The Carolina Cattle Connection - Volume 37, Issue No. 8 (AUGUST 2023)publication

ONNECTION

“But I Dewormed My Cows Last Week...”, by Lee Jones DVM ..................................... page 29 2023 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts .............................................................. page 56

A Message from the CEO — For Just $19 a Month, by Colin Woodall .......................... page 44

55

Amazing Grazing — Running Wide Open this Spring and Summer!, by Matt Poore & Johnny Rogers ...................................................................................... page 18 American Angus Association News ................................................................................. page 22 American Brahman Breeders Association Executive Update, by Dr. Joe Paschal ............................................................................................................. page 50 American Hereford Association News ............................................................................ page 33 Animal Agriculture Alliance News .................................................................................. page 60 Ashley’s Beef Corner — Summer Sizzler, by Ashley W. Herring .................................. page 16 Beef Checkoff News ............................................................................................................ page 64 Beef Cuts and Recommended Cooking Methods ......................................................... page 66

Beef Quality Assurance Update ....................................................................................... page 64

BioZyme News ..................................................................................................................... page 58

Carolina Cooking — Grilled Cowboy Steaks .................................................................. page 52

Clemson Trustees Officially Approve Development of New College of Veterinary Medicine ......................................................................... page 41 Cutting Through the Carbon Clutter .............................................................................. page 68

Director’s Report — Learning, by Bryan K. Blinson .......................................................... page 3

E.B.’s View from the Cow Pasture — Make Sure the Bottom of Your Boot is Clean, by E.B. Harris ..................................................................................................................... page 31

Elanco News .......................................................................................................................... page 69

Evelyn Hope (Gettys) Edmunds Passes ........................................................................... page 24

Federation of State Beef Councils Update ..................................................................... page 67

Have You Herd — Improving Calf Crop Percentage — Managing the Source to Enhance the Results, by Courtney Meyer .................. page 20

Heat Tolerant Composites are a Benefit to Cattlemen, by Heather Smith Thomas ............................................................................................... page 34

John Deere News ................................................................................................................. page 52

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association News ............................................................... page 68

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President’s Report — Common Theme, by Todd Wilkinson ........................................................................................................... page 49

New NCCA Members for 2023 .......................................................................................... page 40

Norbrook News ................................................................................................................... page 63

North American Limousin Foundation News ................................................................ page 56

North Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ..................................................... page 67

Pasture Managment Systems, Inc. Mile of Fence Program Update .......................... page 39

Performance Livestock Analytics News ......................................................................... page 60

Premier Select Sires News ................................................................................................. page 51

Ridley Block News — What are Organic Trace Minerals, by Laurentia VanRensburg .............................................................................................. page 62

Riomax News ....................................................................................................................... page 42

S.C. Charolais News, by Georgeanna Webb ..................................................................... page 40

South Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ...................................................... page 62

The Chaplain’s Corral — If We Confess - He is Faithful, by Dr. Dave Harvey .............. page 19

Trending in Food & Media .................................................................................................. page 65

You Decide, by Dr. Mike Walden ........................................................................................ page 30

N.C. Cattlemen’s Association

President SCOTT WEST

489 Panacea Springs Road • Littleton, NC 27850

Vice Presidents

RYAN CLARK

5250 NC 772 Hwy. • Madison, NC 27025

BRANDON BOWMAN

2346 Ann Street • Claremont, NC 28610

JIM LEDFORD

260 Mulberry Lane • Otto, NC 28763

Immediate Past President

BURON LANIER

2877 Piney Woods Road • Burgaw, NC 28425

NCBA Regional Vice President (Policy)

FRED SMITH, JR.

NCBA Policy Division Director - JOHN LANGDON

N.C. Beef Council Director

RALPH BLALOCK, JR.

Beef Board Director - BRIAN WARREN

Secretary/Treasurer - EVERETT JOHNSON

Directors At Large

MATT POORE • NEIL BOWMAN • TODD SEE

Executive Director - BRYAN K. BLINSON

2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council

Director of Consumer Information

ASHLEY W. HERRING

Administrative Assistant - KIM BURDGE

S.C. Cattlemen’s Association

Executive Director - TRAVIS MITCHELL

P.O. Box 207 • Saluda, SC 29138

Phone: 803-609-2828

Email: twmitch@clemson.edu

Website: www.sccattlemen.wildapricot.org

Executive Committee

President - Timmy Benton

1st Vice President - Joe Oswald IV

2nd Vice President - Gene Crim

Secretary - Carol Hendrix

Treasurer - Eric Seymour

Past President - Roscoe Kyle

John Lews, Chester • Joe Oswald, IV, Allendale

Roscoe Kyle, Inman • Terry Kirkland, Batesburg

Lloyd Baxley, Georgetown • Joe Davis, Westminster

Michael Hall, Abbeville • Richard Sox, Lexington

Carol Hendrix, Westminister • Jamie Driggers, Hamer

Timmy Benton, Walterboro • Michael Bailey, Lancaster

Bonnie Cann, Abbeville • Ashley Mills, Blair

Drake Yon, Ridge Spring • Gene Crim, St. Matthews

Lee Haddon, Gaffney • Eric Seymour, Columbia

S.C. Beef Council

P.O. Box 11280 • Columbia, SC 29211

Phone: 803-917-1119

Email: scbeef@scda.sc.gov

Website: www.sccattle.org

The Carolina Cattle Connection

Vol. 37, No. 7 AUGUST

2023

Sales & Publication Office 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

Phone: 919-552-9111

Fax: 919-552-9216

Email: mail@nccattle.com

Website: www.nccattle.com

The Carolina Cattle Connection is printed on 30 lb recycled newsprint by BN Printing in Benson, N.C.

