Website/Market Report ......... www.clmgalt.com Web Broadcast ............ www.lmaauctions.com
Top Consignments from throughout California and Nevada will be Showcased during These Upcoming Special Sales ... UPCOMING CLM SPECIAL WEDNESDAY FEEDER SALES
September 11 & 25
October 9 & 23
November 6 & 20
December 4 & 18
FALL ANGUS BULL SALES AT CLM Saturday SEPTEMBER 14
Arellano Bravo Angus Production Sale Friday SEPTEMBER 20
Dixie Valley Angus Fall Bull Sale Tuesday SEPTEMBER 24
Thomas Angus Ranch California Bull Sale
CLM ANNUAL REPLACEMENT FEMALE SALE & PARNELL’S ‘WORLD OF BULLS’ SALE Saturday NOVEMBER 4
Females at 9:30 a.m. • Bulls at 12:30 p.m.
UPCOMING WESTERN VIDEO MARKET SALES
September 10 – Haythorn Ranch, Ogallala, NE Catalog Online: www.wvmcattle.com
October 18 – WVM Headquarters, Cottonwood, CA Consignment Deadline: October 9
December 3 – Silver Legacy Resort, Reno, NV Consignment Deadline: November 14
September 10
Simulcast on DISH 998 Haythorn Ranch Ogallala, NE
October 18
Consignment Deadline: October 9 WVM Headquarters Cottonwood, CA
3
Consignment Deadline: November 14 Silver Legacy Reno, NV
3841 North Freeway Blvd., Suite 130 Sacramento, CA 95834
Matt Macfarlane | (916) 803-3113 m3cattlemarketing@gmail.com
BILLING SERVICES
Lisa Brendlen lisa@calcattlemen.org
SERVING CALIFORNIA BEEF PRODUCERS SINCE 1917
Bolded names and businesses in editorial represent only current members of the California Cattlmen’s Association or California CattleWomen, Inc. For questions about membership status, contact the CCA office at (916) 444-0845. The California Cattleman (Publication #8-3600) is published monthly except May/June is combined by the California Cattlemen’s Association, for $20/year, or as part of the annual membership dues. All material and photos within may not be reproduced without consent of publisher.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Siskiyou County Cattlemen's Shasta Valley Ranch Tour Sept. 14
Napa-Solano Cattlemen's Fall Tour Meeting Sept. 14
Plumas-Sierra Cattlemen's Fall Tour Meeting Sept. 14
Public Lands Council Annual Meeting Sept. 17-19 Grand Junction, Colo.
Mendocino County Cattlemen's Fall Tour Meeting Sept. 28
CCA Scholarship Deadline Oct. 1
CCA Convention Internship Deadline Oct. 11
CCA & CCW Convention Dec. 4-6, 2024
Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, Nev.
Come Thursday night before the sale for a steak dinner and the Chad Bushnell concert!
Dam of M072.
ASSOCIATION PERSPECTIVES
10 14
CATTLEMEN’S COLUMN
All about perspective
BUNKHOUSE
One year counting
DUES DOLLARS AT WORK
CCA President shares "State of the Industry" with state board of Ag
COUNCIL COMMUNICATOR
Cattle Council puts latest priorities into action
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Summer meetings glean productive results
BEEF ABROAD
Global demand up in second quarter
This month's cover photo, taken by Alyssa Azevedo, a second-year Animal Science student and the Cal Poly Bull Test Marketing and Media Coordinator, depicts the one-of-a-kind experience students get through the annual bull test and sale process. To learn more about this year's event, see coverage and consignor ads beginning on page 56. 18 44 66 54
ON THE COVER
SPECIAL FEATURES
MEASURE J
Sonoma County ballot measure could wreak havoc on ag
CCA ZONE 2
Breaking down details of CCA's membership on the North Coast
LASTING LEGACY
Oak Ridge Angus continues mission of stewardship
BULL SALE MILESTONE
Visalia celebrates 30 th annual Cattlemen's Select Bull Sale
HEIFER DEVELOPMENT
Comprehensive points to consider for your replacement females
FERTILITY & CULLING
Phenotype and fertility comparison
AG ADVENTURE CAMP
Thousand Hills Ranch welcomes youth for education
EXPLORING FEED EFFICIENCY
Cal Poly research
MOTTO IN MOTION
Bull test and sale a monumental production
INSECT INFESTATION
Californians combatting grasshopper takeover
ANGUS RANCH Total Dispersion
• 150 SPRING BRED COWS – The heart of the herd carrying the service of the $170,000 EZAR Gettysburg 1061, the $600,000 Basin Jameson 1076, the $180,000 KA Kindred, Baldridge Heat Seeker H925, Virginia Tech Statesman, the $132,500 EZAR Step Up 9178, and more...
• 100 SPRING BRED HEIFERS – A deep offering of heavily sorted coming 2-year-olds where 65 head are products of the embryo transfer program. Bred to the same elite sires including Gettysburg, Basin Jameson, Heat Seeker, Statesman, and Kindred.
• 185 ET PREGNANT RECIPIENTS – Bull and Heifer pregnancies out of the elite EZ donor arsenal sired by EZAR Gettysburg 1061, FF Rito Ambitious, BA7 Oaks Bold Ruler, Baldridge Heat Seeker H925, Pine View Red State, KA Kindred, Mason Landmark 2313, and more. In these recipient females, 70% are registered cows with papers.
• 75 FALL-BORN YEARLING HEIFERS – Quality set of breeding age females sired by Gettysburg, Basin Jameson, SG Salvation, Virginia Tech Statesman, EXAR Cover The Bases 0819B, Connealy Commerce, DB Iconic G95, and more...
• 125 SPRING-BORN HEIFER CALVES – An exciting group of the next generation EZ females sired by Gettysburg, Basin Jameson, SG Salvation, Connealy Craftsman, Pine View Red State, Poss Ratified, RSA True Balance 1311, and some of the first daughters to sell by the $90,000 EZAR Spurs Up 1125!
• 125 SPRING-BORN BULL CALVES – The bull mates in their entirety bred the same as the heifers that typically funnel in to one of the most successful bull sales on the west coast. Many herdsire potential individuals in this group that features over 60% with calving-ease criteria.
EZ Angus Ranch is selling their half-interest in Paf Rita 7096, one of the most dominant and powerfully made Angus females in the breed today. When you search the entire Angus database, no other proven female can exceed her combination of core traits of CED, WW, YW, Marbling, and Ribeye EPD at an accuracy of .55 or greater. She will also have 18 direct progeny in the offering by Jameson, Red State, Craftsman, True Balance, Statesman, Deadwood, and Guru as well as 12 pregnancies by the $235,000 FF Rito Ambitious and the $180,000 KA Kindred!
7096
CATTLEMEN’S COLUMN
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE WHAT YOU MAKE OF THEM
by CCA Second Vice President Frank Imhof
When I considered being involved at the state leadership level, it was largely because I wanted to be sure that in a state as big, broad and diverse as ours, CCA’s dues dollars were being used on the overarching issues that impact cattle producers on the West Coast.
As a Bay Area rancher and hay farmer, I am well aware that some of my agriculture challenges are not the same as those in your part of the state. I do believe however that we can relate to and appreciate the challenges or opportunities faced by each of us.
One example, for me, that I know some of you can recognize even if it’s not a problem in your neck of the woods is traffic. We have one set of corrals that is only 13 miles from our home place. But that 13 miles takes me an hour and a half to reach each day. While I do get a lot of work done in that hour and a half, it is a significant sacrifice I make for my cattle business. Traffic is a unique challenge to my situation, one that I have accepted as it has intensified over the years, but it makes things harder none the less.
In the Bay Area, public awareness, not just about raising cattle but about Mother Nature in general is another common problem I see.
Just this week on ABC’s Channel 7 in the Bay Area there was a story about mountain lions in a public walking area in Pleasanton. The news reporter was stopping walkers to ask their opinion. One woman immediately recognized the danger, admitting that it made her uneasy while another man was enthusiastic about sharing his walking route with such wildlife, saying it made him all the more excited about his choice of outdoor activities.
While this stark contrast is not new to many parts of California, I do find it increasingly concerning that people in my back yard are so out of touch with the realities and consequences of the great outdoors. These same people are also often unaware of what it takes to get food to their kitchen table. So much so that they are not just naïve about cattle ranching but downright unfriendly about it. As I have traveled with hay equipment or a stock trailer to other parts of our state, I see the kind of disregard ranchers in the Bay Area have is not the case in many parts of California.
For you, as a member of CCA, I know the challenges you have in some cases might be similar to my situation and in some areas might be completely different. On CCA’s leadership team, we have cattlemen and women from all parts of the state, from all kinds of backgrounds and all kinds of agriculture operations. This enables us to put our
heads together, to see the bigger picture and tackle the topics that really will impact all of us. CCA staff is also great at handling case-by-case situations impeding individual members, but as a whole, CCA is a watchdog that is working to promote and protect your lifestyle across the entire state; watching for issues coming down the pike for us on the local level and beyond.
Similarly to our leadership team, CCA's membership is spread across the Golden State on different kinds of outfits, in different climates, facing all kids of different threats. Being a member of CCA aligns you with like-minded individuals with a common purpose even if your situations are not the same.
I have been involved in many organizations, served on many boards, in leadership capacities and various political circles and what I love about CCA is the ability our members have to be heard. As politics go, you could write $1,000, $5,000 or even a $10,000 check to a campaign or cause and never have your individual concerns heard. The people you donate to may never even know you exist. But CCA dues dollars not only allow you to be heard within your own organization, but you have opportunities to sit face-to-face with lawmakers and tell them what you do, why it matters and what they can do to help you stay in business. And I can tell you from experience that in situations like this, lawmakers and their staff actually listen.
As we find ourselves in the midst of yet another unprecedented political season, I want to leave you with some final thoughts about working across the aisle. No matter what political party you affiliate with, California is a state in which you cannot keep your head down. If we don’t share our story, no one else is going to do it for us. Those of us in food production know our value but we can't assume that any lawmaker – Republican or Democrat –automatically supports what we do. Having worked with good and bad politicians of both parties, I think it is important to keep an open mind, decide which candidate’s principles work for you and vote accordingly. In the event that your candidate doesn’t win, dig in, do the work and continue to use your voice. No matter your situation or circumstance, you choose your way of life because it matters to you and your family. Politics don’t change that.
I have been honored to serve on CCA’s officer team for the last two years and I look forward to advocating for our way of life on the state and local level for years to come.
AZEVEDO LIVESTOCK
BIANCHI RANCHES D ANGUS
DEL TORO RED ANGUS
EAGLE GRIP CATTLE CO
FOUTS ANGUS
FURTADO ANGUS
GILLILAND LIVESTOCK GOLD RUSH LIVESTOCK HAVE ANGUS
J AND J CATTLE
MCDOUGALD RANCH
RIVERS RED ANGUS
RIVER BEND MEADOWS RANCH
5J ANGUS RANCH
SCHMIDT CATTLE CO THE SPANISH RANCH RED RUBY FARMS SPLIT CREEK ANGUS
STEPASIDE FARM LLC
TUMBLEWEED RANCH
TWIN PINES ANGUS
ANOTHER TRIP AROUND THE SUN
by CCA Membership & Events Coordinator Gracie LeCheminant
This month marks one year of working at the California Cattlemen’s Association, and I can only smile when reflecting on my last year of experiences. I truly started at the finish when jumping into the Fall Tour Meetings and helping plan the 2023 Convention. Now, after one whole trip around the sun, I have been involved in planning every event including the annual convention, CCA’s Legislative Breakfast, Feeder Council Meeting, CCA’s Cattle-PAC Fundraiser, Midyear Meeting and various others in between. So far, my favorite event to help plan and attend has been the Legislative Breakfast which took place in March at the Sutter Club in downtown Sacramento. At the breakfast, CCA members dine on steak and eggs while visiting with California State Assemblymembers, Senators, and various legislative staff while listening to engaging speakers. After breakfast is concluded, CCA members make the short trip down the street to the Capitol, where they attend meetings with California State Legislators who represent their areas within the state. During these meetings, members are able to have one-on-one conversations about issues the cattle industry in their area are facing. While this event takes an immense amount of work to plan and coordinate, it truly is one of the most rewarding events as members themselves have the opportunity to make a direct impact.
Aside from events, membership is also one of my main responsibilities and priorities. As you may know, in November of 2023, CCA kicked off a few new member incentive programs. These programs closed in May, and I am happy to report that CCA gained 69 new members! These programs assisted in recruiting many new members at the annual Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale in January. This was another highlight of my first year at CCA. This year at the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale, CCA's information booth was set up next to the Rancher Technical Assistance Program booth and the California Farm Bureau booth, making it a one-stop shop for many who walked by. It was great to see staff, officers and members from these three entities catching up with one another. CCA, RTAP and the California Farm Bureau even hosted a round table during the tradeshow where individuals could discuss issues California farming and ranching is facing with the three groups.
Following the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale, the new member incentive programs stayed popular as CCA staff and officers visited local associations at tour meetings, recruiting new
members at the local level. Traveling across the state and having the opportunity to meet some of you has been such a great experience, and I look forward to continuing to as we get into Fall Tour Meetings over the next few months. I have already reached out to several local associations about getting tour meetings scheduled, but please do not hesitate to reach out to me to get dates set on the calendars of staff and officers.
Another great experience I’ve had during my first year at CCA was the 2023 convention. The annual convention truly has so many moving parts, and it was amazing helping plan last year’s event and watch it be executed as the week unfolds. I have learned so much from attending various tour meetings throughout the state and planning events like Legislative Breakfast, and I am excited to take the bull by the horns this December at the California Cattlemen’s Association and California CattleWomen’s 108th Annual Convention and California Cattle Industry Tradeshow.
This year’s convention will take place Dec. 4 to Dec. 6 at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev. While the Nugget Casino Resort has served us well in the past, we are very excited to be moving the convention to a new venue this year. I hope that those of you who have thought about attending the annual convention in the past but haven’t been able to take the time out of your busy schedules to attend will be able to join us this year. From networking in the California Cattle Industry Tradeshow to listening to engaging general session speakers from across the country or visiting with other CCA members from around the state, to being engaged in various CCA Committee Meetings – there is no doubt that the CCA & CCW Annual Convention is enjoyable for everyone who attend. Online registration for CCA’s 108th Annual Convention is now open. Please visit calcattlemen. org/convention2024 or call the CCA office at (916) 444-0845 to get registered today. I hope to see you there!
