold hay actually costs an additional $2,110.

This is a quick tool that can be used to determine if older hay really is the bargain it appears to be. The calculator also can be used to determine the amount of additional hay that is necessary to meet the cow herd winter requirements after accounting for the inedible portion of the hay.

Contact a Noble Foundation livestock consultant or agricultural economist or your local county extension agent for assistance in determining hay needs for your herd.

Hay Hotline updated Special to The Post

AUSTIN — As the worst one-year drought in Texas history continues to scorch the state and deplete critical hay supplies, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples announced several updates to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Hay Hotline.

The service, which connects ranchers who need hay with those who have it, is now being updated to include prices and sources for donated hay. The Hay Hotline also now connects ranchers with transportation services to deliver hay and available grazing lands.

“The need for hay is dire and getting more desperate each day. Through the recent improvements made to the Hay Hotline, we hope to connect more ranchers with hay producers across the nation who have much-needed forage.

It’s critical to do what we can to preserve the cattle herd for which Texas is known and on which American consumers rely,” Staples said.

Staples sent a letter to all commissioners, secretaries and directors of

agriculture in other states requesting assistance in locating hay donations for Texas ranchers. The letter also requests that available grazing land or hay be listed on the Texas Hay Hotline.

Additionally, Staples encouraged his colleagues to follow the Lone Star State’s lead in waiving transportation size restrictions for hay shipments in ways that continue to protect public safety.

These hay transportation waivers have become critically important during the current record-setting drought.

According to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, agriculture losses due to this year’s drought have already surpassed $5.2 billion and are now the costliest in state history for Texas farmers and ranchers.

State Climatologist John NielsenGammon recently declared this year’s dry spell the “most severe one-year drought on record,” while the National Weather Service is calling it the second-worst drought in Texas history.

The Hay Hotline can be accessed at www.TexasAgriculture.gov/hayhotline or by calling 877-429-1998.

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Tapered cone-style feeders waste the least hay

Photo courtesy of The Professional Animal Scientist

Studies by Oklahoma State University and other schools indicate that a tapered cone-style feeder with a sheeted bottom is the most efficient cattler feeder available.

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October 1, 2011

STILLWATER, Okla. — The historic 2011 drought aside, cattle producers cannot afford to waste a valuable resource such as hay in even the best years.

“Management of input costs is a key business concern and can mean the difference between operational profit or loss, and when it comes to hay waste, using the right type of bale feeder can make a significant cost-savings difference,” said Dave Lalman, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension beef cattle specialist.

Research conducted by Lalman and other scientists with OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources indicates that using a cone-style feeder or modified cone feeder with a sheeted bottom should reduce hay waste to approximately 5 percent to 6 percent of the original bale weight.

“We found that open bottom hay feeders can waste as much as 21 percent of the original bale weight,” Lalman said. “Unfortunately, one of the most common types of hay feeders on Oklahoma livestock operations is the open bottom round bale feeder.”

The OSU study examined four bale feeder designs: a conventional open bottom steel ring, a sheeted bottom steel ring, a polyethylene pipe right and a modified cone

✪

feeder with a sheeted bottom.

Division scientists discovered that differences in hay feeder design do not restrict dry matter intake by the cattle, but can significantly affect the amount of feed wasted.

“Feed cost is the single largest variable influencing profitability of a cow-calf enterprise,” Lalman said.

“Costs associated with nutrition have been shown to contribute between 40 percent and 60 percent of the annual budget of a typical cow-calf operation.”

Such wallet-draining waste cannot be weathered easily by state cattle operations suffering under tight profit margins, especially during years such as 2011, where additional feed costs have been a major contributing factor to approximately $668 million in drought-related livestock production losses.

By DONALD STOTTS Oklahoma State University

The Land & Livestock Post

News

Oklahoma State University photo

Producers in Texas and Oklahoma are searching for bales of hay for sale because the 2011 drought has left their fields parched and barren.

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The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011

News

Fraud From 4 should ask for a driver’s license and/or contractor’s license and write down those numbers, as well as the person’s address and a vehicle license plate number.