STAFF

Manager, N.C. BRYAN BLINSON

Manager, S.C. TRAVIS MITCHELL

Editor & Advertising Director CASEY L. HINNANT

Assistant Editor & Proofreader KIM BURDGE

N.C. Circulation KIM BURDGE

S.C. Circulation TRAVIS MITCHELL

Material in The Carolina Cattle Connection is not to be reproduced in total or in part without the written permission of the Editor. All submissions become property of The Carolina Cattle Connection, but we make every effort to return items such as photographs and artwork as requested.

The Carolina Cattle Connection, the official publication of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association and the S.C. Cattlemen’s Association is published monthly by the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association.

A complementary subscription is included with membership to each state’s association. Nonmember subscriptions are $30 per year.

All address changes for NCCA members to:

The Carolina Cattle Connection 2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

All address changes for SCCA members to:

The Carolina Cattle Connection P.O. Box 207 • Saluda, SC 29138

POTLIGHT ON SIMMENTAL

Lonesome Valley Investments — Committed to Youth and SimAngus, by Jennie Rucker … page 8

MigMa Farms — Faith, Family, and Farm, by Jennie Rucker … page 10

Simmental — A Breed History … page 4

Success Through SimGenetics … page 6

The Simmental Trail, by Jennie Rucker … page 14

Waco Cattle Company — Almost 50 Years of Simmental Cattle, by Jennie Rucker … page 12

Director’s report

By BRYAN K. BLINSON Executive Director, NCCA

Learning

There are moments, days, years, and phases of our lives that are memorable, not necessarily for what we did, but for what we learned. As I sit down to write this column, I hope to express how important memories are to me, and I hope to you as well.

To set the stage, I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that in June, I announced to the executive committee of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association that I planned to retire. I plan to work through the conference to help a new person transition into the role of executive director. In the next few paragraphs, I hope to explore some of those who have helped to provide these memorable lessons that are indelible to me because of the honor all of you have given me to let me work for you for so many years.

I could spend volumes on things we have done as an association in the two stints you have put up with me, but I choose to focus more on the relationships I have been blessed with because of all of you. As I think back to the young guy who first sat down in this chair nearly 30 years ago, I realize that regardless of how much I thought I knew at the time, I was in for a world class education by some of the most dedicated, passionate and helpful teachers in the world. You may think I am referring to professors, specialists, researchers, deans, and college administrators. Certainly, many individuals with those credentials were, and are, among my instructors, but it did not stop there. I have had the pleasure of learning from four commissioners of agriculture and hundreds of their capable and dedicated staff members. I have been blessed to have had valuable lessons from too many senators, congressmen, and other elected leaders to count. Often these lessons involved learning to understand that sometimes disagreements handled correctly could lead to valuable cooperation later on. There were leaders of farm organizations and commodity associations, as well as fellow cattlemen’s executives from across the country, who

were critical to my education. I have been blessed to have learned much from 23 NCCA presidents and scores of other amazing leaders who have served on the executive committee throughout my career. As far as I can tell and remember, each of the noteworthy leaders mentioned above has been recognized for expertise, leadership, and contributions to the industry and to society as a whole. To be sure, the advice, instruction, and support of each of these people have been instrumental in whatever success that I may have enjoyed over my career.

Thankfully, my education and direction did not end with those whose names may be on plaques, in books, or even on buildings as my teachers. There have been and will continue to be innumerable teachers, mentors, and influencers in my life. Every day that I interact with the staff of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association, I realize that while we might not be able to do everything that we would like for the members of the association, the incredible team here is second to none. I learn something from each of them on a continuous basis and have learned from those who came before them.

I can honestly say I have never been to a county meeting, field day, sale, or ag event where I did not learn something. Often, what I learned was not from the speaker but maybe the person sitting beside me, the producer asking a question or relating an experience, the sponsor letting me know about a new product that could help the folks I serve, or maybe even the person serving the roast beef. I learned that sometimes I just needed to watch and listen for the next valuable lesson.

Some of my most valuable teachers are leaders of our association or other agricultural groups, successful men and women in business, elected officials, professors, doctors, pharmacists, veterinarians, and moms and dads to the leaders we don’t know yet. But often, the best lessons they taught me were not in the role they hold now, but when they

were trembling or even tearing up at the thought of stepping into the show ring for the very first time with a heifer or steer that was at least ten times their size or when they were staring at this stranger knowing they had to give me a set of reasons. These lessons, I have to admit, are some of my favorites. I learned that no matter the age, ability, or obstacles, there is value and talent in everyone, and the lesson is to realize how blessed I have been to watch how important each of these little ones becomes.

