See who’s taking control in the CNFR standings so far this year.
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sweep across the nation hitting farms.
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West River
Wednesday April 27, 2011
Beef producers support military troops with steaks Todd Neeley TriState Livestock News
“Freedom is not free and this is where we pay our dues,” said Harvey Gough, who started the non-profit organization Steak Team Mission, in 2002. “We take an 8-ounce USDA Choice tenderloin steak to dirty, sweater, dangerous places around the world to feed to our troops. We have been to Africa, southern Iraq and Afghanistan. We try to do one or two of these each year.” Gough and his men will be leaving this week to head to Afghanistan to serve steaks to the troops there. Steak feeds range in numbers from 500 to 10,000 people. The meals consist of steaks with all of the fixings – cornbread, potatoes and a Klondike bar for dessert. On a more local level is Bill Broadie, founder of the All-American Beef Battalion (AABB), a group with the same mission to say thanks to troops with a big, juicy steak. Since it’s inception in 2008, the group has served more than 80,000 men and women in the armed service. The AABB is proud to announce its first South Dakota steak feed, which will be held on May 14, 2011 in Pierre, SD. To raise money for the cause, Kelly Landers, a cattle rancher from Mobridge, SD, is asking for support from his fellow cattlemen. On April 14, 2011 at 12 p.m. (CST), at the Mobridge Livestock Auction barn, three yearling calves will be auctioned off. The steak feed will be held in honor of the 200th Engineering Company MRBC, which has 186 members based out of Mobridge, Fort Pierre and Chamberlain. “The 200th will be leaving shortly after the feed in May,” said Landers. “This is our way to say thanks and good luck to the good people in our community who are making the sacrifice to protect our freedoms. Any support we can get is greatly appreciated. Casey Purman, with the Mobridge Livestock Auction barn, has been incredibly instrumental in helping to organize this auction. We are hoping to drum up $15,000 for this cause.” Area livestock producers, community members and auction barns are encouraged to learn more about the AABB and how to get involved. For additional details, check out www.steaksfortroops.com.
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SD vet cautions ranchers about cattle anthrax Environmental conditions could be bredding ground for possible anthrax issues for cattlemen. RAPID CITY JOURNAL – State Veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven (OH’-duh-koh-ven) is reminding South Dakota ranchers to be diligent about vaccinating livestock against anthrax. Anthrax is a disease that effects mammals caused by a spore-forming bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. According to Cattle Today most outbreaks occur in areas where animals have already died from the disease. Although most ranchers find their infected cattle too late (dead) there are subtle signs which
appear and move quickly. The animal will go from looking healthy to having an appearance of death in only hours. Other signs include fever, difficulty in breathing, convulsions and mood swings. Flooding across the state has created conditions that are favorable for anthrax. Bacteria spores lie dormant in the soil and can become active under conditions such as heavy rainfall, flooding or drought. Officials say vaccination is best because unvaccinated animals often die suddenly after being exposed to the bacteria, and there isn’t an opportunity for treatment. Think your herd is safe because you have never had an epidemic in your area? Well Oedekoven says that with the flooding conditions accross the state the bacterium could be traveling through water systems
and reaching new locations acrross the state. “Honestly the best thing for owners to do is to vaccinate their animals Keloland.com in advance Cattle could quickly fall victim to the to avoid any issues in the disease if the conditions are right. future,” said Oedekoven. Contact your local veterinarian for vaccine information and and questions you might have.
Hinman dreams of running family ranch By Gayle Smith TriState Livestock News
By the time she was a senior in high school, one Wheatland, WY youth couldn’t imagine a life doing anything other than riding her horse through the pasture checking on her herd of cow/calf pairs. Kellie Hinman pursued her dream. After graduating from high school, she attended the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis where she took classes in animal science, beef production, carcass evaluation and beef artificial insemination. “I went to college for two years at NCTA and graduated with an associate’s degree in applied sciences, which is mainly livestock management,” Hinman said. After college, Hinman started her own cattle business. “I am trying to raise my own show cattle and commercial cattle,” she says. “I showed cattle pretty much all my life, and I really enjoy it. My dad grew up doing this type of stuff. Showing cattle was a good way to get some money together in a college account.
Gayle Smith
Hinman spends much of her time feeding to the livestock.
My dad got us started in this, and I just decided to continue with it, so I kept going.” Hinman said in the two years since she has went out on her own, she has learned a lot. “Cattle take a lot of work and time, especially during calving season,” she says. “The hardest part of all was waiting for them to make a profit. It takes awhile.” Hinman is developing a cow herd of Maine and MaineAngus cows. She said there is a few in her herd with three-
way breeding, too. Her cows are artificially inseminated to popular show cattle sires like Sun Seeker, Who Made Who, Dr Who, Dirty Hairy, and Beer For My Horses. “My goal is to raise good quality cattle, and try to raise what people are looking for in show cattle. I have selected cows with good bone... and a lot of hair,” she said, laughing. “I also want cows with allaround soundness and a calm disposition. Most of my heifers are pretty good. If you start working with the calves
early enough, they usually calm down. Once in a while, though, I will have one that doesn’t.” Hinman said she also tries to select cattle with good muscling and marbling. “I want to raise cattle that are still useful even if they don’t make show cattle,” she said. “I think my calves are still above average for market.” Her commercial calves are marketed to a feedlot. “My dad has cattle, too,” she said. “His cattle are just commercial, but if he has any calves that are of show quality, he lets me trade with him.” Most of the cows in Hinman’s herd are moderate in frame and average about 1,100 pounds. “I have a few that are bigger than that,” she said. “The calves usually finish out between 1,200 to 1,300 pounds.” “Most of my show cattle are marketed on the internet,” she said. Hinman has her own website: lazy2klivestock. com. She also sells a few of her prospects through the Sidwell’s Club Calf Sale in Gill, CO. “I bought some of
my cows from them,” she explained, “so, they let me sell some of my prospects there.” Two years ago, Hinman also started taking a pen of three calves to the National Western Stock Show. “I think it is pretty good advertising,” she said. “Last year, there were a lot more people looking at the cattle. It didn’t seem like there were as many people this year, and prices were down some, but we still did pretty well.” Hinman said she also hopes to take some calves to the open prospect calf show at the Wyoming State Fair in August. “I am hoping that by competing in this show, more people will see my cattle,” she said. Hinman encourages young people interested in becoming ranchers to check into the Beginning Farmer and Rancher programs offered by the government. “I would encourage young people to try and buy some land to get started, or if they have a place to run some cattle, obtain a loan to buy some cattle,” she said.
WHAT’S INSIDE National News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Government/Policies Weather Issues
College Rodeo Ranch Horse/Ranch Rodeo
Competative Sports Updates . . . . . 3
Gayle Smith
Kellie Hinman’s involvement in the family haying operation earned her first place honors in the alfalfa hay category of the first-ever World Ag Expo Forage Challenge in Tulare, CA.
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