If you have any questions regarding membership, Fall Tour Meetings or the upcoming convention, please feel free to reach out to me at gracie@calcattlemen.org. I look forward to seeing you all this upcoming fall and in Reno!
Most Valuable Performance
EPDs, $Values, DNA Data and Individual Performance and Ratios.
Most Valuable Phenotype
Bulls backed by a functional, maintenance free cow herd adding the longevity to keep you in business.
Most Valuable Profit
Our customers’ calves continue to bring a premium – The only reason we do this is for our commercial customers to be profitable.
*Connealy Commerce x #+*MGR Treasure
2024 CCA & CCW ANNUAL CONVENTION & TRADESHOW
DEC.
4 -
DEC. 6 | GRAND SIERRA RESORT | RENO, NEV.
2024 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD
10:45am - 5:00pm CCA Scholarship Interviews
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4TH
7:00am - 7:30pm Registration Open
8:00am - 5:00pm CRT Board Meeting
9:00 - 10:00am Mandatory Tradeshow Exhibitor Meeting/Allied Industry
9:00am - 10:30am CCA Officer’s Meeting
11:00am - Noon YCC Networking in the Tradeshow
11:00am - Noon A California CattleWomen Heritage Foundation, Inc.
11:00am - 12:30pm California Cattlemen’s Foundation Board of Directors
Noon - 9:30pm Tradeshow Open
1:30 - 2:30pm CBCIA Board Meeting
1:30 - 2:30pm CCA Finance and Membership Meeting
2:30 - 3:30pm Cattle-PAC Meeting
2:30 - 3:30pm YCC Social
2:30 - 4pm California CattleWomen Executive Committee
4:00 - 5:00pm Opening General Session
6:30 - 9:30pm Tradeshow Welcome Party
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5TH
6:30 - 7:30am Prayer Gathering
7:00am - 5:00pm Registration Open
7:00am - 1:00pm Allied Industry Tradeshow
7:00- 8:00am Breakfast in the Tradeshow
7:00 - 8:00am LMRF Meeting
7:00 - 8:00am Wolf Subcommittee
8:00 - 9:30am General Session #2
10:00 - 10:45am California CattleWomen Workshop
10:00am - Noon Cattle Health and Well-Being
10:00am - Noon Cattle Marketing and International Trade
10:00am - Noon CCA Federal Lands
11:00am - 1:30pm Cowbelle of the Year Lunch
Noon - 1:00pm Lunch in the Tradeshow
Noon - 1:00pm Past Presidents Lunch
1:00 - 2:00pm General Session #3
2:00 - 4:00pm Cattlemen’s Poster Session
2:00 - 4:00pm CCA Property Rights & Environmental Management
2:00 - 4:00pm CCA Agriculture & Food Policy/Tax and Credit
3:00 - 4:00pm Tax & Credit (Policy Breakout)
3:00 - 5:00pm California CattleWomen Board and Membership Meeting
4:00 - 5:00pm Young Cattlemen’s Chute Side Conversation
4:00 - 5:00pm Local Presidents and Secretaries Meeting
5:00 - 6:00pm CCA President’s Reception
6:30 - 9:00pm CCA & CCW Reception and Awards Banquet
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6TH
7:00 - 8:00am CCA Nominating Committee
7:00 - 9:00am CCW Awards Breakfast
8:30 - 10:00am CCA Board and Membership Meeting
9:30 - 11:30am CCW New Executive Board Workshop
YOUR DUES DOLLARS AT WORK
CCA PRESIDENT PROVIDES "STATE OF THE INDUSTRY" UPDATE TO STATE FOOD & AG BOARD
by CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture gathered in Sacramento on Aug. 6 to hear a “State of the Industry” update from leaders in California’s agricultural community. Among the speakers invited to share their perspectives on current industry trends was CCA President Steve Arnold, Santa Margarita.
The Board of Food and Agriculture advises Governor Gavin Newsom and Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross on issues confronting California agriculture and the needs of its consumers, regularly convening issue-oriented forums to help shape their recommendations.
The Board’s August meeting was squarely focused on market trends and the state’s agricultural economy. Ahead of the meeting, Secretary Ross noted, “California’s farmers and ranchers are experiencing challenging market conditions,” with high input costs and tumbling commodity prices eroding on-farm profitability. Board President Don Cameron, himself a farmer, echoed those concerns ahead of the hearing, saying that “it’s challenging, across the board for farmers, farmworkers and rural communities.”
While the Board’s morning sessions focused on agricultural land and lease values and overviewing agricultural market trends, the Board spent the afternoon pressing representatives of the agricultural community on the state of the industry, aiming to “hear farm perspectives to help inform policy and programs at the federal, state and local level,” according to Secretary Ross.
CCA’s Arnold provided his insights on industry trends in the afternoon alongside representatives of the California Association of Family Farmers, the Allied Grape Growers and the Milk Producers Council. With only 10 minutes allotted to share his insights on the state of the cattle industry, Arnold could not provide a comprehensive update on producers’ concerns, but he addressed a number of CCA’s priority issues, from transportation regulations to gray
wolf management.
Arnold began by addressing the issue du jour: market trends in the industry. While representatives of milk producers and wine grape growers echoed Secretary Ross’s concerns about “challenging market conditions,” Arnold shared a more optimistic outlook from the cattle sector.
“I might be the only person at this table that can actually say that our industry is doing fairly well right now,” Arnold said. “We’ve had two really good years of rainfall back-to-back, which rarely happens, so we have a grass crop, and we have a market that we haven’t seen in history at this point.” Arnold acknowledged that today’s favorable market trends were borne from years of economic challenges for cattlemen, however, noting that “we got here because of the drought conditions that we faced and the elimination of cows over the 17-year cycle from 2007 until today.”
While Arnold took a positive tone on the marketing issues driving the hearing, he spent the bulk of his time illuminating some of the major concerns facing California beef producers.
Echoing comments from the California Association of Family Farmers, Arnold addressed
ON PAGE 20
CCA President Steve Arnold also shared some thoughts about the state of the beef industry with Sacramento's ABC Channel 10.
the wildfire insurance crisis confronting many rural Californians, including farmers and ranchers.
“The problem isn’t necessarily with the cancellation of wildfire insurance policies, it’s that the lending institutions require that insurance. So your only option if you’re in our industry…is to go to the FAIR Plan, which is kind of misnamed in my opinion, but that’s the option.”
Arnold also noted that California cattle producers are grappling with the state’s ambitious climate policies on several fronts, including transportation regulation and the perceived greenhouse gas emissions impacts of cattle production.
On the transportation front, Arnold referred to Governor Newsom’s 2020 executive order which established a state goal that all mediumand heavy-duty trucks within California “be zero-emission by 2045,” saying “I want to tell you right now that is never going to work with the technology we have now because you can’t get enough batteries in an electric truck to get it over top of Highway 80 going East, and almost all of our industry is absolutely dependent on trucking.”
CCA’ s President also took aim at widespread misinformation about ranching’s contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, misinformation which is often wielded by anti-grazing advocates to tarnish the industry’s reptutation.
“We’re frustrated that a lot of the figures that are coming out are not California figures, they’re worldwide figures that are being used against us,” Arnold told the Board before pivoting to correct the record. “But there’s a lot of carbon sequestration that cattle are providing.” Referring to Cattle Council-funded research finding that cattle remove 11.6 billion pounds of fire fuels throughout the state each year and prevent wildfire-related emissions of up to 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year, Arnold asserted that “the fire reduction – the fuel reduction – has to play a factor” in assessing livestock production’s role in California’s climate policies.
Once again shifting to a positive note, Arnold added that “grazing is starting to become fashionable again in California.”
Turning to the issue of gray wolves, Arnold took some time to highlight one of CCA’s major
legislative victories this year: securing $600,000 in funding to keep the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program operational. But the CCA President also acknowledged that the funds appropriated to the program fall short of what producers in wolf country need to insulate themselves from the economic impacts of a fullyprotected apex predator stalking their herds. “We were hoping to do a $3 million annual budget out of it,” Arnold said, “but obviously [with] budget considerations that wasn’t going to happen.”
Arnold conveyed to Secretary Ross and the Board CCA’s priority that gray wolves be delisted from the state and federal endangered species acts so that wildlife agencies and ranchers can better manage wolves when they become chronic depredators of livestock. Arnold pointed to the remarkable recovery of gray wolves in the state in just the past decade, growing from a population of zero in 2014 to a minimum population of 42 wolves across seven known packs today (“The fact of the matter is that there’s probably 100 wolves,” Arnold added).
That population is nearly at a level that would be considered recovered under CDFW’s 2016 Conservation Plan for Gray Wolves, which suggests that the agency will “evaluate whether state listing as endangered remains warranted” once the state has had eight breeding pairs for two successive years. Arnold assured the Board of Food and Agriculture that CCA will “be right there” seeking to delist the species once that threshold is reached.
While the hearing was squarely focused on issues impacting the state’s agricultural economy, Arnold alluded to the fact that wolf predation is not merely a matter of dollars and cents, adding “I’m not even going to say what it’s like watching a wolf kill a calf. You know, it’s just, you can’t run that publicly.”
Arnold ended his comments to the Board as he’d begun: focusing on the good in California’s cattle community. He closed by discussing “the Cattle Council, which is housed here at CDFA.”
In particular, Arnold detailed the good work that the California Cattlemen’s Foundation’s Rancher Technical Assistance Program, funded by grants from the Council, has done to help ranchers navigate California’s complex regulatory landscape. “The Cattle Council’s been hugely successful, and I thank you guys for helping us with that.”
September
FIGHTING MEASURE J PROTECTING AG IN SONOMA COUNTY AND BEYOND
by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande
Being a farmer or rancher takes a strong work ethic, patience, and perseverance to work through the ups and downs of the industry from regulations to natural disasters. Amidst these constant industry challenges, farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to put food on the table. Included in Zone 2, of the California Cattlemen’s Association is the Sonoma-Marin Cattlemen’s Association. In recent months agriculturists of Sonoma County are looking ahead to a ballot measure that could heavily affect the community if passed.
November is right around the corner, which for many brings about the change of season, shipping cattle home and more relaxing days ahead. For Sonoma County farmers and ranchers, it brings about the much-anticipated voting on the Prohibition of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) Ballot Measure J. The measure introduced by nonresidents of the area who are part of an animal extremist group from Berkeley aims to eliminate animal agriculture production, and they are starting in the county. Sonoma County is a popular place to visit for its vineyards and fine dining and serves as home to many multi-generational farms, dairies and ranches all of which contribute to the local and world food supply. If passed, the measure would not only impact these family farms but also hurt the county of Sonoma’s businesses, jobs and economy.
Dayna Ghirardelli, the Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s Executive Director shared how the Bureau and its members have taken the action against farms seriously and are working hard to advocate for and educate the public on what this measure will do to the community and get the facts out there before the vote on Nov. 5. When the Sonoma County Farm Bureau learned
that a petition was being circulated last fall, a stakeholder group was put together and worked to prepare a campaign with the knowledge that the measure was going to be on the ballot. “Sonoma County is really centered around agriculture and people love it here because of its beauty and that it isn’t city-centric,” said Ghirardelli.
Ghirardelli explained that the group is going after the largest of farms in Sonoma County, even though the largest farms in the county are on the smaller side and are using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) guidelines of a concentrated animal feeding operation and want to put it into a county ordinance on how many animals per species can be on the farm. “If these farms go away, it will change the entire landscape of other farms and prices will drive up,” said Ghirardelli. Operations that would immediately face impact are farms such as dairies and poultry facilities whose animal inventory meets the EPA’s CAFO threshold for water quality regulations.
To help educate others before the upcoming vote Ghirardelli has been giving presentations to various organizations to keep them up to date on the Farm Bureau’s efforts and how these groups can help to educate others on the negative impacts the measure will have on the community’s agriculturists.
With the help of farmers and ranchers in the community the Farm Bureau was able to work with a local dairy and host a farm fest that was open to all community members to come and speak with farmers and the agriculture community to learn about what they do on their operations. “It was a tremendously successful day and we recognized that it is something we need to continue doing,” said Ghirardelli.
...CONTINUED ON
OSA Paragon
The day served as a no-pressure event where conversations could take place and agriculturists could receive feedback from the community and answer their questions.
CAFO Ballot Measure J if passed will create a domino effect, first hitting the farms and then trickling down to impacting businesses in the county. Stephanie Larson, the University of California Cooperative Extension, County Director and Livestock and Range Management Advisor shared that at the request of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, the UCCE worked with California State University, Chico to develop an analysis of what the economic impact Measure J would have on Sonoma County. The results from the analysis found that if Measure J passed there would be a reduction in labor, loss of output and loss of employment. Larson did not take a position on the measure, she just provided information on the work the UCCE has done.
Another analysis was also conducted on the statements in the ballot measure to find how relevant the statements were and to see the references that were used to back the claims reflected the agriculture industries in Sonoma County. The findings showed that the statements made in the measure and its citations were from areas not located in Sonoma County and some not even in California.
As a whole, the measure would lead to farms downsizing to meet regulations, decrease employment opportunities and lead to having to retrain employees on the new regulations. The impact will not stop at the farm level either, if herd numbers were to decrease so would the need for feed from a feed store for instance. Also, if farm size is decreased the amount of food and produce being supplied locally will decrease and will lead to a rise in the price of these goods. By cutting out locally sourced goods, reliance on outside produce would lead to more emissions in the area from trucking in items, increasing the carbon footprint.
The animal extremist groups who are leading this ballot measure are not a new face to the county. “Sonoma County agriculturalists have dealt with this group for the last 8 to 10 years,” said Heidi Mickelson, Bodega. Mickelson, previously a high school agriculture teacher and rancher has seen how the message and education of the measure to the public portrays misleading and untrue information. For instance, Mickelson shared how the group attends local events and stores to share information on the measure including the Sonoma County Fair which took place during the first week of August where there was a “Yes on Measure J Booth” at the fair, and down the way was a “No on Measure J Booth” to educate and provide facts that are true as to what the measure actually entails.