I have been blessed with a family that has taught me more than I can even comprehend. Mom and Dad taught by example that if you are going to be part of something, make sure you get involved,

speak up, volunteer, and support the organization and the people who supported the “something.” Beth, Rossie, and Mason taught me that while I might miss a meal, a family event, a show, or a recital how to be understanding and not selfish because they knew my family was much more extended than most and included those of you reading this column and many who have successfully completed their lifetime membership.

I want to close this column with a thank you to all of you who have taught me so much for most of my life and have helped me to hopefully use some of what you have taught me to make our association and our ag family just a little stronger.

2023 Spotlight iSSueS Schedule

Most of the breed associations in North and South Carolina have stepped forward and renewed their contracts for Spotlight sections in The Carolina Cattle Connection for 2023. If your breed is not featured as a Spotlight section and you would like to inquire on any open months please feel free to contact me. Below is the tentative schedule for the upcoming year.

2023 Reserved Spotlight Issues

For more information about your breed’s Spotlight Issue, contact:

Simmental — A Breed History

Variability is a lesson that could be well taught by the Simmental. An ancient breed dating back to the Middle Ages, the ability to adapt to its environment has allowed them to become influential in cattle markets across the world. Simmentals were developed at a time when cattle were multipurpose creatures. Not only were they raised for their meat but also for their heavy milking ability and even draft uses. The fact that they were so extensively used made it necessary to highlight docility amongst planned crosses. Most of these traits, some now enhanced, continue in the modern Simmental.

Early records indicate that Simmental cattle were the result of a cross between large German cattle and a smaller breed indigenous to Switzerland. The name Simmental is derived from the name of the area where the cattle were first bred - the Simme Valley, which is situated in the Berner Oberland in Switzerland. Impressive in size, Simmentals had an early worldwide distribution, with some areas having more success in their production than others. Simmentals are known by distinct names, all having regional breeding focuses. The Pie Rouge of France has an emphasis placed on beef production; their cattle are thick with heavier musculature. The Montbeliarde was bred to continue the heavy milking potential of the Simmentals. Many consider these to be the second heaviest milking strain, surpassed only by the Holstein. The Abondance is more moderate in size; it has a smaller frame

and, relative to the other varieties, is lighter boned. The popular AustroGerman Fleckviehs have superior fleshing abilities and are easy calvers. The Swiss Simmentals continue to be large framed with generously proportioned muscles. The Italian countryside has seen its own Simmentals, referred to as Peseta Rosa — which translated means rose colored coins, a likely tribute to the marketability of the Simmental.

the Western Hemisphere in 1897, with Brazil following in 1918 and Argentina in 1922. In 1976 they were also shipped to the Republic of China.

Since its origin in Switzerland, the breed has spread to all six continents. Total numbers are estimated to be between 40 and 60 million Simmental cattle worldwide, with more than half in Europe. The worldwide spread was gradual until the late 1960s. Records show that a few animals were exported to Italy as early as the 1400s. During the 19th century, Simmental were distributed through most of Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Russia, ultimately reaching South Africa in 1895. Guatemala imported the first Simmental cattle into

Selection in Europe was initially for three features - milk, meat, and as draft animals. The demand for working animals is greatly reduced today, but muscularity and high milk production are still important to the success of Simmental.

Simmentals were introduced very early into the United States. Their earliest recorded presence was in Illinois in 1887. A transitional time in the country, the Simmental had little success until its reintroduction in the 1960s. The first purebred calf was born in 1968 out of a breeding using imported semen. In 1974, the World Simmental Federation was formed. Its main goals were to unify breeders by providing a base for information and research exchange and to increase the influence and importance of the breed.

The American Simmental Association came together in order to further the advancement of the breed within the United States. Its members, though diverse in their backgrounds, coincided in their progressive approach. The ASA has open A.I. breedings, a cow recognition program, and within herd comparisons. It was the first breed association with a sire summary. Performance data for the Simmental has also translated directly in the show ring.

Though unmistakable similarities exist within Simmentals of every region, the American Simmental has focused primarily to highlight the breed’s beef qualities. They are rugged animals of substantial bone. Ultimately large in size, it may come as a surprise that Simmentals are exceptionally easy calvers. Though they have low birth weights, they have fast growth rates. Cows are excellent mothers and have very long production

cycles. Cows and bulls reach sexual maturity early, in contrast to other Continental breeds that may take longer to develop. Though their milking abilities have not been selected for, the Simmental continues to be an above average milker. Their economic benefits to beef breeders are almost unsurpassed by any other breed. They are of renowned docility and have excellent weight gaining abilities. The carcass yield is very good, with meat grading high. Simmental beef is tender and highly palatable.

The upgrading program in America has introduced a wide range of colors to the breed. The original coloration for Simmentals was red and white or gold and white. All colors and all color patterns are accepted within the American

Simmental Association. A gene for polledness has also been established within the breed, most likely coming from Angus crosses. There is so much variety within the breed that ranchers may select those animals better suited to their particular environments. They are such an adaptable breed, however, that a universal standard is difficult to quantify. The risk of a lessened genetic pool is minimal for Simmental breeders.