“Then contact the Better Business Bureau in the person’s home community or check online at www.bbb.org to determine whether there are any complaints,” she said.

“Call your local Better Business Bureau office if you need assistance,” Cavanagh said.

She added that it also is important to ask for references and check them out, and never to sign a contract with blanks where unacceptable terms might be added later.

“Never pay a contractor in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is finished and acceptable. And beware of salespeople who

say they need to be paid in full before the work is complete.”

Cavanagh said after a disaster people often will have to share personal information to get relief benefits from government agencies or other organizations, or to obtain replacement identification documents.

“Be cautious,” she said, “because identity thieves may pose as government officials or representatives of government agencies. Ask for identification, and when possible, try to initiate the contact yourself using information on official websites or at official information centers.”

People working with contractors and others to repair their homes may be asked for personal information so a credit check can be performed, she said.

“Be sure the business is legitimate before you give out your Social Security number or other personal information,” she said.

• See CAUTION/Page 29

Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Robert Burns More than 500 acres, five residences and a semi-tractor trailer loaded with grain were lost in a wildfire in the Smith County Jacksonville Heights district, east of Tyler on Labor Day. Experts warn that scammers may try to defraud victims of the recent fires throughtout the state and urge people who suffered a loss to exercise care when hiring contractors for repairs.

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October 1, 2011

15

The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011

Annual Bull Issue

Bull power!

Right choice means a greater return on investment

By ROBERT FEARS Special to The Post

A

lthough the present drought was frequently mentioned during the 57th Annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, many discussions focused on bull power.

Producers expressed interest in herd production improvement so that costly inputs can be spread across increased pounds of beef and so that high cattle prices are better leveraged.

It was generally felt that increasing bull power is a good way to improve herd production.

Interviews with producers and livestock extension specialists support the statement, “Bull power improves the herd.”

“A bull and cow each contribute 50 percent of the genetics to their calf,” Joe Paschal, livestock specialist with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, said. “Bull power becomes evident, however, when the bull breeds 15 to 35 cows. If you make a bad choice in bull selection, you usually affect the performance of more than one cow.”

Better calves

16

“The reason that I believe in bull power is that you can see a difference in the calf crop the first year you add a good sire to the herd,” said Ronald Lastovica, who owns and operates Milano Livestock Exchange at Milano with his brother, Steven. “For this to happen, however, you must purchase a bull that matches your cows.”

“Buying a bull is the most important investment a rancher can make,” Steven Lastovica said. “The right bull can make a cattleman a lot of money.

Before you decide what type of bull you want, it is important to make sure you know your objectives for that animal. Is it to increase weaning weights, to raise good replacement heifers or some other goal? After you have determined your objective for the bull, select a reputable breeder from which to buy your new herd sire.

“Make sure that the bull you select merits the cost,” Steven Lastovica said “The bull should look like a bull. He should have good muscle, good bone, an adequate frame and testicular development. Determine if the bull is structurally sound and then look at

Photo by Roberts Fears

Experts say that to capture bull power, it is necessary to select herd sires that will fit the ranch environment, management system, breeding program and marketing channels. his genetics.

“We find if you put a really good bull with fertile cows that produce an adequate milk supply, you can top the market with the calf crop. The cow has to give the calf the ability to live up to its genetic potential.”

Investment returns Ronald Lastovica gave an example of investment returns that can occur when a well-bred bull is matched with the right cows. He assumed that the newly purchased bull breeds 25 cows resulting in a 90 percent calf crop which is 22 calves. The bull produces calves with an additional 50 pounds weaning weight than produced by the previous herd sire for a total additional weight for the 22 calves of 1,100 pounds. If the calves sell at a dollar per pound, the new bull has provided an additional $1,100 income to the ranch.

With this amount of return, it won’t

take long for the bull to pay for itself.

“It continually becomes more difficult to make money in the cow/calf business,” Steven Lastovica said.

“Most cattlemen have reduced their variable costs as much as possible without affecting income. The remaining avenue available for increasing income and profit is through improved efficiency and genetics of the cow herd. A key area on which to focus is buying the right bull. Some of our customers spend as much on their bulls as seedstock producers and it is making them money,” Steven Lastovica said.