As 4-H and FFA members who have worked
diligently raising their animals for the fair arrived, they were advised to be aware of their surroundings and those who may approach them in the barn asking pressing questions. “I just wrapped up serving as an agriculture advisor but have helped to prepare the new advisors for what they may face at the fair and how they can assist the students in an instance where they may be approached,” said Mickelson.
Mickelson works alongside her husband and his family at their ranch Sonoma Mountain Herefords. As cattle producers, they recognize that their operation will not be affected immediately but know that if this measure were to pass it adds more fuel to the fire for animal extremist groups to continue chipping away at the agriculture community. When asked what Mickelson would like the public to know about cattle producers, she shared, “I want them to know how much we truly do care for the environment, our animals and the land. We would not be sustainable for four generations if we did not care.”
Mike Furlong, Sebastopol, the SonomaMarin County Cattlemen’s Association President shared that local association members recognize the impact the measure could have on the community and are ready to act and support fellow farms and ranches in any way possible. Meetings amongst the local association, Sonoma County Farm Bureau and CCA have provided information to producers to help educate them on all that the measure entails. Sonoma County is not new to the challenges facing the industry and works to find the best solutions for its agriculturists.
Longtime rancher, Cheryl LaFranchi, Calistoga, who owns and operates Oak Ridge Angus, detailed how the passing of Measure J would deeply hurt the many businesses that have been established in Sonoma County. LaFranchi explained how these groups are so adamant that cattle are bad for the environment even though cattle run on open spaces that people don’t commonly live and help to mitigate fire by eating down dense forage areas which does help the environment and prevent catastrophic fires. “If the public came out to my ranch, they would see that the cattle are happy and have a good life,” said LaFranchi. “It’s not just me running these cattle, it’s a relationship between the animals, us and the people that work here, you treat your operation how you would want to be treated and it takes care of you.”
If a farmer or rancher is looking to learn more about CAFO Ballot Measure J go to the https://sonomafb.org website where information, materials, and a link to the campaign page can be found. “Sonoma County continues to rely on agriculture, and if people want to eat, we need to make sure to support local farmers,” said Ghirardelli.
RANCHO CASINO DAL PORTO LIVESTOCK
CCA ZONE 2 BY THE NUMBERS
CCA Executive Committee
Zone 1 Director: Myles Flournoy
Zone 2 Director: Jason Hunt
Zone 3 Director: Rich Ross
Zone 4 Director: Clayton Koopmann
Zone 5 Director: Bob Brennan
Zone 6 Director: Mike Souza
Zone 7 Director: Claude Loftus
Zone 8 Director: John Hammon
Zone 9 Director: Mike Williams
Appointees at Large
Myron Openshaw
Greg Kuck
Trevor Freitas
Kevin Kester
Steve Lambert
LOVE OF LAND & LIFESTYLE
OAK RIDGE FAMILY CONTINUES LEGACY
by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande
In the northwestern coastal range of the state lies Zone 2, one of the nine zones identified by the California Cattlemen’s Association. Zones are broken down throughout the state and include four to eight local associations and have a zone director to help communicate any information from the Association to its zone members. Zone 2’s director is Jason Hunt, McKinleyville. This zone reaches all the way to the northwest corner of the state down to the Bay Area. Humboldt-Del Norte, Mendocino, Sonoma-Marin and Napa-Solano local cattlemen’s associations are all a part of this zone. Ranchers throughout the state work day in and day out on their operations to continue their family legacy and provide beef to the world. At the southern end of Zone 2 lies Sonoma County, an area known for its wine, local produce, and beautiful scenery. Follow along below, as Sonoma County rancher, Cheryl LaFranchi shares her ranching story.
Located in Knights Valley, near Calistoga, is the Oak Ridge Angus Ranch, run by Cheryl LaFranchi and her husband, Frank Mongini, DVM. The ranch was first purchased by LaFranchi’s grandfather in 1912 and at the time served as the typical family farm with beef cows, dairy cows, pigs and chickens. As time passed, nearby towns and resources were more accessible, and her grandfather started up an Ayrshire dairy cattle operation. Having the ranch located in the hills, LaFranchi shared how the location was not the most ideal for a dairy due to coastal rains, the runoff and the climate and highway splitting between the ranch made it difficult to move the animals. With the challenges of maintaining a dairy, the LaFranchis transitioned their operation from dairy cattle to a purebred Angus cow-calf operation in the early 1970s. Since then, the family has continued to raise and sell their purebred Angus cattle through live auctions and private treaty for the last 50 years.
After receiving her degree from the University of California, Fresno, in economics in 1983, LaFranchi moved back home to run the ranch as the third generation alongside her father Henry and his brother Al. Today, LaFranchi, her husband, other family members and a few employees manage the day-to-day operations of the ranch.
While the majority of the family's bulls are sold via private treaty, Oak Ridge Angus Bulls have also been sold at the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale for over the last 50 years. LaFranchi shared that when the family first got into the cattle business there were not a lot of Angus cattle around, but fast forward to today, they are one of the most sought out breeds for their genetics and other strong traits. When marketing their animals, LaFranchi shares that buyers come to her based off of word of mouth or if someone views their website. Many of the LaFranchi’s bull buyers have been longtime repeat customers, many of whom are on to the third generation and are now their friends. LaFranchi credits these relationships, which have been developed over the years through good business and staying in contact with one another.
Aside from selling their bulls via private treaty and at Red Bluff, the family also has the branded Oak Ridge Angus Beef Program through the Sonoma County Meat Company. All the animals in the program are grass-raised and brewers’ grainfinished. Once butchered and processed, the Sonoma County Meat Company sells the meat at various farmer’s markets in the Bay Area.
LaFranchi’s favorite part of being a rancher is walking through her cows and calves outside and helping to raise animals that feed the local and growing population. “It’s a wonderful way of life, I seriously am a cowgirl at heart,” said LaFranchi.
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Making friends and the support of the agriculture community is also a positive attribute that LaFranchi appreciates. “When you meet the average rancher, they are at home raising their cattle and if they are off the ranch they are at a meeting, a community gathering or at an industry function enjoying themselves,” shared LaFranchi.
While there are many joys to being a rancher, there are also challenges, one of which is the risk of wildfire. In late October of 2019, the Kincade Fire burned over 77,000 acres in Sonoma County. The fire burnt the family’s entire ranch, livestock loss, and destroyed fences, pens, five houses, and eight barns. In the 10 months following the fire’s devastation, the LaFranchi’s cattle herd declined to half its original size. “The wind blew so hard, the fire swept through pretty fast, and it was hot,” said LaFranchi.
In the first week of the ranch being burnt, fellow ranching friends of the family stepped in to help by shipping over 250 head of livestock to a safe place so that the family could assess the damage to the ranch. Once the cattle had been shipped, the LaFranchis began to stabilize the perimeter of the ranch and as they built back fencing along the roads, they slowly began to move their animals back home. “You find out what is important when you don’t have anything,” said LaFranchi.
Approaching the fifth anniversary of the fire, the LaFranchis have spent an endless amount of time building back their operation from fencing, structure covers for the cattle and five homes and barns. For about two and a half years, LaFranchi shared that builders and equipment were constantly on the property — every day, five days a week. “It’s so nice and calm now and so wonderful to have the family all back and settling back into the ranch,” said LaFranchi.
Aside from the concern of natural disasters such as fires and floods, there are a multitude of other challenges that ranchers continuously face while running their operations. For instance, government regulations and the expense of keeping up to date on those regulations is crucial but also expensive. LaFranchi shared that some other concerns lie within the inheritance tax. “This is huge in family farming operations, passing from one generation to the next,” said LaFranchi. Another challenge many ranchers face when developing and maintaining a branded beef program is close access to and finding the hanging space at a USDA facility. Amidst all these hurdles, the LaFranchis, just like many of California’s cattle ranchers, are resilient and find a way to work through and overcome all that is thrown at them.
Earlier this year, LaFranchi was recognized by the Sonoma County Farm Bureau and inducted
into the Farm Bureau Hall of Fame. When Dayna Ghirardelli, Sonoma County Farm Bureau’s Executive Director called LaFranchi in January to notify her that she was being honored, LaFranchi was happily surprised by the news. “I can’t tell you how honored at appreciative I am to have received the award,” said LaFranchi.
Being involved and giving back to the community is a passion of LaFranchi’s, and the family beef operation has helped to feed those who may not have access to high-protein foods through the Range to Table program with the Redwood Empire Foodbank. “I love the community service opportunities, it’s a lot of fun,” shared LaFranchi. Close to eight thousand pounds of ground beef goes into the program and is distributed as needed around the community. While the majority of the beef is given to those in the county, when surrounding foodbanks have a surplus of certain foods, they share with one another so that recipients receive diverse food groups in their packages. Beyond donating meat, the family is always open to providing educational opportunities to those who would like to learn more about the industry and where their food comes from. LaFranchi shared that while they haven’t hosted as many tours in the past, they hope to host more on their ranch.
Having been in the business for a little over 50 years, LaFranchi shares that those looking to get started in the beef cattle business must be ready to commit to the job ahead. “It’s seven days a week and 365 days a year, you or a family member are at home running the ranch,” said LaFranchi. While owning and operating a ranch requires a lot of work, time, patience, and money, LaFranchi wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s a great way of life, I don’t know if you can do anything more enjoyable than ranching,” says LaFranchi.
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30 YEARS AND COUNTING
VISALIA LIVESTOCK AND "CATTLEMEN'S SELECT" BULL SALE MARK A MILESTONE
by Managing Editor Stevie Ipsen
Growing up immersed in the livestock marketing, Col. Randy Baxley, Visalia, says he was always involved in the family marketing business in one way or another. From bidding on sale lots at Templeton Livestock Market after class at Cal Poly to working at the sale barn when he wasn't calf roping at a rodeo, Baxley always enjoyed the livestock marketing way of life that runs three generations deep with his dad and grandfather. But after the coaxing of longtime friend Richard Stober, Baxley said he decided to take the plunge of going in to the auction business himself.
After watching his father as an owner and auctioneer at the Templeton Auction Yard for many years, going into the business himself provided few surprises.
“Many people enter a career and know the upsides but few of the downsides,” Baxley said. “For me, I knew full well there would be some storms to weather but it has paid of for me and my family in many positive ways.”
In 1994, at the ripe age of just 25, Baxley and his wife, Beth, started their journey as owners and operators of Visalia Livestock Market. Right out the gate, Baxley had plans to continue the bull sale that had previously been held at the sale barn for many years. While auctioneering wasn’t new to Baxley, managing a bull sale was. Fortunately, he knew a tried and true method of supplying quality bulls for his customers, a goal he still holds paramount at the "Cattlemen's Select" Bull Sale today, 30 years later.
"The phenotypic value of a good bull remains the same as it was then and that is still what I focus on most when seeking out bulls for our annual sale," Baxley said. "But now we also have the added benefit of EPDs to help us in selection. Bulls with a
well-rounded set of data to back up their physical structure is what buyers can count on finding at our bull sale."
In 1994, with the exception of a few big seedstock operations, most purebred cattle producers sold their bulls via consignment sales. Most of the consignment sales were open to anyone, but Baxley's model of selecting bulls for the sale is what his buyers and consignors say sets Visalia's sale apart. Having seen the success of a select consignment sale at the Templeton sale barn, Baxley knew it might take more homework throughout the year, but that it would be a successful method of marketing for his customers, while still providing a variety of benefits to consignors.
Also in 1994, Greg Furtado, a long time Angus breeder from Turlock, planned to not consign bulls to the Visalia bull sale event. At that, time Furtado consigned nearly 60 bulls in Stockton, Templeton, Visalia and Famoso and decided he was going to focus on fewer sales, and Visalia was the one he
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A SELECT GROUP OF FEMALES! EARLY FALL PAIRS AND AND CLOSE UP FALL CALVERS INCLUDING: 60 FANCY ANGUS 1ST-CALF COMING 3-YEAR-OLDS! ORIGINALLY FROM THE WAIBEL RANCH. FULL VACCINATION, INCLUDING FOOTHILL AN ANAPLAS. BRED TO LOW-BIRTH 44 FARMS BULLS
planned to cut out. After a conversation with Baxley, he decided to give it another shot. He hasn’t missed a year at the Visalia sale since.
“When I told him I wasn’t coming back to the bull sale, Randy told me about some of the changes he planned to implement,” Furtado said. “His father, Duane, had a great bull sale in Templeton – it was always one of my best – and when Randy said his would also be a select sale, tailored to his buyers’ needs, I decided to send him a couple of my bulls.”
Though Furtado usually sent 8 to 10 bulls to Visalia, he only sent two bulls that first year.
“I wanted to test it out and see if Randy would deliver on what he said his plan would be,” Furtado explained. “He came through and it has remained one of my better sales each year since.”
For producers like Furtado, holding an independent production sale isn’t as advantageous as consigning to outside bull sales. The overhead costs of a consignment sale – lunch, advertising, billing, the auctioneer and ringmen – are shared among all buyers, making it much more feasible for seedstock producers. In addition, the local clientele of each individual consignment event offers a larger buying pool than smaller seedstock producers might attract in their own areas.
What Baxley says he thinks sets his sale apart is that he seeks out his entries in an invitation format, watching for new and longtime breeders in the marketplace who have the kind of product his customers could use. He knows the local market and generally has an idea of how many bulls the market will sustain.
Furtado says each of the sales he participates in offer different advantages. For the Visalia sale the advantages for both buyer and seller are monumental.
“Because Randy knows what kind of bulls to accept into the sale each year, I find there is less of a ‘top end’ and ‘bottom end’ to the sale,” Furtado said. “Every bull has something to offer and every consignor has a buyer looking for what they have.”
Furtado said because the quality of bulls is consistent across the board, the auction method of true price discovery helps bull prices hold up throughout the sale.
"When buyers and consignors are happy, it’s
always a recipe for success," he says.
“Because Randy often knows his customer base, he knows which bulls will work for them, everyone wins,” he said. “He knows his buyers by name. He knows their operations. He knows their genetics and he knows what their production practices are. By going out and getting those kinds of bulls consigned to the sale, he gets buyers returning year after year.”
Baxley said about six years after he took over the Visalia sale, the Templeton bull sale ended and many of his Central Coast customers no longer had the option of shopping for bulls at Templeton. Baxley had more customers to help find bulls for through the Visalia event.