A very popular cross is the SimAngus; the resulting offspring combine the best of the English and Continental breed traits. Performance numbers, fertility rates, yield grades, and marbling have made these cattle highly marketable. The Simbrah, a cross between Simmental and Brahman, is also flourishing in regions that cannot support extensive grazing. The Brahman influence in the cattle makes them hardy and more resistant to the climate and flora of southern regions in the United States.

Simmental cattle are a wealth amongst beef breeds. Their traits are exceedingly heritable, and the data for prediction of offspring qualities is very reliable. The naturally lean beef, its tenderness, and high yield is an asset for feedlots. As more breeds continue the search for heterosis, the Simmental is likely to be a superb complementarity option. It is their docility and variability which will keep the Simmental a powerful presence in the beef industry.

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Success Through SimGenetics

Long term success in the beef business depends largely on the continued support of beef consumers. The world demand for quality beef is high, and the American Simmental Association (ASA) is committed to providing consumers with safe, affordable, and tasty beef. SimGenetics refers to the varied populations of Simmental influenced cattle, including purebred Simmental, Fullblood Simmental, SimAngus TM , SimAngus HT, Simbrah, and any other Simmental hybrids. Follow the links in this section to delve deeper into the characteristics of each population. The following text highlights the SimGenetic advantage this group has gained collectively.

Through the years, American Simmental cattle have gained a reputation as a scientific breed. From the foundation of the Association, emphasis on performance data, progeny testing, and genetic evaluation has been the core of ASA’s existence. ASA’s Carcass Merit Program, feed conversion data, and calving ease research established Simmental as a beef industry leader, combining growth and carcass value with outstanding cow traits. ASA’s research is backed by the most extensively documented genetics and the largest multi-breed database in the industry.

Focus on Carcass TraitsSimGenetic cattle are backed by programs like the Carcass Merit Program and the latest Carcass Expansion Program to increase the number of sire identified carcass records on genotyped cattle.

Focus on Feed Intake - Through an incentive for feed intake data, breeders can receive a 50 percent price discount on GGP-LD genomic tests in exchange for feed intake data on the same animal. Additionally, the ASA added a collection of individual feed intake and genomics to the Carcass Merit Program data.

Both programs increase the number of feed intake records in the database on genotyped cattle. Building better genomic predictions on feed intake will allow all genotyped cattle to have a more accurate prediction of this vital trait.

Focus on Maternal Traits - Through a whole herd reporting program, Total Herd Enrollment (THE), the ASA has collected cow productivity for years - building a robust database for cow stayability - one of the most valuable traits to the cow/calf operations. The Cow Herd DNA Roundup (CHR), launched in 2017, has bolstered the number of whole herd genotypes on females - adding valuable genomic information for maternal traits, reducing bias due to selective genotyping, and ramping up the volume of genotypes

in the genetic evaluation. Additionally, breeders stepped up to the plate and added over 42,000 mature weight records with BCS or HH since the CHR began. Through the CHR, breeders are returned genomically enhanced EPD, adding accuracy to their predictions similar to having a lifetime of calf records.

Commitment to Quality Genetic Predictions and Selection Tools - The science of genetic improvement is at the core of ASA’s existence. Quality predictions start with quality records. In addition to the above programs geared to add carcass, feed intake, cow herd data, and genomic records, the majority of the data entering into ASA’s database come from breeders reporting on the whole herd (through THE) - ideal for contemporary group comparisons.

As of January 2019:

• 5.6 million animal records in ASA’s database

• 121,069 active cows enrolled annually in Total Herd Enrollment (THE)

• Over 77,000 genotyped cattle

Backed by the World’s Largest Multibreed Genetic Evaluation in Beef Cattle - International Genetic Solutions (IGS) facilitates the collaboration of like minded breed associations with genetic evaluation and improvement of beef cattle. IGS’s multi-breed genetic evaluation system has the distinction of being the world’s first and the world’s largest. In May of 2018, ASA published a full suite of EPD with a revolutionary change to the evaluation, dubbed the IGS Multi-breed Genetic

Spotlight on SiMMEntAl e Special Section f

• 375,000 new animal records are added annually

• 190,017 genotyped animals in the database

Simmental Genetics Get a Larger Piece of the Market Share in Recent Years - The emphasis on science, data collection, and commercially valuable cattle has placed SimGenetics in a sought after spot in the beef industry. According

to the National Association of Animal Breeders, Simmental influenced bulls rank second for semen sales compared to all other beef breeds. In the last three years, not only have semen companies sold more units of SimGenetics semen, the percentage of semen sold in the U.S. from Simmental bulls has grown by 33 percent. This translates to Simmental getting a bigger piece of the semen sales pie.

Evaluation powered by BOLT. Leveraging software developed by Theta Solutions, LLC, the IGS science team revamped the genetic prediction models to better estimate EPD, added single step genomics, and gained a more accurate accuracy, all

while performing weekly evaluations for the collective IGS breed associations.

As of January 2019:

• 17.6 million animal records in the database from 13 different breed associations

Lonesome Valley Investments — Committed to Youth and SimAngus

By JENNIE RUCKER

After Jeff English met Roger Brown in church, they became very good friends. As the friendship grew, Roger became a mentor and business partner with Jeff. They worked together in the construction business, and Roger convinced Jeff to get his electrician license, and after that he helped Jeff get all kinds of electrical work. Both Roger and Jeff had raised commercial cattle all their life and owned some cattle together, but little did they know that a dark haired country girl from Granite Falls would show them a different side of the cattle business.