To capture bull power, it is necessary to select herd sires that will fit the ranch environment, management system, breeding program and marketing channels. Selection tools include conformation, individual production records, expected progeny difference — EPD — and DNA markers. Different

combinations of these tools are used by producers depending upon their objectives.

“Eye appeal of a bull is important to me,” said Mike Garrett, owner and operator of the Garrett Angus Ranch near Rosebud. “I like a bull with a lot of length and depth and a meaty-looking animal. The animal should have a bull head and look like a bull. Birth weight and weaning weight are the two EPDs that are important to me. I sell my calves soon after weaning and I want them weighing heavy.”

Basic decisions “There are some basic decisions to make before you even look at a bull,” said Wayne Cockrell of Carter Ranch in Oakwood. “You first have to decide which breed you want to buy. All the

• See POWER/Page 17

Power From 16

✪ October 1, 2011

said Wayne Cockrell of Carter Ranch in Oakwood. “You first have to decide which breed you want to buy. All the breeds have different characteristics and capabilities and you must determine which one best fits your ranching operation and environment.

We run Angus and Brangus, so at least, we can narrow it to

two breeds.”

A seedstock producer’s reputation is the first decision factor on my list,” said Pete Bonds of Saginaw.

“After I become comfortable with the breeder, I examine bulls for structure correctness and ask for their scrotal circumference. EPDs, in which I am interested, include birth weight, yearling weight and marbling. Marbling is important because we sell directly to the packer,” Bonds said.

Bull power improves the herd.

The Land & Livestock Post

Annual Bull Issue

SALE EACH SATURDAY Photo by Robert Fears

According to experts in the industry, the right bull can contribute considerably to your investment return. Producers should consider what they expect from a bull before making their selection.

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October 1, 2011 âœŞ

The Land & Livestock Post

The Land & Livestock Post

News

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October 1, 2011 âœŞ

The Land & Livestock Post

Cattle sales could have tax implications

By BLAIR FANNIN Texas AgriLife Communications

October 1, 2011

Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin

✪

Ranchers across Texas have been forced to sell cattle at a historic rate and income tax implications are a concern, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service economists.

“The historic drought has forced many more cows than normal to be sold throughout Texas,” said David Anderson, AgriLife Extension livestock economist. “Of the $5.2 billion in agricultural losses to date, $2.06 billion has come from our livestock industry, as ranchers have sold off cattle due to lack of forage and escalating supplemental feed expenses. This has created several financial management issues for cattle producers to consider.”

Producers are advised to consult their financial professional for advice that best fits their operation and business plan, said Jose Pena, AgriLife Extension economist.

“Everybody’s situation is different, and it may not be best practice to do what your neighbor does,” he said.

Pena said there are things to consider looking ahead for the 2011 tax year.

“If weather-related sales cause a producer to sell livestock, the gain on the sale can be postponed,” Pena said.

“There are two different tax treatments, both of which apply only to weather-related sales in excess of normal business practice.”

The first treatment applies to draft, breeding or dairy animals that will be replaced within a two-year period, Pena said.

The second applies to all livestock and allows a one-year postponement of the reporting of the sales proceeds.

“If livestock (other than poultry) held for any length of time for draft, breeding or dairy purposes is sold because of weather-related conditions, the gain realized on the sale does not have to be recognized if the proceeds are used to purchase replacement livestock within two years of the end of the tax year of the sale,” Pena said.

The replacement livestock must be used for the same purpose as the livestock that

ranching; use the cash method of accounting; show that the livestock would normally have been sold in a subsequent year; and that the sale of livestock was caused by weather conditions from an area (county declaration or contiguous county) officially declared as a disaster area. The sale can take place before or after an area is declared a disaster area as long as the same disaster caused the sale.”

The amount of income that can be postponed is the income generated from the excess amount of livestock sold as a result of weatherrelated causes, Pena said.

“For example, if a rancher sells 150 head of livestock due to weather-related causes instead of a usual average of 100 head, the income generated from the sale of the extra 50 head may be postponed to the following year,” he said.