"Our year-round business is based on the success of commercial cattle producers. My loyalty to them is always top-of-mind," Baxley said. "I am glad that we provide an event that consignors are eager to bring bulls to, but I am not afraid to turn consignors away to ensure my customers get what they need. Where I really try to focus my energy is helping buyers find the best bull for the best price. If they are happy with their purchase, then I have done my job. And because the buyers return for good bulls each year, consignors are usually getting a fair price as well."
Baxley said because of the effort he puts into selecting quality bulls for the sale, he is comfortable putting his reputation on the line. He also says he thinks the deep quality of the sale offering is as close as a consignment sale can come to an individual ranch production sale.
"There is definitely pressure that comes with selecting bulls each year," Baxley said. "Those bulls will have an immediate impact on my customers' cowherds. But when buyers contact me about coming to our sale, I am confident in telling them that even if they bought the very last bull in the ring, every bull we have procured for the bull sale will bring value to their herd."
For the Baxleys and the rest of the family at Visalia Livestock Market, providing comprehensive marketing services for livestock producers across the west has always been the No. 1 priority and they plan for it to remain that way. Perhaps for another 30 years.
ADDRESS THE STRESS
PROTECT YOUR BOTTOM LINE AGAINST REDUCED APPETITE AND WEIGHT LOSS.
Stress happens every time cattle are handled, transported or commingled. Cortisol levels increase from stress impacting appetite, health and weight gain. Studies demonstrate FerAppease® reduces the impact of stress on calves treated:*
• Reduced cortisol levels
• Improved appetite
• Increased weight gain
• Improved immunocompetence
• Improved health response, better recovery
• Decreased mortality
*Conducted by Dr. Reinaldo F. Cooke, Texas A&M University
HEALTHIER & HEAVIER CALVES = MORE PROFIT
CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN OR ANIMAL HEALTH PROVIDER TODAY.
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT
CONSIDERATIONS FOR DEVELOPING QUALITY REPLACEMENT HEIFERS
from Oregon State University Extension Service
Beef cattle production is a major agricultural commodity in the western U.S. In cow-calf operations, every section is important to the profitability of the production system, including breeding (bull selection and management, length of breeding season) and calving season, weaning and development of replacement heifers. Among these sections, special attention should be given to the latter.
Replacement heifers bring new genetics and are the foundation on which the cowherd is built, being responsible for long-term herd productivity. In order to obtain optimal productivity, replacement heifers should attain puberty by 12 months of age, conceive for the first time at 15 months, and consequently calve around 2 years old. Moreover, heifers that calve early during the first calving season wean more and heavier calves during their productive life, indicating the importance of an adequate management system for development of replacement heifers.
This article will focus on some strategies that beef producers have to improve heifer development programs and hence the entire profitability of cow-calf production systems.
How many replacement heifers should be kept?
The decision regarding how many replacement heifers should be kept in the herd depends on the direction that the operation goes. If the producer desires to maintain the size of the herd, the number of replacement heifers retained must be the same as the number of cows being culled during the year. On the other hand, if the producer wants to increase the herd size, the number of replacement heifers retained
must be greater than the number of cows being culled.
Nevertheless, beef producers often do not have the option to choose if they want to include new animals in the herd, and inclusion of replacement heifers becomes totally dependent on the herd cull rate. This rate varies significantly and is mainly dependent on reproductive failure of mature cows during the breeding season. Several factors account for the reproductive failure, including poor nutrition, reproductive diseases as well as cow age. In commercial scenarios, the annual culling rates ranges from 15 to 50 percent and dictates the number of replacement heifers required to maintain or increase the cowherd size.
Breed types, target age and weights
Breed is the factor that most impacts the age and weight in which replacement heifers reach sexual maturity and are capable of breeding. Bos taurus breeds are predominant in the Western U.S.; whereas B. indicus x B. taurus crosses are often encountered in the Southern U.S. Several studies reported that Brahman-influenced (B. indicus) heifers reach puberty at an older age (14 to 18 months of age) and with greater body weight (65 percent of mature weight) compared with B. taurus (12 to 14 months of age and 55 to 60 percent of mature weight, respectively) cohorts. Nonetheless, the physiological processes that influence the onset of puberty are exactly the same for both breed types, with the timing at which these processes occur being later in B. indicus cattle.
Age at puberty is also affected by several other environmental factors but mainly by
nutritional management. Underfeeding results in lower number of heifers reaching puberty at the expected age and impaired decreased pregnancy rates during their first breeding season. Likewise, excessive feeding should also be avoided due to the increased expenses associated with feeding and excessive fat accretion into the heifer’s body. Excessive fat is known to have detrimental effects on expression of behavioral estrous, calving ease, conception rate, milk production and overall productivity of these females.
The “target weight” concept involves the achievement of a nutritional status that allows heifers to grow at a rate such that they are pubertal at the time of the breeding season. In mature cows, nutritional status is often assessed by using body condition score (1 to 9 scale, where 1 = emaciated and 9 = obese).
Conversely, for developing replacement heifers, BCS may not be the best indicator of nutritional because these animals are not depositing excessive amounts of fat. Thus, BW assessment and average daily gain (ADG) calculation are the best indicators of growth and nutritional status of replacement heifers.
Another important point to remember is that the nutritional management of a replacement heifer is different from that of mature cows, meaning that it is extremely important to keep heifers and mature cows on separate nutritional programs.
Specific management phases
Replacement heifers should be managed properly according to each period of their life. This management can be divided into five phases: growth before weaning (or preweaning), weaning to breeding, breeding, breeding to calving and calving to rebreeding. Nutrition plays an important role during each of these management phases; therefore, nutritional inputs should be carefully evaluated to ensure the economic viability of heifer development programs.
Preweaning
The goal of cow-calf systems is weaning healthy and productive calves, whether they are sold or maintained in the herd as replacement heifers. The goal for the preweaning phase is to economically produce calves that wean at adequate weight, age and body composition (muscle and fat content). In addition, weaning BW of replacement heifers is inversely associated with age at puberty, implying that heavier heifers often reach puberty sooner than lighter cohorts.
In most cow-calf production systems, nursing calves remain at the cow-calf ranch from birth to weaning, consuming primarily forages and milk. Considering that forage is the cheapest feed source in livestock operations and it is also during this period (from birth to weaning) that
forages have the greatest nutritional quality and availability (from late spring to summer), beef producers should use it correctly in order to achieve desired cattle performance. However, for fall-calving herds, this scenario may not apply due to weather issues and consequent inadequate forage quality and/or availability.
Therefore, other nutritional strategies to improve calf performance exist, such as creep feeding. Creep feeding is an alternative that improves BW at weaning, “trains” animals to consume dry feeds in feed bunks and also alleviates the nutritional stresses associated with weaning. It is recommended the utilization of palatable grain mixes that contain a protein source (i.e., soybean meal or cottonseed meal), as well as molasses or dry alfalfa hay to increase palatability.
Weaning to breeding
At the beginning of the breeding season, heifers should weigh 65% of their mature BW. Hence, the body weight at weaning will determine the amount of weight gain needed during this phase in order to ensure that replacement heifers are pubertal at least 42 days before the beginning of the breeding season. Usually, a daily gain of 1.0 to 1.5 pounds/ day is sufficient to achieve this goal. If heifers are weaned at a lighter and less desired weight, postweaning growth can be accelerated through nutrition but should not be greater than 2 pounds/day.
Breeding
During the breeding season, replacement heifers should be managed differently than mature cows. In general, replacement heifers should be bred earlier than the cow herd, which allows them to have additional time (at least 3 weeks) after their first calving to recover and join the mature cowherd for their second breeding season. Heifers that conceive earlier during their first breeding season wean more calves and heavier calves during their productive life.
An additional strategy that can be adopted to maximize the number of heifers pregnant at the beginning of their first breeding season is estrus synchronization and artificial insemination (AI). These techniques allow more heifers to be bred in a shorter period during the breeding season and also a greater number of births at the beginning of the calving season. It is important to choose bulls with adequate calving ease, free of diseases (assessed by breeding soundness exam, if heifers are exposed to natural breeding), adequate scrotal circumference and libido.
At calving, heifers should have 85% of their mature BW. To achieve this goal, it is recommended that heifers gain around 1.0 pound/day during gestation.
Calving to rebreeding
As previously mentioned, heifers should be managed to calve with 85 percent of their mature BW, as well as adequate BCS (around 6). Adequate BW and BCS at calving result in reduced postpartum period (from calving to rebreeding) and earlier resumption of estrous cycles. Moreover, heifers in adequate BW and BCS will have higher quality and amount of colostrum produced, reduced dystocia and calf death loss, as well as increased calf vigor.
It is important to remember how critical the post-calving period for the heifer is. After calving, heifers need to produce milk, maintain adequate growth rate and become fertile again prior to the subsequent breeding season when they should be at 90% of their mature BW. Heifers also often require more assistance during calving and have higher incidence of dystocia compared with mature cows.
Strategies to hasten heifer development
It is extremely important to adopt and/or develop feasible strategies that hasten heifer development, consequently improving the profitability of the beef production system. Several strategies have been developed, and some of those will be presented in this section.
Nutrition and management opportunities
As previously mentioned, nutrition is one of the most important factors affecting the age and BW at which heifers reach puberty. Nutrition, mainly energy intake, is the primary consideration associated with nutrition and reproductive performance in beef cattle. Energy intake is positively correlated with blood compounds (glucose, insulin, progesterone, and insulin-like growth factor I [IGF-I]) that affect reproductive performance of cows and puberty attainment in beef heifers. Heifers receiving diets and/or additives (see below) that promote ruminal propionate (primary gluconeogenic compound for the ruminant) synthesis and subsequent glucose production reach puberty at an earlier age and at lighter weight.
Another management alternative to hasten heifer reproductive development is to acclimate them to human handling/interaction after weaning. Recent data from our research group demonstrated that, independently of the genetics (B. taurus [Angus x Hereford] and B. indicus [Brahman-crossbred]), heifers acclimated to human handling reached puberty earlier compared with non-acclimated cohorts. Briefly, the effects of acclimation rely on reduced plasma concentrations of cortisol (stress hormone), which directly affects the production and
release of hormones associated with puberty attainment.
Growth promoters and feed additives
Growth promoters (i.e., zeranol and estradiol) have been shown to increase daily gain in stocker and finishing beef cattle. Similarly, replacement heifers implanted with growth promoters have increased body weight gain, pelvic area and milk production and wean heavier calves compared with non-implanted cohorts. However, no significant effects were observed on the reproductive performance (pregnancy rates) of animals implanted or not with growth promoters.
Feed additives, such as monensin and lasalocid, act by inhibiting a specific class of rumen bacteria (gram-positive) and result in reduced energy waste (lactate, methane, and carbon dioxide production) and increased propionate synthesis in the rumen.
Hence, these feed additives are known to increase body weight gain, as well as decrease the incidence of digestive problems (bloat and acidosis) in feedlot and grazing cattle. Moreover, these feed additives are also expected to benefit reproductive development of heifers due to increased ruminal propionate production, feed efficiency, ruminal health and body weight gain.
Bull exposure (or biostimulation)
This technique consists of the stimulatory effects of a male on estrus and ovulation of females through genital stimulation, pheromones or other external cues. Exposing replacement heifers to surgically altered bulls (not capable of breeding) has been shown to decrease age at puberty up to 90 days, hence increasing the number of pregnant heifers (up to 42 percent) in the first 21 days of the breeding season.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the development of replacement heifers is an important component within cow-calf production systems and requires special attention by the beef producer. Heifers should reach puberty by 12 months of age, conceive by 15 months of age, and calve at 2 years old to maximize their lifetime productivity. Productive and development goals are particular to each phase within heifer development programs, including pre- and post-weaning management as well as breeding, pregnancy and calving seasons. Hence, nutritional and management approaches to improve heifer development should be specific to each development phase in order to improve the profitability of cow-calf systems.
EARLY BULL SALE CONSIGNORS
• 5J Angus Ranch, Madera, CA
• Furtado Angus, Turlock, CA
• Garone Ranches, Bakersfield, CA
• HB Cattle Company, Mt. Pleasant, UT
• Red River Farms, Blythe, CA
• Rossi Ranches, Paulina, OR
• Stepaside Farm LLC, Sanger, CA
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REACHING THE MASSES CATTLE COUNCIL EFFORTS TO RESONATE WITH THE PUBLIC
by California Cattle Council Executive Director Justin Oldfield
The California Cattle Council (Council) continues our aggressive public affairs campaign across the state focusing on the economic, environmental and social benefits of California’s cattle industry. If you’ve not seen our TV commercials, radio spots or digital media online, that’s likely by design. Our focus continues to be urban areas of the state and in particular Sacramento – California’s Capitol region. Elected, regulatory and appointed stakeholders that live in and around the region routinely hear and see these messages.
In addition to the work around Sacramento, the Council has also seen fit to deploy resources to Sonoma County this summer and fall. These efforts primarily highlight the importance of the dairy industry to the region and local community. As a rancher reading this article, why should I care about the Council’s work in Sonoma County regarding the dairy industry? Dairies in Sonoma County are uniquely subject to elevated criticism and local challenges.
The Council is prohibited from engaging in partisan or political activities including taking positions on legislation or state/local ballot initiatives. However, it’s the Council’s mission to educate our fellow Californians, and we are well within our mission by highlighting the importance of the dairy industry to Sonoma County residents and community members.
To fund this effort, the Council is deploying money from our response fund that was specifically developed for such a purpose. The Council’s Strategic Plan developed by our producer appointed board calls for the Council to set aside 10 percent of our annual budget to build a war chest of $3 million dollars to allocate rapidly for issues that are likely to significantly disrupt a sector of the cattle industry. Once expended, the fund will be rebuilt for a future purpose. Our response fund enables the Council to
continue our normal public affairs projects while also being able to pivot to address immediate needs in real time.
We are proud of our efforts in Sonoma County, and we hope you will take a moment to watch the commercials and listen to the radio spots. The commercials are being delivered via cable television, TV streaming services, online digital ad placements and social media. Please visit www. sonomacows.com to view our campaign materials.
As always, don’t forget to check out our main website at www.calcattlecouncil.org for news about the Council, our work, current projects and your ongoing investment in a program that is truly making a difference and moving the industry forward. We are continually hard at work promoting ranchers and cattle producers in this state and your ongoing cooperation and support is key to our collective success. Thank you for your ongoing support and never hesitate to reach out to our office.