Anna Munday was working for Southern States selling feed when Jeff first met her. She had approached him about trying out their Southern States

feed. Roger knew something was up one day when he was riding with Jeff, and they went out of their way to go to the Southern States store. “What are

we doing here?” asked Roger. Jeff told him they were going to see about using the feed this girl was selling. “I knew something was up,” said Roger.

Well, the first time Jeff got the nerve to go ask Anna for a date, it turned out that she was unavailable because she was in Louisville at a cattle show. “I thought, what? A cattle show?” said Jeff. He kept trying, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. Anna and Jeff have been married since 2012 and are partners in business and in life.

Lonesome Valley Investments built an agricultural business, Heritage Farm Supply, for Anna to manage after they were married. It is located adjacent to a convenience store also owned by Lonesome Valley in Weaverville, North Carolina. It opened in 2015 and has been a very successful business since that time. People were in and out of the store the entire time I was talking with Jeff and Anna.

There was a year between when Anna left Southern States and the store’s opening when Anna could not work or sell feed for a competitor. That was fine because it gave Anna time to pursue her love of showing cattle. She took a large show string of many different breeds, including ones owned by other producers. Her father, Jim Munday, went with her to shows like the Dixie Classic Fair and the N.C. State Fair. Her favorites in the

show string were her Simmental and SimAngus, and some were the first cattle registered with the “Lonesome” prefix.

The Lonesome Valley herd was mainly commercial Angus, but Anna brought her own herd of Simmental cattle to the farm. She has raised both Hereford and Simmental, but the Simmental complement these Angus genetics so very well. Her very first Simmental was a yellow and white heifer from Dr. Doug Peterson in Wilkesboro. Anna showed that heifer and her daughters won champion banners at the N.C. State Fair. Her descendants are still in the pastures here around the Alexander/Weaverville area of the state. Some carry the diluter gene, so they may be gray in color, but they are excellent mamma cows. “We have a gray one in every pasture,” jokes Jeff.

There are about 300 acres of land owned or leased by Lonesome Valley

This is WHF Epic G24, a calving ease herd sire they purchased from Wayward Hill Farms.

Anna and Jeff English are committed to raising good Simmental genetics.

This bull, Lonesome Ol’ Son 128, is an ET calf of HPF Flatout Flirty X WHF CCS Ol’ Son.

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Investments. Most of it is either in pasture or hay land. Roger and Jeff (and other employees as needed) put up all the hay, which is usually around 500 rolls. Other than Roger, Jeff, and Anna, there are six to eight other employees, and Jeff says, “If they are employed in any area of our business, then they have to be able to help out in other areas of our business at any time.” So far, it has worked very well, and it does keep things interesting for their employees. “It is easier for them to get a steady paycheck if they are very versatile,” said Anna.

Their herd has increased over the years from 35 registered Simmental to 50 registered SimAngus and Simmental with about 50 commercial cows. They artificially inseminate all the registered cattle using bulls from the Wayward Hill Genetics program, such as WHF Ol’ Son, WHF Double Up, WHF Point Proven, WHF Entourage, and JS Doc. They have also used Felt Perseverance, Schooley Stand Out, WLE Copacetic, Lover Boy, and Dew North.

46T. They have two new donors for fall out of their own herd, Lonesome Daisy Mae (HPF Daisy Mae A008 X Grand Fortune) and Lonesome Phylli 828 (HPF Phyllis X Quantum Leap). HPF Phyllis is a Milestone daughter.

The embryo work is done by Dr. Sam Edwards of Harrogate Genetics in Tennessee. He is the same embryologist used by Gibbs Farms and other large operations. Jeff and Anna have bought some embryos before, but they have the best results from the fresh embryos off their farm.

They have been very pleased with the results from their embryo transfer calves. One bull went across the scales at 930 pounds, and Anna made him be reweighed because she couldn’t believe it was right. He did weigh 930 pounds the second time, and two other calves crossed the scales weighing 800 pounds! Jeff says it all when he talks about how much Simmental genetics have done for his Angus cows. “Simmental have added a lot of pounds to the commercial Angus, and that relates back to more money in our pockets.” He is very happy with how Simmental have improved their herd and their bottom line. Roger agrees and says, “I really like the pounds across the scales.” They market their calves mainly at the stockyards, but they do have a good business in selling replacement females.

Flirty. They also have a Black Magic son from Four Sons Farm, and he has been a good addition to run over some purebred cows to get SimAngus genetics. Anna and Jeff have found there is a large demand for SimAngus genetics in their market.

When asked about how they select replacement females or even bulls to purchase, both Anna and Jeff laughed. Anna says, “We butt heads a lot because I like show cattle, and Jeff focuses more on production, and we both like a good set of EPDs.” Jeff adds, “We want them to be functional.”

her learn. Now she and Jeff are giving back to the youth program. Since 2020, Heritage Farm Supply has been hosting an annual Show Down in the Foothills at the Caldwell County Fairgrounds in Lenoir. They bring in well know clinicians such as Kirk Stierwalt and Bob May, who come and spend a couple of days with the youth putting on a show clinic. Then a cattle show is held on Sunday. They are also sponsors at the WNC Mountain State Fair and the N.C. State Fair.