The Land & Livestock Post

News

The ongoing drought has led to many ranchers selling cattle across Texas, which could have tax implications for the sellers.

“To qualify for this elec“A statement should be was sold, he said. For example, dairy cows must be attached to the tax return tion, the taxpayer must show replaced with dairy cows. indicating the existence of that his/her principal busiThe taxpayer must show that the weather-related condi- ness is from farming or the weather-related condi- tions, the computation of the tions caused the sale of more amount of the gain realized livestock than would have on the sale or exchange, the been sold without the number and kind of livestock sold or exchanged and the drought conditions.

“For example, if the farmer number of livestock of each normally sells one-fifth of the kind that would have been herd each year, only the sales sold or exchanged under the in excess of one-fifth will usual business practice in the qualify for this provision,” he absence of the weather-relatsaid. “There is no require- ed condition.”

Another scenario involves ment that the weather-related conditions cause an area to sales of livestock inventory. be declared a disaster area by Pena said if inventory of livestock (calves, stockers, etc.) the federal government.”

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The Land & Livestock Post

News Koch building herd with Japanese beef

October 1, 2011

✪

Associated Press

EUREKA, Kan. — Nearly 40 reddish-brown cows and calves roaming a ranch in southeast Kansas are part of Koch Industries’ efforts to remake the domestic cattle industry by producing higher percentages of top-grade beef at little extra cost, according to an official of Koch Agriculture’s Matador Cattle Co. Akaushi cattle, which produce the Kobe beef served at many upscale restaurants, are being raised on the Spring Creek Ranch in Greenwood County. Koch also has herds in Texas and Montana, The Wichita Eagle reported.

Koch is breeding both fullblood cattle and half-blood offspring, mixing Akaushi bulls with its own high-quality

herd.

The company expects the effort to lead to more Kobe beef on American dinner plates. But the company said it is more important to introduce the cattle’s genes to other cattle, producing offspring with higher percentages of top-grade beef.

And raising Akaushi cattle is no more expensive than raising other cattle, said James Palmer, vice president of Koch Agriculture and manager of the Spring Creek Ranch.

“I think there is an opportunity here, but I have to be careful,” Palmer said. “I get excited, and I’ve been doing this long enough I thought I’d never get excited again.”

• See JAPAN/Page 27

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The Land & Livestock Post

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The Land & Livestock Post

Bull Issue Take care of bull herd’s condition before winter

October 1, 2011

✪

By ROBERT WELLS Special to The Post

It is not uncommon for a bull to lose one to one-and-ahalf body condition points during a tightly controlled breeding season.

As long as the mature bull goes into the season with adequate condition, he should easily recover with very little supplemental feed for next year.

If this is a young bull’s first breeding season, however, he will most likely need additional supplemental feed to continue to grow and develop to his full genetic potential.

These two situations can have opposing management scenarios since most people want to keep all bulls together after the breeding season.

Mature bulls would be eating more than they need if they are fed to meet the needs of the younger bulls.

In this situation, it is better to separate the younger and thinner bulls from the rest to more efficiently manage all the bulls. By doing so, the bulls that need more supplemental feed can receive what is necessary to continue their growth or regain condition.

More nutrition

A 2-year-old bull is still growing and developing into a mature animal; thus, he will need a higher plane of nutrition to meet his requirements.

Producers should deter-

In general, a bull that is on a quality pasture and high quality supplemental feed during the growing season should gain enough weight to stay on track for proper growth and development. mine the total amount of weight that a bull needs to gain and how long until the first frost of the year.

It is much easier to put weight on cattle in the growing season than it is during winter.

In general, a bull that is on a quality pasture and high quality supplemental feed during the growing season should gain enough weight to stay on track for proper growth and development. Once frost occurs and colder weather sets in, intake will have to be increased accordingly.

Remember that the goal is to have the bull in a body condition score of 6.5 at turn-out time in the spring.

It is much easier and more efficient to get the bull to this condition while he is grazing

• See CONDITION/Page 25

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Condition From 24

Don’t forget about an effective herd health program for your bulls.