FEMALE FERTILITY & CULLING DECISIONS
by Cassidy Catrett and Troy Rowan, Ph.D., University of Tennessee for the American Simmental Association
Cow longevity is the chief driver of economic success in cow-calf operations. An inability to rebreed is the most common reason that beef cows are prematurely culled from herds. Phenotypes associated with increased cow fertility and longevity are known to be under lower levels of genetic control. However, selection tools in the form of EPD can help accelerate progress on cow fertility by focusing selection on the modest genetic variation that controls these traits. Measuring these phenotypes at the population level is challenging with conventional data recording schemes. Further, many of these phenotypes take multiple years to be fully expressed, making phenotypic selection ineffective at generating rapid genetic improvement. Inventory-based reporting systems require production records on all females in a herd, regardless of calf survival or registration. This type of reporting framework has allowed breed associations to collect complete and unbiased reproductive and performance phenotypes from entire herds.
As a part of an American Simmental Association (ASA) Walton-Berry Award, our group at the University of Tennessee has used ASA’s Total Herd Enrollment (THE) records to explore the phenotypic and genetic variation of multiple traits related to heifer and cow fertility. We calculated five traits associated with early and sustained cow fertility: calving interval (days between calves), first calving interval (days between a cow’s first and second calves), calving date (when, relative to contemporaries, did a cow calve), discrete early calving (did a cow calve within the first 30 days of contemporary group), and heifer pregnancy (did a female conceive during first breeding season). We found that most animals in ASA’s THE herds maintain a calving interval of less than 400 days. However, there was a slight increase in observations around the two-year, or 730-day mark, indicating that a nonnegligible number of females are retained after a missed calving opportunity. The mean calving date for heifers in the data set was day 19, while it was day 32 for mature cows. This discrepancy in values is likely due to increased use of estrus synchronization and advanced reproductive management in heifer contemporary groups. We
know that the first calving season is essential for setting up an animal for reproductive successes later in life, and this showed up clearly in the THE dataset. We found that heifers that calved in the first 30 days of their contemporary group’s calving season calved an average of ten days earlier than those that calved outside of the first 30 days (average calving date = 29.9 days vs. 40.2 days).
THE data also allowed us to better understand how attrition occurs in this population. As expected, we observed a steady decline in the number of animals over the course of their lifetimes. Most records in the dataset were from females less than seven years old. Only 25 percent of eligible cows in the dataset had reached their age seven enrollment without missing a calf. Using the THE disposal codes, we found that the largest culling happened at two years of age due to heifers being open. Beyond this time point, rebreeding failure remained the most common reason for removal from the herd.
The unbiased reporting required in THE allowed us to understand culling decisions and cow attrition at the population level. Most seedstock Simmental producers maintain close to a 365-day calving interval on average, but it’ll take work to maintain that. Calving date for heifers was predictive of future reproductive per- formance. Each of these phenotypes was lowly to moderately heritable, ranging from about 0.05 to 0.15. These phenotypes also showed low-to-moderate phenotypic and genetic correlations with one another. This suggests that genetic improvement is possible for these traits if breed associations develop genetic evaluations and genetic selection tools for them. We are continuing work with this dataset to identify associated markers with these fertility traits through sequence-imputed genome-wide association studies.
NATURALLY
Cattle may be the planet‘s ultimate vegetarians. The natural ruminant process of cattle converting cellulose to beef, the most perfect protein for human consumption, is remarkable. The selection tools we have at our disposal to genetically improve the QUALITY of beef produced from the same forage is also remarkable. Multi-trait selection enables Angus cow-calf producers to select for highly heritable carcass improvement without compromising maternal function. The result is a calf that will grow efficiently and produce PRIME BEEF.
After six decades of data collection, genetic progress, a value-based marketing system and educating consumers, the global demand for high quality beef has never been greater.
Let’s keep making beef better by optimizing our resources, using sound science and best practice animal husbandry that provide extraordinary opportunities to add birth to harvest value, and meet the demands of a global consumer that prefers beef!
PUTTING A FACE ON A CATTLE RANCH
THOUSAND HILLS RANCH WELCOMES
AG ENTHUSIASTIC KIDS
by Ag Adventure Camp Wrangler Sharon Jantzen
It is estimated that 98 percent of the U.S. population is removed from modern agriculture. This creates a disconnect for every consumer who has no understanding of where their food comes from. For many, food is faceless. Yet, one family of California ranchers plays a key role not only connecting kids to agriculture for two weeks every summer, but in giving food a face. They offer their ranch as a venue for Ag Adventure Camp.
When Cee and Allan Teixeira, Pismo Beach, were approached by Connie Willems, Arroyo Grande, the visionary behind Ag Adventure Camp, they easily caught the vision - connect kids to agriculture so they can appreciate where their food comes from and all that God has created.
Thousand Hills Ranch is nestled in a valley of the coastal foothills just outside of Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo County. Driving up the main entrance road under the shelter of California Oak trees, one begins the journey of leaving life’s hustle and bustle behind and entering ranching paradise. Bible verses and acknowledgments to God, written on boards, pop up along the winding road leading to the heart of the ranch – the barn. Angus cattle roam the green, irrigated pastures around the barn. Golden hillsides of the valley nook this ranching family calls home surround the barn and pastures. The scene is idyllic. It’s classic ranching on the Central Coast of California.
After several years at one facility, Apela Foundation – the non-profit group who runs the camp – was in need of a new venue for Ag Adventure Camp. The key things they needed were: a place to gather the kids; room for the horseback riding class; access to electricity for some of the crafts; an open area for games, BB gun and archery shooting plus shelter from the sun . . . Thousand Hills Ranch provided all of that, plus the working cattle ranch atmosphere.
Beef cattle were the primary focus of this year’s Ag Adventure Camp. Over 100 kids and adults learned about aspects of the beef industry. Local 4-H youth, Caleb and Daniel Stephson, Payson Willems and leader Daniel Willems along with Kathy McGinnis and Connie Willems of San Luis Obispo CattleWomen taught instructional classes such as: beef brands, hands-on grooming and showmanship, beef by-products and beef health. San Luis Obispo CattleWomen provided beef by-product samples. Santa Barbara CattleWomen lent the “Beefman” brochures and the “There’s a Cow in my Marshmallow” model. In addition, the campers enjoyed making and eating beef sliders, branding their own smore boards, tooling leather bookmarks and roping a dummy cow head. One of the highlights for the kids was leading a beef cow. Everyone learned something new about the beef industry.
Ag Adventure Camp has raised many of its own leaders who attended as campers, and are now mentored in various aspects of running the camp. Many of these student leaders do not come from agriculture families. So, through their involvement in Ag Adventure Camp, not only are they getting leadership training, but their appreciation and understanding of agriculture will be with them for life. Joey Olaiz, a camper-turned-leader, says, “Ag Adventure Camp has connected me to agriculture every year through its fun and unique way of giving first-hand experiences with God’s beautiful creation. From riding horses, to learning how and why we brand cattle, this camp has enriched not only my life, but many others as well.”
Joey does not come from an ag family, yet he now has a life-long appreciation and connection to agriculture.
...CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
Lunch will be served at 12 p.m.
New Schedule for 2024
BULLS SELL AT 1 p.m.
40 Fall Yearlings + 10 Age-Advantage Long-Yearlings
females Sell FOLLOWING THE BULLS
20 Open Fall Heifers + 5 Spring Bred Heifers
Special Guest Consignors
BIANCHI RANCHES Gilroy, CA
BLAGG FAMILY FARMS Lodi, CA
ELAM RED ANGUS Musselshell, MT
McPHEE RED ANGUS BULLS & FEMALES
Are stacked with generations of performance that will provide more dollar value for less dollar-input.
OUR RANCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN FAMILY OWNED-AND-OPERATED With a focus on raising low-input, efficient females which produce sound, high-performing, multi-trait bulls with the commercial cattleman in mind.
Student leader and director-in-training, Alexus Collins, has horses and a few animals at home. Yet her depth of understanding agriculture and sharing that with others has been enhanced. “Serving at Ag Adventure Camp has been more than just a journey of growth. It’s been an amazing adventure that has polished my leadership skills through overcoming challenges, working closely with an amazing group of people and experiencing the pure joy of guiding other towards their own moments of discovery and excitement.” Community has been built between the kids, student leaders and experienced volunteer leaders of Ag Adventure Camp.
All of this would not be possible without the gift of the use of the venue, Thousand Hills Ranch. The Teixeira Family values what goes on during Ag Adventure Camp. Cee and Allan are the faces behind the cattle ranch.
“We are honored to host Apela Foundation’s Ag Adventure Camp weeks. This camp gives local youth the most exciting experience of their summer vacation! I cannot tell you how many people thank US – year-round – and we personally do nothing regarding running the camp! The Apela Foundation has won the hearts of the families whose lives they enrich summer after summer. There is not enough space to describe the impact they have had on young lives,” Cee Teixeira said.
Thousand Hills Ranch offering to host Ag Adventure Camp is just one example of a ranching family doing what it can to build a community of understanding regarding agriculture. The general population’s loss of connection to modern agriculture has resulted in a loss of community. When producers and consumers are connected, a community is created. Food is no longer faceless.
So how can fellow ranchers help build community? Here are some ideas:
• Offer farm tours
• Connect through school classroom visits
• Conduct grocery store conversations
• Create a ranch social media presence and educate through a blog or social media posts
• Write op-eds for the local newspaper
For most consumers, the grocery store shelves just magically fill every week. They have no connection to the face behind what they consume. Everything changes when food has a face. Go be that face and create community and awareness of agriculture to a public desiring connection.
Horseback riding takes place every day at Ag Adventure Camp.
San Luis Obispo County CattleWoman Connie Willems, founder of Ag Adventure Camp, works alongside her family (three generations) teaching others about beef and agriculture.
NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
SUMMER BUSINESS MEETING SHOWCASES GRASSROOTS POLICY PROCESS
by National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Mark Eisele
When I talk to cattle producers across the country about NCBA, the term “grassroots” is how I describe our organization, and there is no better example of grassroots leadership than our Summer Business Meeting.
Summer Business Meeting is a time for policy work. Before we even get to the meeting, cattle producers are discussing policies in their home states. State affiliates bring policy to the national level and the volunteer leaders that make up our policy committees debate and vote on the policy resolutions brought forward. At the end of Summer Business Meeting, our Board of Directors votes on the policy resolutions passed by the committee, sending them on to every NCBA member to vote on individually through a ballot sent out next month. This process may sound time consuming, but it ensures each policy position at NCBA is scrutinized by cattle producers from every part of the country and every segment of the industry so only the best policies come forward.
This grassroots policy process is what sets us apart in Washington, D.C. When NCBA is fighting for you on Capitol Hill, we can point to our policy process to prove that our position reflects the cattle industry’s perspective — not the ideas of any one individual.
At this year’s Summer Business Meeting, we renewed several policies already on the books, but members also passed several new policies. One of these policies addresses the Corporate Transparency Act, a new law that requires businesses to report the identity of their owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Although the law is well intended, farmers and ranchers are caught in the middle of a new regulation that requires us to reveal ownership information to the government or face steep financial penalties. I strongly encourage you to do some research on the Corporate Transparency Act and visit the website www. fincen.gov/boi to see if your farm or ranch will be impacted. The deadline to file these FinCEN reports is coming up, so I hope you will do the research now to avoid unwanted surprises later.
Our members also passed a policy directing us to focus on reducing taxes. This is a key part of strengthening producer profitability and ensuring our farms and ranches are not taxed out of existence as we try to pass these operations to the next generation. Similarly, we need supportive risk
management programs that help us navigate challenging market and weather conditions. Another policy passed at Summer Business Meeting directs NCBA to evaluate the effectiveness of the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ensure that it keeps working for producers.
One of the topics we continue to hear about is traceability and the USDA’s rule to switch from visually readable ear tags to electronically and visually readable tags for certain classes of cattle moving interstate: intact cattle 18 months of age or older, rodeo and exhibition cattle, and dairy cattle. This rule will take effect on Nov. 5, 2024, but the time to prepare is now. NCBA previously secured $15 million in funding for ear tags to help defray the cost facing producers, and many state departments of agriculture allow producers to receive low cost or free tags. NCBA is also working with U.S. CattleTrace, an extremely important partner in the efforts to increase the adoption of EID tags and overall herd traceability. I encourage you to use CattleTrace as a resource if you are interested in implementing a traceability program for your herd.
As we discuss all these issues impacting the cattle industry, I hope you remember every position this association takes is set through our grassroots policy process. You, as an NCBA member, have a voice and a vote on every issue we consider. Next month, you will have an opportunity to exercise your vote through a ballot included in your September issue of National Cattlemen. Please use this opportunity to share your perspective on the issues facing us and the policies passed at the Summer Business Meeting.
Thank you for your NCBA membership, and thank you for being a grassroots leader in this industry.
and raised with the commercial cowman in mind!
These cow herds stem from some of the great Registered Angus programs in the country.
Bulls on test and available for viewing at Clarot Farms, Joe Clarot, Modesto, CA. Call Joe, 209-678-5030, to stop by and see them!
Sires include: Tehama Testament, Ellingson Prolific, B A R Dynamic, Sterling Confidence Plus 804, Tehama Patriarch, G A R Sunbeam, Sitz Intuition, Connealy Cool 39L, Poss Rawhide, Yon Top Cut G730, Basin True Grit 1021, GDAR Recap 0746, 9 Peaks Blitzen E890.
EXPLORING BEHAVIORAL TRAITS TO ENHANCE FEED EFFICIENCY OF YEARLING BULLS WELL FED
by graduate student Amelia Katz and Zach McFarlane, Ph.D., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Bulls are the primary source of genetic improvement in beef herds. According to the USDA, over 90 percent of beef producers exclusively use bulls to breed cows. Thus, the criteria used to select superior genetics of breeding bulls are vital to any beef operation. Research at the Cal Poly Bull Test is currently evaluating how behavior may play a role in feed efficiency, a genetically linked trait. The research is crucial as feed efficiency directly impacts the profitability and sustainability of beef production. This research will assist producers to select animals with greater overall performance and feed conversion.