They have both a spring and a fall calving season. After breeding artificially one time, they put the clean up bull in for 60 days. Then the bull gets a rest period. They are very strict about culling, especially on attitude. Docility is a very important trait for Lonesome Valley cattle.

They are also adding quality genetics to their herd by flushing. They were able to attend the historic Hudson Pines Farm dispersal and purchased females that have proven to be worth flushing. These dams are HPF Victoria and HPF Flatout Flirty. Victoria is sired by Back In Black, and CLCC Victoria is her dam. Flirty is sired by Executive Order, and her dam is Flirty

For their clean up bulls, they are currently using a couple of purebred Simmental from Wayward Hill’s program. One is an ES Epic son and a Vantage Point Son out of Wayward’s popular Andie Donor. Recently, they have also been using a couple of herd sires they have raised, HPF Phyllis X Grand Fortune and an Ol’ Son X HPF Flatout

Jeff insists that the females must perform as mama cows. He says, “If they don’t wean a 600 pound calf, then they are not staying on this farm.” Keeping track of all the records is important, and since Anna is in charge of all the paperwork for all the Lonesome Valley Investments, she has found a phone app that helps with cattle records. It is called Livestocked, and it is a free app that can keep up with all the animals in different pastures, their genetics, reproductive status, and health records. Anna says they used to do it all on paper, but this is so much easier to have in the truck or beside the chute and keep up with everything about each animal. The app will figure out the average daily gain and weight per day of age. They have used this app for several years, and it is really paying off for them.

Anna is very active in the local community by helping the North Buncombe FFA and is also on the Western N.C. Beef Commission and the Buncombe County Farm Bureau Board. Last year, she was elected to serve as a Director for the N.C. Simmental Association.

Anna remembers her days showing livestock and all the people that helped

One local junior, Shelby Candler, has been very special to Anna. She helped Shelby get started in her cattle showing career. She has done very well at local, state, and even national events, as she has shown at several AJSA classics. Shelby was recently awarded North Carolina FFA State Star Farmer for her cattle operation. She plans to attend Redlands Community College in the fall for livestock judging.

Since Roger, Jeff, and Anna are all self employed by Lonesome Valley Investments, it is hard when different areas of the business pull them in three different directions, but somehow they make it work and make a success out of it. Anna would like to market some of the Lonesome Valley genetics in the Fall Harvest Sale in September. For more information on their cattle and to visit with them, give Anna a call at 828234-7855, or you can email her at anna_ munday@yahoo.com. A visit to this farm in the mountains will have you feeling anything but lonesome!

Shelby Candler had grand champion Simmental heifer at Showdown in the Foothills with Lonesome Phylli 28K.

A nice group of breeding age heifers at Lonesome Valley.

These are fall embryo brothers (HPF Victoria 003 X Felt Perseverance).

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MigMa Farms — Faith, Family, and Farm

By JENNIE RUCKER

In my almost 30 years of interviewing Simmental producers, I was really excited about this one. I had interviewed Gene and Kathie Price twice already, but this was the very first time that I would be interviewing a second generation Simmental producer, their daughter Melissa Mills and her family. Melissa and Mark Mills live in Peachland, N.C., which I found to be quite a rural area. It was refreshing to be driving further out into the country and seeing no other cars or even people until I turned left on Billingsley Road and parked where the road ended at MigMa Farms. I was almost into the state of South Carolina at this point, and in fact, the Mills family does own land in South Carolina.

Mark saw Melissa around at cattle sales but never talked with her until he purchased a Simmental bull called Bullwinkle from the Price family. Melissa had actually shown Bullwinkle at the state fair, and she was always happy to talk about cattle with people. After two hours spent in great conversation together, both Melissa and Mark knew something had clicked between them. Melissa says now, “I think even at that point, we both knew we were going to end up together.” That was on a Saturday, and Mark called her for a date for Tuesday night. They just celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary, so this must be a match made in heaven…or on the farm!

Melissa was always heavily involved in her family’s Simmental cattle herd. I remember her father, Gene, telling me she knew as much about the cattle as he did! Mark got involved with cattle when he was 12. His first cow was a solid red one that his grandfather gave to Mark and his sister. He remembers telling his sister, “You know this cow might die, so you should let me have it.” Well, the cow did die, but not until she had raised two good calves for Mark, and he had made money off her. Then Mark bought more cattle along the way, including the majority of his base herd about 20 years ago.

They bought their current house in 2006 and were able to buy the surrounding farm of 150 acres in 2018. This farm had been owned by a friend

of Mark’s who died in a tragic hunting accident, so it is very special to be able to keep the farm going. His friend’s father, David Billingsley, has become like a grandfather figure to Mark and Melissa’s boys, Clint, 15, and Mason, 12.