All bulls should receive viral respiratory complex vaccine booster (four- or fiveway vaccination: IBR, BVDV, PI3, BRSV). Vaccination against the Leptospirosis and Vibriosis diseases also is recommended.

Additionally, guarding against internal and external parasites will increase the health status of the bull. Use a

October 1, 2011

Herd health program

✪

on green forages and then to maintain that condition during the winter than it is to try to put on additional condition during the winter.

quality anthelmentic to control internal parasites.

Flies, ticks and lice easily can be controlled with a combination of ear tags, sprays and back rubs. Be sure to rotate classes of active ingredients which will reduce resistance issues.

Finally, as a part of the post-season breeding management program, producers should determine the number of bulls necessary for next season and identify a source for replacements.

Quality bulls typically are sold in the fall before the breeding season to ranchers who are proactive. This leaves the rest of the bull selection for those who wait.

A successful bull program doesn’t happen by accident and requires planning all year long rather than thinking about bulls only just before and during the breeding season.

Remember, your bulls are the most important employees on the ranch. Make sure you pay attention to their needs year round.

The Land & Livestock Post

Annual Bull Issue

Photo by the Noble Foundation

A successful bull program requires year-long planning rather than thinking about your bulls only just before and during the breeding season.

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The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011

News

Recent rains not enough to prepare a winter crop

By ROBERT BURNS Texas AgriLife Extension Service

Many parts of the state received from a trace to 4 inches of rain, but as welcome as the moisture was, people rushing to plant winter wheat or pasture may be setting themselves up for an expensive failure, according to a Texas AgriLife Extension Service agronomist.

From Sept. 13 through Sept.

20, much of the state east of Interstate 45 received from 1 to 2 inches of rain, according the National Weather Service.

Parts of the Panhandle and North Texas received similar amounts, as did San Antonio and surrounding counties.

The Coastal Bend and South Texas areas had large pockets of 3 to 4 inches of rain.

But even where 4 inches was received, the deep soil moisture profile is so poor that, without regular rains,

early planting of winter wheat could result in “catastrophic” failures, said Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage specialist, College Station.

“The soil is so devoid of moisture right now that even where there was 4 inches, we’ve only wetted up the top part of that profile,” Redmon said.

“If people plant now, they’re likely to get that seed to germinate, but there’s not going to be any moisture down below for that plant.”

Redmon’s warning applies not just to winter wheat but to winter pastures as well.

“We see this a lot with winter annuals,” Redmon said.

“We’ll get just enough rain to germinate, get the plant up, but then we don’t get enough rain for the plant to survive.”

When there are moisture reserves deep in the soil profile, plants will survive dry

spells because they can tap down into it.

But with no deep moisture, it’s going to take regular rains to keep the top layer of soil wet and maintain new plantings, he said.

A lot of people may know these basic facts and still plant, Redmon noted.

Hay supplies are nearly non-existent because of the extended drought, and so many producers are in dire need of forages to maintain their cattle through fall and winter, and there is going to be the tendency to optimistically gamble on more rain coming.

“And certainly that’s their call, but they’re gambling they’re going to not only get more rain this week, but the next, and the week thereafter,” he said.

“With the forecast that La Niña is supposed to strengthen, which bodes for a dry win-

early spring anyway, he said.

Also while the cost of establishing wheat or oats or rye is relatively high, the gamble with ryegrass is not going to be so high-stakes.

“The seeding rate for wheat and other winter annuals is typically about 90 pounds per acre, and the seed is not cheap,” he said.

“So if we miss that fall window of opportunity, then ryegrass becomes an option that is a lot less expensive to plant. You only have to plant 30 pounds per acre. You don’t have to drill it; you can broadcast it, and drag or lightly harrow it,” he said.

More information on the current Texas drought and wildfire alerts can be found on the AgriLife Extension Agricultural Drought Task Force website at agrilife. tamu.edu/drought/.

ter and spring, I’m thinking that’s not a good gamble,” Redmon said.

Redmon recommended producers wait a bit to see what the weather brings. The planting window for winter wheat extends to late-October and early November in the Lubbock or Amarillo area.

Farther south, into Central Texas, producers can plant as late as Christmas or New Year’s Day and still have a chance to make a crop, he said.