Currently, the project is in its second year of behavioral studies. Research focuses on the feeding behavior of the bulls consigned for the Cal Poly Bull Test using the SmartFeed system from C-Lock, Inc. This system uses electronic identification ear tags to track each bull's entries and exits from the feed bunk, as well as the amount of feed consumed. Preliminary results indicated that more feed efficient bulls visit the feed bunks less frequently, stay briefly, and eat minimally. Behavioral differences may be explained by lower feed efficiency bulls having an opportunistic feeding strategy to capitalize on fresh feed availability. This could reflect higher motivation or competitive behavior. Moreover, it may be driven by the palatability of feed as most behavioral differences were seen when feed was delivered. Ultimately, a less feed efficient bull spends more of their time eating at the feed bunk, but this feed is not necessary for weight gain and is likely in response to competitive behavior and gorging. Choosing bulls with more feed efficient behavior may increase the overall efficiency of the herd.
It is difficult to monitor all behaviors that relate to feed efficiency with the feed bunks alone. In addition to the C-Lock Smart Feed system, other methods were used to monitor bull behavior. In-person student observations have been used to measure competitive behaviors among focal animals. Competitive behavior entails one bull forcing another to leave the feed bunk. Video
monitoring is currently being evaluated to determine a threshold interval between a bull's entry and exit from the feed bunk to indicate a competitive event. Once the video-based evaluation of competitive behaviors is completed, it will then be possible to use feed bunks to monitor each of these competitive events. This integration of video analysis will enable the feed bunks to effectively track and record instances of competition among the bulls, offering valuable data for better management practices.
Other behavioral measurements are taken monthly throughout the Cal Poly Bull Test, including fecal samples and chute scores. Fecal samples are used to assess long-term stress levels in the bulls by measuring fecal cortisol concentrations. This method provides insights into the chronic stress that bulls experience, which affects their overall health and productivity. Higher levels of cortisol indicate high stress levels and negatively impacts digestion, resulting in a reduction in feed efficiency. Additionally, bulls are videoed as they go through the chute every month to evaluate individual temperament. This evaluation is critical because this can influence the ability of a bull to cope with stress and how they interact with other bulls. These factors, in turn, impact their feed efficiency, health, and welfare.
This comprehensive behavioral assessment process provides a detailed understanding of how behavior influences feed efficiency. The findings could help beef producers make more informed decisions when selecting bulls, ultimately enhancing the genetic progression and productivity of their herds.
By linking behavioral traits to feed efficiency, this study could lead to more efficient and sustainable beef production practices. As the research progresses, it promises to offer valuable insights benefiting the beef industry for years to come. This research would not be possible without support from the USDA Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program.
A MOTTO IN ACTION BULL SALE COMMITTEES EXEMPLIFY UNIVERSITY'S "LEARN BY DOING" MANTRA
by Cal Poly Student Alyssa Azevedo and Bull Sale Advisor and Animal Science Professor Zach McFarlane, Ph.D.
As the sun rises over the hills of San Luis Obispo, a new day begins at the Cal Poly Bull Test facility. This unique, student-run program is driven by a dedicated team of enterprise members and student managers who work tirelessly to ensure the success of each bull and the event itself. Students and advisors at the bull test and sale invite you to join them behind the scenes to explore a day in the lives of the committee members who make it all happen.
Health and Nutrition Committee
At dawn, students on the health and nutrition committee conduct their first walk-through of the bull pens, implementing the D.A.R.T. method to monitor each animal's health. Depression, appetite, respiration rate and temperature are carefully examined for each individual bull. In addition, students receive daily reports of feed intake from the SmartFeed System that indicate fluctuations in feed intake that may appear before bulls show visual signs of sickness. The integration of precision agriculture technology and visual observations guarantees that any signs of illness are caught and treated promptly. Students like Bailey Doherty, a fifth-year Animal Science major, take immense pride in their roles.
“Working at Cal Poly’s Bull Test enterprise has been the most rewarding opportunity,” she shares. “Seeing the growth and development of the bulls as they blossom on our special bull test ration along with the responsibility this class demands is balanced graciously with new friendships that will last a lifetime. In the end, we are able to see a finished product that is going to benefit the agriculture industry, and we know that we did our
part to raise a happy, healthy animal.”
Meanwhile, the feed truck rolls into action. Bulls are fed twice a day, and the process is precisely documented. The feed truck rumbles to life as students like Maya Tjan, a third-year Animal Science major, expertly maneuver it to fill the feed bunks. Quantities are recorded with precision to provide each bull with the optimal diet. "It's arguably the backbone of what Bull Test is," Tjan explains. "The feed bunks make it easy to see how much a bull is eating so we can provide the best information to the consignors. This is an extraordinary opportunity to observe the entire process, from ration creation at our feed mill to seeing the bulls enjoy it.”
Event Production Committee
Behind every successful event is a team of dedicated planners, and the event production committee is no exception! This committee is responsible for making our bull sale happen whether that’s securing sponsors or ordering tents and coordinating our sale day lunch. It is a whirlwind of activity as students and managers collaborate to perfect every detail. The program constantly strives to improve the consignor and buyer experience. Working with our wonderful sponsors helps us deliver a special experience for our supporters year after year.
Anna Bibby, San Luis Obispo, a fourth-year agribusiness major, adds, “I have had the privilege of overseeing our sponsor program for the past two years, and it has been an incredible experience to build these long-lasting industry relationships. Whether it is a phone call or visiting companies in person, the admiration for our Bull Sale and Cal Poly is evident.” With the help on the event's
wonderful sponsors, students are able to deliver that special experience for consignors, buyers and supporters year after year.
Within the event production committee, the marketing/media and merchandise subcommittees play crucial roles. This team is working hard to design advertisements and craft the sale catalog, aiming to educate the public about the beef industry and showcase the incredible work the Cal Poly Bull Test team is doing.
On the merchandise side, creativity is key. This group brainstorms new ideas for merchandise that will appeal to the attendees. Once designs are finalized, they work with vendors to produce and deliver the items in time for the sale. The team also coordinates the tradeshow and verifies that all merchandise is displayed attractively.
One of the most important tasks of this group is to develop marketing materials for the industry. Their goal is to showcase the incredible genetics of the bulls that have been consigned to the program. The development of industry magazine advertisements and the sale catalog are vital for the successful marketing of these bulls prior to sale day. This effort allows students to develop industry relationships and understand how to showcase bulls to their full potential.
Bull Preparation
As the event draws closer, the bull prep committee kicks into high gear. Their mission is to make each bull look its best for photos and videos. This involves a combination of grooming, cleaning, and sometimes a bit of pampering.
"Being part of the bull prep committee is more than just cleaning up the bulls to show their full potential," said Brooklynn Beck, a second-year animal science student. "We spend hours clipping them and getting to know their personalities. The relationship between you and your livestock is as important as any, and at Cal Poly Bull Test, we aim for docility and quality."
The team works diligently, paying close attention to detail. "We get to see the personality of these bulls emerge through the hours we spend caring for them," Beck explained. "It is satisfying to see them looking their best and knowing we played a part
in that."
The Heart of the Program
"Spending my summer with fellow students who are passionate about the program and the industry has been amazing," said general manager Tatum Sitz. "Watching and helping the bulls grow and develop to their full potential from such a young age is something truly special.”
From the early morning health checks to the late-night planning sessions, each day at the Cal Poly Bull Test and Sale is a testament to teamwork and dedication. It is a place where education meets real-world experience, and where every student plays a vital role. As we gear up for another successful sale, we invite you to join us and witness firsthand the incredible work that was done behind the scenes at our annual bull sale on Oct. 6.
Advisor Note
The Cal Poly Bull Test program has epitomized the “Learn by Doing” opportunity for students while promoting genetic improvement in the California beef industry for 68 years. This historic program has continued to evolve to provide the best service possible to the beef industry. As a service-learning opportunity, this program values the incredible trust and support of the bull consignors, buyers, and other industry stakeholders. Our students take great pride in caring for the bulls and understand the enormous responsibility they have been provided. Without the support of the industry, this program would not be possible. We are so grateful for this continued support, and our students are excited to showcase the incredible genetics on offer this year at the sale on Oct. 6 at the Escuela Ranch Bull Test facility.
2024 Cal Poly Bull Test
CONSIGNOR Q&A
compiled by CCA Associate Director of Communications Maureen LaGrande
Students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, work diligently over the summer to care for and monitor the bulls that participate in the annual Cal Poly Bull Test Enterprise. As participating students, their duties consist of feeding, monitoring and doctoring the animals as needed throughout the duration of their time at the bull test facility from late April to early October.
While the students’ efforts help to bring the test to fruition, the dedicated consignors who breed, raise and bring their bulls to the university help to continue the annual sale and provide insightful learning experiences to many students.
Below is a Q&A interview with longtime Cal Poly Bull Test Consignor, David Holden, Oroville.
Q What is your Ranch/Operations Name?
A Westwind Angus
Q What breed of cattle do you run?
A I run Black Angus.
Q How long have you been taking bulls to the Cal Poly Bull Test?
A I have been bringing bulls to Cal Poly since 2007.
Q How do you determine how many bulls you will enter in the bull test?
A It varies, I take the time to pick out what I send. I try and send bulls that are on the heavier end of the calf crop, so they are ready to sell in October. The size and maturity of a bull on sale day are a big factor. Bulls that are on the smaller end I may send to a later sale so that they have more time to grow and mature.
Q How did you learn of the bull test?
A I moved to California from Montana, and
even in Montana Cal Poly had a strong reputation for its animal science department. As a small breeder, the bull test served as a good way to showcase my genetics and get established as a breeder in California.
Q Do you go and see your bulls after the initial drop-off in April?
A I go and see the bulls at least once while they are at the bull test facility and go up again during the sale.
Q What is the benefit of taking bulls to Cal Poly?
A It gives you a chance to prove what your cattle can do against high-quality competition. As a smaller breeder, you are always looking for outlets to consign in sales for your cattle to have a chance to do well.
Q How are your interactions with the students who run the test?
A They call from time to time and provide updates on the bull’s health. They do a good job.
Q As a consignor, what is your favorite part about the Bull Test?
A Sale Day!
Q Why should perspective bull buyers attend the Cal Poly Bull Sale?
A For a number of reasons, there are a highquality and proven pedigree set of bulls available at the sale and now that they are doing the efficiency testing, the feed conversion is going to be one of the more important indicators of profit and how it can affect a pen of steers.
BEEF ABROAD
BEEF EXPORT VALUE CLIMBS IN SECOND QUARTER
JANUARY–JUNE 2024 EXPORT HIGHLIGHTS
from the U.S. Meat Export Federation
June exports of U.S. beef reached the highest value in nearly two years, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While June pork exports were lower year-over-year, shipments through the first half of the year remained ahead of the record value pace of 2023.
Beef exports totaled 110,155 metric tons (mt) in June, down 4 percent from a year ago but the second largest of 2024. Export value reached $938.3 million, up 3 percent year-over-year and the highest since August 2022. Through the first half of the year, beef export value climbed 5 percent from a year ago to $5.22 billion, despite a 4 percent decline in volume (643,733 mt).
“June beef exports performed very well in Japan, which was great to see given the significant headwinds U.S. beef has faced there this year,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Export value also rebounded nicely in Korea and shipments to Taiwan and Canada were outstanding. This made for another strong month in terms of export value per head slaughtered, which was nearly $460 in June.”
Japan, Taiwan, Canada lead strong June performance for beef export value
Despite a difficult economic climate, Japan has reclaimed its position as the largest volume destination for U.S. beef in 2024. June exports jumped 8 percent from a year ago to 22,308 mt, the largest since March 2023. Export value reached $181.5 million, up 9 percent and the highest since August 2022. Through the first half of the year, exports to Japan were still 2 percent below last year at 127,020 mt, but export value climbed 6 percent to $978.2 million.
While U.S. beef maintains a strong retail presence in Japan, foodservice demand has benefited from a huge jump in tourism, as the record number of foreign visitors entering Japan this year is expected to approach 35 million. Japan’s inventories of imported beef at the end of June were nearly 9 percent lower year-over-year, suggesting further import demand should be expected in the second half of 2024.
June beef exports to Taiwan reached 7,318 mt, up just slightly from a year ago but the highest since April 2022 and the third largest on record. Export value increased 18 percent to $80.1 million – also the third highest on record. While first-half exports to Taiwan were still 9 percent below last year at 30,710 mt, export value edged 2 percent higher to $334.8 million.
Beef exports to Canada posted impressive gains in June, with value reaching the highest level in 10 years at $116.5 million – up 29 percent from a year ago. June volume was up 17 percent to 11,854 – the highest in nearly nine years. Through the first half of the year, exports to Canada dipped slightly in volume (51,438 mt, down 1 percent) but climbed 12 percent in value to $469 million.
Other January-June results for U.S. beef exports include:
June exports to Korea totaled 19,378 mt, down 9 percent from a year ago. But export value rebounded to $190.4 million – up 2 percent from a year ago and a 13 percent increase from the previous month. Korea is the leading value destination for U.S. beef in 2024, with first-half export value increasing slightly from a year ago to $1.1 billion, despite a 13 percent decline in volume (116,338 mt).
Although June beef exports to Mexico were below last year’s volume (17,150 mt, down 5%), value still increased 1 percent to $98.8 million. The June slowdown was in variety meats, as muscle cut volume was still up 4 percent to 8,293 mt. Mexico’s demand for U.S. beef soared in the first half of the year, with beef and beef variety meat volume climbing 13 percent to 113,473 mt, while export value jumped 19 percent to $662.8 million. U.S. beef’s momentum in Mexico was fueled in part by a strong peso in the first half of the year, so the recent decline in buyers’ purchasing power and
heightened economic uncertainty could impact the market in coming months. However, beef supplies remain tight in Mexico due to severe drought.
Beef exports to the Middle East have rebounded impressively in 2024 and this trend continued in June with shipments reaching 4,270 mt, up 22 percent from a year ago. Export value increased 25 percent to $20.8 million. Led by larger variety meat exports to Egypt and stronger demand for muscle cuts in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, January-June exports to the region soared 31 percent in volume (28,195 mt) and 33 percent in value ($127 million) from a year ago.