The farm got the name MigMa from the two boys. Clint’s full name is Clinton Michael Mills, and they call him Mig (for the Spanish Miguel for Michael), and Mason is called Ma for short. So Mark and Melissa came up with the name MigMa. They found out later that it is actually a real word that means nuclear fusion, and they laugh that it actually describes what happens when they put these two boys together.

days during the worst of the cold weather. Since January, the Mills have taken on the care of Mark’s father’s cattle. His dad, Ronnie Mills, has been undergoing treatment for non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. At 75 years old, Ronnie has always been active on the farm and has been Anson County Farm Bureau President for years, but the treatment is forcing him to slow down. Mark and Melissa have been glad to help with his cattle. They had already been working together in many ways, most especially by sharing bulls. Mark and Melissa would purchase young bulls and develop them and use them for several years. Then Ronnie would take those bulls and use them on his herd. Mark chuckles as he says, “We grow out the young bulls, and then Dad gets the older bulls because they don’t get the TLC and management that young bulls require.” The Mills own 70 mama cows, but with taking care of Ronnie’s herd, they now are busy looking after about 150 head.

The boys are just as active on the farm as both their parents. Everyone is involved, and everyone is all in, especially at hay time. Mark cuts the hay, Clint rakes it, and Melissa and Mark handle tedding the hay, while Mason is the expert baler. Mark states, “Mason would ride with his grandpa as he would bale hay, and he watched everything carefully. Now he is able to bale even better than I can.” They have put up 400 round bales, and since they practice rotational grazing, that should be enough hay to get them through the winter.

“We stockpile our grass and go by the philosophy that it’s better to run a few less cows in order to feed less hay,” says Melissa. “We strip graze and move the poly wire fencing every few days.” This works very well for the Mills because, in some pastures, they only fed hay for 30

When it is time to select a bull, they put a lot of emphasis on phenotype. They have to be muscular, long, slick haired, and have a good frame score. “I like a reasonable actual birthweight, but I want size on our cattle. If a good size cow can’t have a 90 pound calf, she’s no good to me,” says Mark. Melissa adds, “Pounds sell, and that makes us money.” They add that they have only had to pull one calf in years, and that wasn’t even the bull’s fault. The cow was too fat.

They have purchased Simmental and SimAngus bulls from Gene Price, Bruce Cuddy, and Chuck Broadaway. Mark used to go down to the Nichols Farms Sale in Clinton and buy those bulls. They also

MigMa Farms, where the road ends.

Mason, Melissa, Michael, and Mark Mills are all in when it comes to working on MigMa Farms.

Mark points out some specifics about the herd.

The barn quilt at MigMa Farms signifies Faith, Family, and Farm.

Spotlight on SiMMEntAl e Special Section f

use Angus, Red Angus, and Balancer, but they always have at least two SimAngus bulls in their bull pen.

After their marriage, Melissa did bring some of her purebred Simmental to their farm. They would register some of the resulting calves, but Melissa finally decided that registered cattle were not going to be their niche. They went back to Gene Price and swapped their purebred Simmental for SimAngus cattle. Mark laughs again as he says, “Gene had to pay me a pretty good dowry in cattle.” The SimAngus were a better fit for their marketing options.

They sell most of their calves at the feeder calf sales at Norwood. They have worked hard to develop uniform calves, and it is working well. They breed from November 15 to February, which gives them a good 90 day window for calving. Since both Melissa and Mark work full time jobs off the farm, this tight breeding and, therefore, tight calving season really helps in the long run.

Any of their short breds that will be slightly out of sync with the herd gets sold as a bred heifer, and that has also worked well as a marketing option. They have their herd split into three breeding groups, and this year, 100 percent of the herd was bred. They like for the first calf heifers to calve in the area closest to the house. After calving, they move that pair into another pasture so they keep a very close eye on every heifer and her calf.

Mark is an Animal Health Technician for the N.C. Department of Agriculture, and Melissa is the Literacy Coach with Chesterfield County in South Carolina. Mark hopes to retire in just a few years, and Melissa plans to follow him in retirement as soon as she can. Their future plans are to just work more hours on the farm and maybe even expand the farm. “Expansion is always in our plans,” says Melissa.

The farm also includes some 100+ Katahdin sheep and a small goat herd. Mason really enjoys the sheep, and both Clint and Mason have shown sheep. They have moved into showing cattle now and also have done pretty well with heifers off the farm. Clint likes to show the red heifers, and Mason prefers the black ones. Mark also loves a red baldy, and he is searching for a red bull that would work on their herd but hasn’t found the right one yet.

Mark gives a lot of credit to Richard Melton and Bruce Shankle for being huge mentors to him. “A lot of our Angus based cows trace back to Bruce’s herd,” he states. With the Simmental influence on those Angus based cows, the heterosis and growth have proven to be just the perfect niche for their market. “Simmental add docility, fertility and they reach sexual maturity earlier, so we plan to always have at least ¼-½ Simmental in our mama cows,” states Melissa. They usually keep a good cow until she’s about ten years old and even longer if she’s one of the really good ones.

The cattle are on a good vaccination program, and they use a modified live vaccine on the replacement females. They do pelvic measurements and tract scores on all heifers, and everything has an EID tag in its ear. They also vaccinate for pinkeye and feed a chelated minerals, which helps the cattle slick off their old hair in the spring.