After that, there are other choices besides wheat and the usual winter annuals.

“If we get much later than that, then wheat may not be the best choice (for grazing),” he said.

“Maybe ryegrass becomes a better player than wheat or oats or rye.” he said.

This is because ryegrass is going to make most of its growth in the late winter,

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“Retain receipts for any supplies purchased for temporary repairs, as some or all of these costs may be reimbursed by homeowners insurance,” she said She added that during the recovery process, it’s also a

good idea to keep a “communications log” of any conversations with the insurance company, local authorities and contractors or others providing home repairs in order to keep track of expected repair dates, estimated costs and specific actions to be taken or work to be done.

Cavanagh said the Texas Department of Insurance has offered guidance regarding insurance claims to Texans affected by wildfires. That information can be found at www.tdi.texas.gov/news/2011 /news201130.html.

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pany to fly three bulls and eight cows out of the country.

The cattle were quarantined in the U.S. until the legal issues were settled.

“There were some pretty bitter feelings about it in the beginning,” Fielding said.

“But now we have a great relationship with the Akaushi people (in Japan) because the geneticist who has worked on it for the last 15 years has done a super job of protecting the genetics.”

Koch hasn’t yet sold any of its pure-bred Akaushi cattle for meat and won’t for several years.

But it did wean 300 crossbred calves this year companywide and expects to triple that next year.

Palmer hopes to have the herd at its optimum size within five years.

He foresees a herd of 300 to 500 full-blood Akaushi cows producing half-blood calves for Koch and for its customers.

“We’re past the point of it being an experiment,” Palmer said.

✪

Akaushi cattle have more marbling, which means more fat within the protein, giving the meat a rich taste and tender feel.

A commercial cattle herd is typically 2 to 3 percent prime, the highest grade; 65 to 70 percent is choice, the next highest grade; and the rest is select, the lowest grade, Palmer said.

A full-blood Akaushi cattle herd is 80 to 98 percent prime and the rest is choice, he said.

The half-blood cattle will be at least 30 percent prime with the remainder choice.

Raising the ratio could mean $30 more per hundred pounds of cattle, Palmer said.

Akaushi beef has more oleic acid, meaning it has less saturated fat, the so-called bad fat, and more monounsaturated fat, said Bill Fielding, CEO of HeartBrand Beef, a Texas company that is mar-

keting the breed and guarding the purity of the cattle’s DNA. “With this fat structure, beef no longer has to take a back seat to chicken, it no longer has to take a back seat to buffalo,” he said.

The cattle are given no hormones at any time and no antibiotics after they leave the ranch.

HeartBrand Beef owns the Akaushi bred in America.

Koch is one of the few producers that contracts with HeartBrand.

Fielding said HeartBrand pays its partners $100 a head above market rate for the Akaushi calves, although it expects to reap more than that from the meat. As the operation ramps up, he said, HeartBrand expects to share more of the benefit with its partners.

Fielding said the Akaushi are fiercely protected by the Japanese cattle industry and government, which worry about others diluting the breed.

A loophole in a 1994 export treaty allowed a Korean com-

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The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011

News

Government expanding E. coli testing in meat

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The government is expanding its testing of E. coli in meat, a move that will hasten recalls and help authorities identify more foodborne illnesses.

The meat industry has been required for 17 years to test for the common O157:H7 strain of the pathogen. Now it will test for six more. These other strains of E. coli have increasingly been found in food in recent years, and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says other strains cause an estimated 110,000 illnesses annually.

Food safety advocates and meat industry representatives briefed on the decision say the meat companies will begin testing for six additional strains of E. coli in beef trimmings — parts of the cow that end up in ground beef — in March and may later expand to other meats.

The meat industry immediately opposed the move, saying it is too expensive to do the tests and there isn’t

enough benefit.

“USDA will spend millions of dollars testing for these strains instead of using those limited resources toward preventive strategies that are far more effective in ensuring food safety,” said James H. Hodges, executive vice president of the American Meat Institute. A spokeswoman said Hodges had been briefed on the plan.