Led by strong demand in the Dominican Republic and a surge in shipments to Cuba, June beef exports to the Caribbean totaled 2,711 mt, up 35 percent from a year ago, while value climbed 19 percent to $22 million. First-half exports to the region, which were also bolstered by record variety meat shipments to Trinidad and Tobago and strong demand for variety meat in Jamaica, increased 28 percent from a year ago in volume (17,485 mt) and 14 percent in value ($143.8 million).
Colombia’s ban on imports of U.S. beef originating from states with cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cows continues to take a toll on export volumes, with June exports plunging 77 percent from a year ago to just 91 mt. Exports to Colombia were strong in the first quarter but have been restricted since April, pushing firsthalf exports 22 percent below last year at 2,224 mt,
while export value fell 13 percent to $13.4 million. Fortunately, Colombia is the only trading partner to impose HPAI-related restrictions on U.S. beef. Beef export value equated to $459.21 per head of fed slaughter in June, up 13 percent from a year ago. The January-June average was $418.37 per head, up 6 percent from the first half of 2023. Exports accounted for 15 percent of total June beef production and 12.8 percent for muscle cuts only, up from 14.3 percent and 12 percent, respectively, a year ago. The January-June ratios were 14.1 percent of total production (down from 14.4 percent a year ago) and 11.8 percent for muscle cuts (down from 12.2 percent). In 2023, CCA awarded over $49,000 in scholarships to students studying agriculture. Livestock Memorial Research Fund Scholarship • CCA Allied Industry Scholarship • Tom Grimmius Memorial Scholarship • Hank Stone Memorial California Beef Cattle Improvement Association Scholarship Learn more about the 2024 requirements for applying & download the CCA Scholarship application at calcattlemen.org/scholarship.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024 CCA SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BEING ACCEPTED NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 1, 2024. APPLY TODAY!
BY OCT. 1st
USDA UPDATES FARM LOAN PROGRAMS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25, 2024 — changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable. These improvements, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, demonstrate USDA’s commitment to improving farm profitability through farm loans designed to provide important financing options used by producers to cover operating expenses and purchase land and equipment.
“USDA recognizes that Farm Service Agency’s loan making and servicing activities are critical for producers, especially in tough times. Providing borrowers the financial freedom to increase profits, save for long-term needs and make strategic investments is the best way to ensure the nation’s farmers and ranchers can build financial equity and resilience,” said Zach Ducheneaux, FSA Administrator.
Farm loan policy changes outlined in the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, are designed to better assist borrowers to make strategic investments in the enhancement or expansion of their agricultural operations.
The three most notable policy changes include:
Establishing a new low-interest installment setaside program for financially distressed borrowers. Eligible financially distressed borrowers can defer up to one annual loan installment per qualified loan at a reduced interest rate, providing a simpler and expedited option to resolve financial distress in addition to FSA’s existing loan servicing programs.
Providing all eligible loan applicants access to flexible repayment terms that can increase profitability and help build working capital reserves and savings. By creating upfront positive cash flow, borrowers can find opportunities in their farm operating plan budgets to include a reasonable margin for increased working capital reserves and savings, including for retirement and education.
Reducing additional loan security requirements to enable borrowers to leverage equity. This reduces the amount of additional security required for direct farm loans, including reducing the frequency borrowers must use their personal residence as additional collateral for a farm loan.
Additional Farm Loan Program Improvements
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA’s FSA has embarked on a comprehensive and systemic effort to ensure equitable delivery of Farm Loan Programs and improve access to credit for small and mid-size family farms. FSA has also included additional data in its annual report to Congress to provide information that Congress, stakeholders, and the general public
need to hold USDA accountable on the progress that has been made in improving services to underserved producers. This year’s report shows FSA direct and guaranteed loans were made to a greater percentage of young and beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as improvements in the participation rates of minority borrowers. The report also highlights FSA’s microloan program’s new focus on urban agriculture operations and niche market lending, as well as increased support for producers seeking direct loans for farm ownership in the face of increasing land values across the country.
FSA has a significant initiative underway to streamline and automate the Farm Loan Program customer-facing business process. For the over 26,000 producers who submit a direct loan application annually, FSA has made several impactful improvements.
A simplified direct loan paper application, reduced from 29 pages to 13 pages.
USDA encourages producers to reach out to their local FSA farm loan staff to ensure they fully understand the wide range of loan and servicing options available to assist with starting, expanding, or maintaining their agricultural operation. To conduct business with FSA, please contact your local USDA Service Center. For more information, visit, www.fsa.usda.gov.
GRASSHOPPERS GOBBLE CROPS AND PROFIT
UCCE ADVISORS SHARE CONTROL, ABATEMENT STRATEGIES ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
by Pamela S Kan-Rice for the University of California Cooperative Extension
That buzzing noise in Northern California is the sound of grasshoppers chewing a path of destruction through crops and pollinatorfriendly plants as they hop across an expanding area.
This is the fifth year in a row that massive numbers of grasshoppers have overrun Modoc County and “probably the worst I've seen yet,” said Laura Snell, a University of California Cooperative Extension livestock and natural resource advisor in Modoc County, located in the northeastern corner of the state.
In past years, Snell has heard from farmers who have lost up to 70 percent of their hay crop. This year, she is hearing of grasshopper damage from farmers who grow a wider array of crops, including onions and garlic – crops that the pests eschewed in past years.
“I've had an even broader group of producers contact me about damage,” Snell said. “Our local vegetable producers are being affected, decreasing farmers market and food hub products. Bee producers are not seeing good honey yields due to grasshoppers eating huge amounts of pollinator plants.”
Modoc County isn't alone. Lassen, Sierra, Plumas, Siskiyou, Tehama, Butte, Placer and Nevada counties are being invaded by grasshoppers.
“The county ag commissioners are circulating a survey to get an idea of other
counties that may be affected,” Snell said. “Things like droughts and – I suppose, fires as well – would affect grasshopper migrations.”
While scientists don't know what's causing the explosive growth of grasshopper populations, there are some contributing factors, according to Tom Getts, UC Cooperative Extension weed ecology and cropping systems advisor for Lassen, Modoc, Plumas and Sierra counties.
In the past, grasshopper outbreaks seemed to be more isolated, and the populations tended to crash after a year or two. Getts said, “For whatever reason, the population cycle does not appear to have been broken, and they continue to have high numbers.”
Grasshoppers can consume 30 percent to 250 percent of their body weight per day, according to a fact sheet about grasshoppers, co-authored by Getts. While grasshopper nymphs walk, adults can fly 15 miles or more.
Getts and UC Cooperative Extension farm advisors have been giving presentations throughout the intermountain region on grasshoppers and the various control methods.
“The difficulty to controlling them is the scale and their ability to move,” Getts said. “The insects need to be targeted at a small growth stage for the tactics to be most efficacious. Once they are adults, it doesn't matter what one grower does to control them if their neighbor
doesn't do anything.”
UCCE farm advisors in multiple counties are working on abatement options.
They recommend monitoring in April–May to control grasshoppers while they are still nymphs and susceptible to insecticides. Birds, spiders, rodents and fungi also can help keep the insects in check, but years of drought have reduced the fungi.
“The population of grasshoppers in the region have increased in size, scope and density in recent years,” said Rob Wilson, a UC Cooperative Extension agronomy and pest management advisor and director of the Intermountain Research and Extension Center in Tulelake.
The massive growth and spread of the pests is a problem because 30 pounds of grasshoppers can eat as much forage as a 600-pound cow can eat per day, he explained.
Part of the challenge of controlling grasshoppers is their changing behavior. In the past, grasshoppers would go away after a couple of years, now they persist. They used to thrive in dry fields, but last year, grasshoppers migrated 10 to 20 miles into irrigated fields, Wilson said. Wilson, who has been monitoring grasshoppers near Tule Lake since early April, said that In some fields, there were 20 to 30 nymphs per square yard. More than eight nymphs per square yard can cause economic damage.
As if the grasshoppers themselves weren't enough of a nuisance, they attract other pests, including blister beetles.
“As the grasshopper population increases, you are bound to see an increase in all of the species that eat them over time,” Getts said. “Blister beetles cause terrible blisters when they get on your skin, hence the name, but they can also be problematic for livestock if they contaminate bales of hay.”
Getts recommends that growers take steps to prevent grasshopper populations from building over successive years. Growers should coordinate with neighboring growers to treat their fields due to the limited longevity and efficacy of treatments on individual fields.
Northern California counties are being invaded by grasshopper. UCCE advises growers to coordinate with neighbors in treating their fields for grashoppers so they don't invade neighboring fields.
PHOTOS BY THOMAS GETTS
RABOBANK PREDICTS CONTRACTION IN GLOBAL BEEF PRODUCTION
While beef production is projected to contract, cattle prices are expected to maintain their current levels, according to Rabobank’s global beef quarterly report for the second quarter.
Moving into the second half of 2024, Rabobank forecasts a downturn in beef production volumes from major producers. Notably, Europe and the United States are set to experience contractions that will overshadow production increases anticipated from Australia and Brazil.
Amid contraction in local production, North American cattle market prices are hovering near record highs, according to the report. The April USDA all-fresh beef retail price reached a new alltime high of $7.95/lb. Meanwhile, other regions are experiencing less extreme pricing. As the global cattle market moves at two distinct paces, Europe finds itself in the middle despite a recent uptick in production.
The regional disparities are beginning to influence international trade flows, with the United States ramping up its import volumes and major Asian markets maintaining steady import levels.
The global beef industry remains on alert for animal diseases that may pose a threat to the supply chain.
The presence of avian influenza in Brazil has the potential to disrupt the poultry industry if an outbreak were to occur, considering Brazil is the largest poultry exporter, said Rabobank. Such an event would indirectly impact beef prices and exports.
Recently, Brazil declared itself free from footand-mouth disease without vaccination. Official recognition from the World Organization for Animal Health could significantly enhance Brazil’s trade prospects.
Rabobank said growing demand for climate disclosures is expected to creep into beef supply chains, presenting both opportunities and risks.
New regulations are emerging that require companies, including those in the beef industry, to disclose supply chain emissions. The regulations do not mandate emissions reduction targets, rather they seek to promote transparency and comparable sustainability information so investors can better assess climate risks.
The beef industry faces a particular challenge with scope 3 emissions, which are substantial, yet difficult to measure. For most food retailers, scope 3 emissions represent over 90 percent of their total greenhouse gas inventory. Under the reporting regulations, large beef companies will be required to navigate the complexities of collecting and reporting accurate emissions data.
Beef supply chains should focus on accurate data collection, improved data transfers and reporting, and new tools for demonstrating progress, the report said.
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DATA GROWTH
THE RISE IN ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS
by American Angus Association Director of Producer Programs Esther Tarpoff
Before the turn of the century, the American Angus Association launched their Angus Information Management Software (AIMS) in 1997. This was the start of electronic data submission for Angus members. Beginning in 2001, the AAA Login platform was launched and was revolutionary for those transitioning to electronic data submission.
During the last 20 years, members have embraced using electronic data submission. In the last nine years, there has been an increase from 87 percent to 95 percent of weaning weights submitted electronically. There was an 11 percent increase from 2014 to 2023 for the percentage of registrations submitted electronically. In fiscal year 2023, 94 percent of registrations submitted were electronic.
Possibly the biggest categories to see growth during the last decade include storing performance registration certificates electronically and thus, being able to transfer cattle electronically. In fiscal year 2014, 41 percent of registration certificates were stored electronically. Nine years later, 68 percent were stored electronically.
There has also been a similar increase in transfers completed electronically. From fiscal year 2014 to fiscal year 2023, there was an increase from 44 percent to 68 percent.
Why choose electronic?
There are multiple reasons members choose to embrace electronic preferences while working with the Association.
For many, the ease of not having paper records to manage is a large benefit. When storing registration certificates electronically, papers are never lost among the shuffle of hard copies. With today’s genetic evaluation updated weekly, it also means EPDs (expected progeny differences) viewed online are always up to date. In addition, the transferring of animals can be completed online and in one business day. A printed copy of
the e-stored paper can be requested at no charge. Data processes quicker when submitted electronically as well, typically in one business day. For weights, scores and other records, the results can be viewed the following business day in your AAA Login account. This provides the opportunity to quickly review the records submitted. Many of the records can be exported to a spreadsheet for further review. Corrections can also be processed electronically.
More recently, the option for paperless billing and paperless reports was offered. This means for billing, all invoices and monthly statements for the account can be emailed. All are visible in AAA Login and can be printed as needed. For reports, the Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®) data submitted is available for viewing online. Both options keep the information electronic.
Continuing to grow
In 2024, Pathfinder® certificates were transitioned to an electronic certificate, with the option to be printed and mailed by the Association. For the election process, most have shifted to submitting their nominations via an electronic form and 2024 will be the first year that eligible voting members are able to cast their vote for delegates online.To ease the potential membership lapse, the auto dues renewal option was added for members to enroll in to automatically have dues renewed annually.
Want to participate?
If you are interested in participating in more electronic preferences for your herd, you can update these in your AAA Login account by visiting the My Account tab. Auto dues renewal, registration certificate storage preference, billing preferences and even report preferences can all be managed under the My Account tab. As always, you can contact the Association for more information.
OPINION EDITORIAL
INACTION ON TRACEABILITY IS UNACCEPTABLE
by National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Mark Eisele
The future of the U.S. cattle industry hinges on our ability to swiftly respond to disease outbreaks. Yet, some groups and individuals continue to fight the tools that could protect our livelihoods. The most recent rule to come under fire is USDA’s animal disease traceability regulation.
In the face of a potential FMD outbreak, every minute counts. The choice between outdated methods and advanced technology could mean the difference between a controlled situation and a nationwide catastrophe. Imagine the chaos of an FMD outbreak, with markets shuttered, and producers frantically searching for nearly illegible metal bright tags in the pouring rain. This is not a future we can afford. Some argue that these changes are unnecessary or burdensome, the reality is that clinging to outdated ideas, practices and technology puts our entire industry at risk.
USDA’s new rules call for the use of an electronic identification (EID) tag in breeding cattle, 18 months of age and older, being transported across state lines. This class of cattle has required an ID tag for more than a decade. USDA is simply changing the technology from a metal bright tag to an updated EID tag.
Innovation has always been the backbone of American agriculture. The use of EID tag technology is not just a step forward; it’s a necessity for an industry that must be prepared for anything in a time of porous borders and uncertain global politics. USDA’s rule will allow cattle to be tracked more quickly in the event of foot and mouth disease (FMD) or similar emergency, when time is critical. We all know that the metal clips in the ears of cattle are nearly impossible to read after a year or two. We also know that reading them, writing down the information from the tag and transferring it to a database is slow, cumbersome and subject to human error. These issues can be alleviated by simply running a wand over an EID tag, making traceability faster and less error prone.
There are still issues and concerns with USDA’s effort to
upgrade technology. One of the issues that must be addressed is how data is gathered and stored. Producer privacy is paramount to this effort. NCBA has long advocated for tag data to be held by private, third-party companies, like CattleTrace, rather than USDA. A third-party holder of information helps protect producer privacy while also allowing the rapid traceback required in the event of a disease outbreak. Cost is the other factor that NCBA has worked to alleviate. To help lower the costs of USDA’s rule, NCBA was able to secure $15 million in funding for the purchase of EID tags, to ensure that cattle producers aren’t saddled with added compliance costs.
None of us in the agricultural community desire more government intrusion in our businesses or our lives. NCBA has stood on the front lines fighting, and might I say winning, many of those issues for decades. We have always stood for industry solutions to industry problems and worked to be proactive in creating those solutions. Those whose only answer is “no,” and those individuals and groups who would allow perfect to be the enemy of good, have created a vacuum that the government is more than happy to fill. It is past time for us, as cattle producers, to create an industry-led and industry-controlled solution to disease traceability. Our current system and the ability to rapidly respond to a real disease outbreak is insufficient to protect each of us and our livelihoods. Now is the time for the cattle industry to lead, not lag.
9/5
Fall Production Sale
2024 CALENDAR
Vintage Angus Ranch Bull Sale, La Grange with Sierra Ranch Hereford bulls
9/6 Byrd Cattle Company, Los Molinos
9/7
EZ Angus Ranch Bull Sale, Farmington
9/8 Heritage Bull Sale with Bar R Angus and Toledo Ranches, Wilton
9/9
9/10
9/11
9/12
9/13
9/14
9/15
9/16
9/16
9/17
9/18
9/19
9/20
9/22
9/25
9/26
9/28
9/29
10/4
Genoa Livestock Production Sale, Minden, Nev.
O’Neals Ranch Angus Bull Sale, Madera
Teixeira Cattle Co. Production Sale, Pismo Beach
Donati Ranch & O’Connell Ranche Bull Sale, Oroville
Tehama Angus Ranch’s 50th Annual “Generations of Performance”
Angus Bull Sale, Gerber
Arellano Bravo & Diablo Valley Angus Bull Sale, Galt
Visalia Livestock Market Range Bull Sale, Visalia Featuring bulls from Bar KJ Angus, No. 7 Ranch Simmentals, Rhoades Angus, Sonoma Mountain Herefords and Stepaside Farm
Rhoades Ranch Angus Production Sale, Cambria
Soaring Eagle of the Ozarks Production Sale, Springfield, Mo.
Old Stage Angus & Vendendaal Angus Bull Sale, Hanford
Bullseye Breeders Bull Sale, Modesto featuring Pedretti Ranch Hereford bulls
Rancho Casino & Dal Porto Livestock Angus Bull Sale, Denair
Dixie Valley Angus Bull Sale, Galt
Stegall Cattle Company Red Angus Production Sale, Colusa
Gardiner Angus Ranch, Ashland, Kan.
Beef Solutions Bull Sale, Bruin Ranch and Circle Ranch, Ione
McPhee Red Angus Production Sale, Lodi
Traynham Ranches Production Sale, Fort Klamath
Elwood Ranches Bull Sale, Red Bluff
10/5 Turlock Livestock’s California Breeders Bull Sale, Featuring Stepaside Farm Angus bulls and Brangus bulls form Spanish Ranch
10/6
10/8
10/12
10/13-14
10/19
10/19
11/2
11/13
11/14
Cal Poly Bull Test Sale, San Luis Obispo
9 Peaks Ranch Angus Bull Sale, Fort Rock, Ore.
Vintage Angus Ranch’s 38th Annual Genetic Gold Production Sale, Modesto
EZ Angus Ranch Female Dispersion Sale, Porterville
Western Stockman’s Market Bull Sale, McFarland With bulls from Stepaside Farm and Spanish Ranch
Lambert Ranches Butte Bull Sale, Oroville
56th annual Central California World of Bulls Bull Sale, Gal
Riverbend Ranches Bull Sale, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Hoffman Ranches Bull Sale, Thedford, Neb.
Announcing the new vaccine from Hygieia Labs:
Your Foothold Against Foothill Abortion.
Costing the industry more than $10 million annually, Foothill Abortion — formally known as Epizootic Bovine Abortion, or EBA — has robbed profits from ranchers for almost 100 years as the leading cause of calf loss in affected areas of the Western United States.
Until now.
After years in development and testing, the new Foothill Abortion Vaccine is available from Hygieia Biological Laboratories. The Foothill Abortion Vaccine has been shown to protect more than 95% of animals from the disease when administered as directed. Administration is safe, simple and proven to give your heifers a strong start for greater productivity.
Protect your investment and promote your profitability. Ask your local veterinarian if the Foothill Abortion Vaccine is right for your herd, or contact Hygieia Labs to learn more.
HYGIEIA BIOLOGICAL LABORATORIES
P.O. Box 8300, Woodland, California 95776 USA
Contact Jenna Chandler at Hygieia Labs for additional information.
Helen Roberti passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 8, at 89. She was a blessing and an inspiration to all who knew her, and she will be greatly missed. Helen was preceded in death by husband of 58 years, Elmer Roberti, in 2012; her parents, Charlie and Beulah Wily; her father and mother-inlaw, Alfred and Josephine Roberti; brothers, Charles and Mervyn Wily; sister, Ada Jean Lawson; sister-inlaw, Elia Roberti Miles; and her daughter-in-law, Rose Roberti. She is survived by sons Jim (Kathy) Roberti, Rick (Carolyn) Roberti, Dave (Jane) Roberti, and her "adopted" son Rodney (Sandy) Silva; and sisters Clarice Phillips and Connie Wiest and their families. Also known as "Grammy," Helen leaves behind grandchildren Jenny (Jay) Gant, Ben (Samantha) Roberti, Weston Roberti, Katie Roberti and Kristin Roberti. Grammy's quiver was full of seven greatgrandchildren, including Emmett, Ella, and Eden Gant, as well as Giovanni, Luna, Emilia and Natalia Roberti.
During the Great Depression, Helen's parents lost their cows and small dairy farm to foreclosure in Fallon, Nev. Her dad was fortunate to get a nightshift job at the lumber mill in Loyalton, so the family moved to Sierra Valley. Helen was born in Loyalton in 1935. For a few years, they lived in town, but her dad never stopped being a farmer. When an old, rundown ranch was for sale, they somehow came up with enough money to take it over.
Only a mile from Loyalton, Helen loved growing up on the ranch. She and her sisters often walked home from school down the old B&L railroad tracks or took a shortcut through a field in the late fall. Although money was tight, Helen got her first horse at 14. She spent hours riding up Staverville Creek to Castle Rock, exploring and dreaming. Even though Helen wanted to be riding her horse, she got along quite well in high school and loved many of her teachers.
She was in the band and choir and was also part of a nurse's aide program through the school; she worked at the new Loyalton Hospital, which she greatly enjoyed. After graduation in 1953, she went on to nurses training in Santa Rosa the following fall. However, a special man in Sierra Valley had caught her attention during the summer months, enough so that she left her dream of being a nurse to become a farmer's wife. Helen's dad told her she could marry anyone if their last name didn't end with the letters A, I or O. Her family is glad she didn't listen to that advice. On Sept. 4, 1954, Helen married Elmer Roberti at a ceremony that began at 8 p.m., which gave dairy farmers plenty of time to get their cows milked. In the following years, they welcomed three boys, Jimmy, Ricky and Davy (as Helen lovingly called them), who still live and work on the ranch.
As a lifelong Sierra Valley resident, she served
in many different organizations. She was secretary of the Plumas-Sierra County Farm Bureau for more than 50 years. In 2014, Assemblymember Brian Dahle named her Woman of the Year in California District 1 for her dedication and passion for agriculture.
She was also quite a historian. For many years, she served on the governing board of the Plumas County Museum and was a member of the Sierra County Historical Society. Helen loved being outdoors on the ranch, cutting hay on a swather or working cows in the corral. She enjoyed gardening and keeping her yard filled with beautiful flower beds. Helen fixed lunch for the family and countless employees who worked putting up hay in the summer. Nothing seemed to please her more than riding her horse Ramie as the Roberti family drove cattle to the summer pasture next to Lake Davis with their good friends, the Ramellis.
Helen's faith in Jesus was the cornerstone of her life. She was a good friend to many and always looked for ways to offer help to people who were lonely or in need. Helen baked thousands of yeast rolls and hundreds of pies for her family and friends, and she was especially pleased to help bring in money when she donated her pies for local benefit auctions. Years ago, Loyalton Rotarians also enjoyed her cooking when she served them lunch once every month at the Loyalton Community Church.
The Sierra Valley never grew old to Helen. In her later years, she loved being able to drive herself into town to get a haircut from Debbie, take her car to be serviced at White's, and get what she needed from her friends at the hardware store. She also enjoyed being able to pick up her own prescriptions and go to the bank in Portola. When she ran out of Swiss cheese for her polenta, she would make a trip to Chilcoot to Goodwin's General Store. She often said, "I sure love my little town." Over the years, she also loved going into Loyalton to watch her grandchildren play sports, and this past spring, she got to watch her great-grandson, Emmett, play Little League.
Over the last 10 years or so, one of Helen's favorite things to do was to sit at her big window in the kitchen, read on her iPad and watch the "goings on" of the day. She also enjoyed sitting in her front yard at her "cattle trough" during the cool of the day. With help from her family, Helen converted the trough to a fish tank for her goldfish, and often, at the end of the day, family and friends would join Helen for a pleasant visit around the trough. If asked, she was never afraid to tell you what she thought about an issue, and with quiet wisdom, she often offered a good solution to many of life's challenges. Most importantly, Helen loved the Lord her God with all her heart, soul and mind, and she frequently told her family that she was most blessed among women.
Helen's celebration of life service will be held at the Sierra Valley Grange Hall at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. In her memory, donations may be made to: Community Church of Loyalton, PO Box 326, Loyalton, CA 96118; or Sierra Valley Grange, PO Box 15 , Vinton, CA 96135.
STAN WEIGAND
Stanley Norman Weigand, known to all as Stan, took his final ride into the sunset of the mountains beyond on August 2, at the age of 91. Stan was born May 6, 1933, and lived at his parents’, Lawrence and Norma Weigand, home ranch near Adin, with his sisters, Avis and Cleo, and brother Dale. Stan grew up living his dream as a rancher and cowboy, graduating from Adin High School in 1952.
Stan loved his life in Big Valley. He overcame adversity, survived being kicked in the head by a horse at age six, having to learn to walk and talk all over again, being shot in the back with a shot gun, and bit through his lip bull riding. He loved boy scouts, having experienced great camp outs and adventures with his friends. Stan was the only student in his class in a one room school up until high school where basketball was his favorite sport. Stan’s love for horses abounded, his favorite Jack Sprite.
In 1956 Stan married Glorianne Roufs in the little White Church in Bieber that was built by his Grandfather Studley. They celebrated their 68th anniversary in June. In 1963, Stan and Glorianne bought the 101 Ranch becoming the fourth generation owning the 101 Ranch, homesteaded by Stan’s Great Grandfather Benjamen Studley in 1869. This began a long and successful ranching legacy with his wife as an inseparable team, and their two sons Doug and Scott. Ranching was Stan’s life, passion, and constant attention, proud of the ranch he built with his wife and constant companion, Glorianne.
In 2003, after 40 years on the 101 Ranch, Stan and Glorianne retired to their home in Pittville. Retirement was active with the Fort Crook Museum, moving and rebuilding the Round Barn from Little Valley, the Timekeepers Cabin from Pondosa, and restoring the Fort Cabin. Stan and Glorianne loved traveling to the ranch tours and other fun tours. They met many new friends, and reunited with old friends. Stan was a mentor to many as a 4-H leader, Forest Service Advisor, Farm Bureau Member, Fall River-Big Valley Cattlemen, and for a safe harbor for young men to find a bed, a job, or a meal. Stan was a helper and friend to anyone who needed him, he was always there with his horse, rope, and a dog or two.
Stan Weigand epitomized the “Cowboy Way” through honesty, integrity, as a land steward, a herdsman, and a gentleman. Stan is remembered as a gentle soul, always willing to help, a leader in the cattle industry, and as a wonderful father and devoted husband. We will miss him.
Services were held Aug. 10, in Adin.
Scott Alan Thompson was born March 10, 1957, in Eagle Rock, to George and Nancy Thompson, and was the oldest of five children- his siblings are Keith, Alicia, Christine and Wayne. Scott grew up in the San Bernardino Mountains and graduated from Rim of the World High School in 1975. He married Patti Goodwin Oct. 6, 1984, and together they have raised a beautiful family which includes children Tonya, Ashly, Teagan, Taylor and Connor, and their spouses Adam, Daniel, Jennie and Olivia, as well as grandchildren Ava, Saydee, Kodi, Wyatt, Cash, Waylon, Luke, Walker, Urijah, JJ, Rafe and Kenley.
Scott was a high school science teacher and coach for a time, and later became a rancher and a firefighter.
In 1994 Scott and Patti, moved their family to Beckwourth, to start ranching and raise their family. Scott loved country music, specifically George Strait, and his hero, John Wayne. So, it’s kind of right that Scotty and The Duke share the same date of their passing, June 11.
Scott was a man of God, who loved the Lord and his family deeply. He will be greatly missed by his family and the lives he touched. Happy trails, until we meet again.
NEW ARRIVAL
EVERETT JEPSON
Kim Rounds and Ryan Jepson, Eaton, Colo., welcomed a baby boy, Everett Christian Jepson, on Aug. 16. Everett tipped the scales at 9 pounds 12 ounces and was 24 inches long. Everett is the grandson of Carl and Sharon Rounds, Grass Valley.
To share your family news, obituaries, weddings and birth announcements, please contact the CCA office at (916) 444-0845 or e-mail: magazine@calcattlemen.org.