Food safety lawyer and advocate Bill Marler petitioned USDA to ban the six additional strains two years ago. He said he has seen many clients sickened by the less common strains of E. coli.

“There is no daylight between how a person with E. coli O157:H7 and a person with the other strains gets sick,” said Marler, who was briefed on the announcement.

“People get kidney failure, people die, people have longterm complications. The number the bug has isn’t really relevant.”

E. coli is very common.

Hundreds of strains, most harmless, live in the intestines of humans, cows and numerous other animals. But

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some produce toxins that can cause diarrhea, sometimes severe enough to kill.

The E. coli O157:H7 strain was classified by USDA in 1994 as an “adulterant” — meaning more testing and swifter recalls if it is found — after an outbreak of that strain the year before at Jack in the Box fast-food restaurants killed four children. But the other strains have increasingly been found in food, including in lettuce and ground beef last year.

Advocates have been pushing the Obama administration for years to classify the additional six strains as adulterants, and the classification was delayed for several months as the White House reviewed it. The government came under renewed pressure after a European outbreak of a new non-O157 strain of E. coli that killed dozens. However, that new

strain is not one of the six that the government will test for in the United States.

One reason it has taken years to test for the pathogens is the time it has taken to develop the tests. Now that the meat will be tested, advocates expect that many more illnesses will be found as the testing samples are linked to outbreaks.

“We are gratified that the Obama administration finally put public health ahead of industry interests by giving the USDA the authority to take action against these other pathogens,” said Wenonah Hauter, director of the advocacy group Food & Water Watch.

The USDA oversees meat safety, while the FDA oversees the safety of most other foods. The FDA does not distinguish between different forms of E. coli when investigating outbreaks.

AP file photo/Carolyn Kaster

An E. coli screening test for "O" antigens is seen in the Gastroenteric Disease Center at Pennsylvania State University's Wiley Lab in State College, Pa. The USDA announced that it is expanding its testing of E. coli in meat, a move that will hasten recalls and help authorities identify more foodborne illnesses.

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Caution From 14

to donate to either local agencies with which you are familiar or donate to larger national relief agencies, such as the Red Cross or Salvation Army, which are well-established and trusted organizations known for their disaster relief efforts.

Granovsky said a good rule of thumb with any organization to which you are contributing is to verify that at least 75 percent of the money donated will go to the specific effort to which you are contributing.

She said going to www.charitynavigator.org or www2.guidestar.org can be helpful in assessing the legitimacy of a charity and analyzing its financial administration.

She added that the Better Business Bureau website at www.bbb.org/us/charity also can provide information on what charities may have complaints registered against them.

“You can also go to the website for the Texas Office of the Attorney General for information or to register a complaint if you think you have been scammed by someone falsely representing a charitable organization,” Granovsky said.

The Office of the Attorney General has oversight authority over more than 50,000 active charitable organizations and trust entities, she said.

“Of course, you may want to consider giving your time to volunteering in relief efforts or providing canned foods or clothing instead of making a monetary donation,” she said.

“But be sure to coordinate it with the people managing the emergency relief efforts to make sure you’re providing something the people affected by a disaster really need,” Granovsky said.

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JOYCE CAVANAGH AgriLife Extension family economics specialist

Get Your Name

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“If in doubt, don’t give it out,” she said.

Cavanagh also suggested examining bank statements, credit card statements and other statements closely for any unauthorized purchases or withdrawals.

“About 60 days after the disaster, you should request copies of your credit report from all three major credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax,” she said.

“Sometimes after a disaster, credit bureaus do not charge victims for their credit reports, so be sure to ask. And if you believe someone has committed identity theft against you or may do so in the future, you may want to add an Initial Security Alert to your personal credit report,” Cavanagh said.

She said this initial alert will remain for 90 days and will notify anyone who reviews your report to take extra steps to verify the identity before granting credit.

“You need to request the security alert with only one credit bureau,” she said.

“That bureau should automatically notify the other two to place an alert on your file. But be aware that adding an alert to your credit report may prevent you from opening an account unless the creditor is able to get in touch with you and positively confirm your identity and that you are applying for credit.”

Cavanagh said additional information on preventing identity theft can be obtained at www.consumer.gov/ idtheft.

Nancy Granovsky, AgriLife Extension family economics specialist, added that another scam people should be aware of relates to those who might try to fraudulently obtain money for disaster relief efforts.

“Some people will prey on the compassion and giving nature of others for their own benefit,” Granovsky said. “If you are approached by someone representing an organization you have never heard of soliciting donations for disaster relief, check them out before you write a check or drop any money into a bucket.”

She said it is usually safest

“If you believe someone has committed identity theft against you or may do so in the future, you may want to add an Initial Security Alert to your personal credit report.”

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The Land & Livestock Post ✪ October 1, 2011

News LIVESTOCK MARKET REPORTS Bryan

Results of the Brazos Valley Livestock Commission’s Sept.

13 sale: Head: 2,384 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $110$165; 300-400 lbs., $101$158; 400-500 lbs., $95-$135; 500-600 lbs., $97-$134; 600700 lbs., $95-$122; 700-800 lbs., $108-$122.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $105$132.50; 300-400 lbs., $131; 400-500 lbs., $101-$126; 500600 lbs., $95-$122; 600-700 lbs., $90-112; 700-800 lbs., $99-$110.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$75.

Slaughter cows: $30-$65.

Bred cows: $475-$910.

Cow/calf pairs: $600$1,000.

Buffalo

Results of the Buffalo Livestock Exchange’s Sept. 10 sale: Head: 3,686 Steers: 150-200 lbs., $100$155; 200-300 lbs., $100$165; 300-400 lbs., $120$162; 400-500 lbs., $115$147.50; 500-600 lbs., $110$154; 600-700 lbs., $105$127; 700-800 lbs., $100$113.

Heifers: 150-200 lbs., $115$140; 200-300 lbs., $115$150; 300-400 lbs., $105$140; 400-500 lbs., $103$137; 500-600 lbs., $100$120; 600-700 lbs., $95-$117; 700-800 lbs., $92-$105.

Slaughter bulls: $60-$74.

Slaughter cows: $45-$72.

Bred cows: $650-$1,100.

Cow/calf pairs: $650$1,360.

Caldwell

Results of the Caldwell Livestock Commission’s Sept.

14 sale: Head: 1,205 Steers: 200-300 lbs., $120$165; 300-400 lbs., $120$160; 400-500 lbs., $110$140; 500-600 lbs., $105-

$140; 600-700 lbs., $100$130; 700-800 lbs., $95-$130.

Heifers: 200-300 lbs., $100$140; 300-400 lbs., $100$140; 400-500 lbs., $105$140; 500-600 lbs., $100$130; 600-700 lbs., $95-$130.

Slaughter bulls: $50-$68.

Slaughter cows: $30-$71.

Stocker cows: $30-$71.

Cow/calf pairs: $700$1,010.

Navasota

Results of the Navasota Livestock Auction Co.’s Sept.

10 sale: Head: 3,693 Steers: 150-300 lbs., $115$172.50; 300-400 lbs., $100$150; 400-500 lbs., $100$145; 500-600 lbs., $100$143; 600-700 lbs., $100$129.

Heifers: 150-300 lbs., $100$145; 300-400 lbs., $100$137.50; 400-500 lbs., $100$127.50; 500-600 lbs., $100$122; 600-700 lbs., $100$117.

Slaughter bulls: $50-$74.50.

Slaughter cows: $30-$64.

Stocker cows: $650-$1,025.

Cow/calf pairs: $650$1,025.

Milano

Results of the Milano Livestock Exchange’s Sept. 13 sale: Head: 1,974 Steers: 300-400 lbs., $125.50-$155; 400-500 lbs., $120-$142; 500-600 lbs., $115.50-$137.50; 600-700 lbs., $113-$127.50.

Heifers: 300-400 lbs., $114.50-$142.50; 400-500 lbs., $110.50-$128; 500-600 lbs., $106-$125.50; 600-700 lbs., $104-$118.

Slaughter bulls: $54-$69.

Slaughter cows: $31.50-$68.

Bred cows: $740-$1,010.

Cow/calf pairs: $880$1,370.

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