“MigMa Farms is all about Faith, Family, and Farm,” says Melissa. They have a barn quilt over the old turkey barn that shows each of these three important ideals, done in N.C. State University colors, of course! It was made by an elderly gentleman friend C.A. Hyatt, and they proudly display it. Mark is very into history also, and Sherman’s troops marched through the area back in

the Civil War. Mark showed me exactly where they marched through, and luckily, an old homestead was somehow spared from being burned to the ground. With these two hard working, farm loving parents, Clint and Mason have a good foundation. But as Melissa says, “You can’t make your kids what you are. They do love this farm, but they have to find their own way and their own direction.”

Hopefully, both boys will grow up and remember that they started out on good land, growing good cattle and sheep. With such a strong family farm history, they are bound to go far but always remember their roots! For more information on the cattle at MigMa Farms, send Mark or Melissa an email at migmafarms4@aol.com

The red cattle are still some of the favorites at MigMa Farms.

You can tell that Mark and Melissa like some chrome on their cattle.

Michael gives one of this favorite cows a scratch.

Waco Cattle Company — Almost 50 Years of Simmental Cattle

By JENNIE RUCKER

The very first event I attended when I began my job as N.C. Simmental Association Executive Secretary was a field day at Waco Cattle Company in Waco, N.C., in 1993. Marvin Hutchison and his family were gracious hosts, and attendees toured his farm, had a good beef meal, and even were able to look at the latest in computer software developed by the American Simmental Association. This was before the internet for those younger people, so this software was a big “new” deal. The Simmental at Waco were traditional Simmental, in other words, red and white and some even yellow and white.

for grants, and he has been involved with them ever since. It is the only therapeutic riding program in the state that is provided free of charge to the children that need it. Marvin says his work with nonprofit groups has been “real rewarding to be able to help people and to meet people from all over.”

around four to five hundred head of cattle.

When the Simmental breed came into popularity in the 1970s, Marvin’s father and grandfather purchased those big framed cattle and eventually grew the registered herd into 100 head of cattle. They found the Simmental breed to have plenty of growth and thickness and also were much more docile than other cattle. The Hutchisons preferred the fullblood Simmental, and at the age of 17, Marvin flew by himself to Canada to the Bar 5 Ranch to select bulls for the farm. bought a bull anyway, and when you got him down to western North Carolina and used him on 1,400 pound cows, the birthweight changed down to 85 pounds.” They didn’t have calving problems after all.

“If you have a Simmental cow with good numbers and she’s structurally sound, you shouldn’t have to worry about calving out a larger birthweight calf,” states Marvin.

Now it is 30 years later, and I stopped in at Waco Cattle Company to see what Marvin Hutchison is up to in his retirement. Marvin worked for 32 years as a loan officer for the USDA, and he has been retired for nine years. Like most retired people, he expected to get so much done and caught up around the farm, but he is still working just as hard to catch up on farm work and all the other things he is involved in.

Marvin serves on several nonprofit boards, from the fire department to the fire commission and the NRA, but his favorite of all the boards is something he got involved with 25 years ago, Hearts and Hooves. This is a therapeutic riding nonprofit that works at North Shelby School, which is specifically for children with special needs. He first met this group when they were clients of his applying

Marvin has always been someone who quickly introduces himself to anyone he doesn’t know, which has been a great asset in the cattle business. Most of his cattle customers seek his cattle, and his repeat business is booming. The Hutchison family has been in the cattle business for as long as Marvin can remember. His grandfather ran one of the sale barns in Shelby, and Marvin remembers his grandfather would always offer to buy the “high strung” cattle delivered to the sale barn, and after making the deal, he would just open the back gate and let the cattle out to run in his commercial herd. That commercial herd was

When Marvin arrived at the sale, he was amazed. “These bulls were massive,” said Marvin. He was a little worried about the birthweights but Bar 5 was actually ahead of their time in regards to record keeping for the late ‘70s. The average birthweight at that time for Simmental was 115 at the Bar 5 Ranch. “But their mature cows were 1,6001,700 pounds, so that birthweight would have been average for them. The herdsires looked as big as trucks,” said Marvin. “I

Marvin became very good friends over the years with the Bar 5 farm managers, John Draper and Wilf Davis, and he credits them with being so helpful and sharing their cattle knowledge with him. Now the majority of these Simmental fullbloods were horned cattle, and out of a sale with 110 bulls, only three would be polled. Marvin said those bulls would usually bring about $200,000 because a polled fullblood was so rare. But in 1999, he bought his first polled fullblood bull, Bar 5 Currency 331H, and this bull’s progeny are still producing calves at Waco Cattle Company. Marvin would usually purchase a heifer or two or maybe another bull because the shipping was always a nightmare, and it was just as cheap (or expensive!) to ship two head as it was to ship one bull. “Shipping has gotten much worse since COVID,” states Marvin as he shakes his head.

Marvin purchased 19 bulls over the years from Bar 5 until they went out of business. By that time, he had developed a relationship with the Lewis Family of Alberta, Canada. Marvin then began to select bulls from the Lewis Farms Sale. He also came to know the people of Black Gold Simmentals in Saskatchewan, Canada. His last two fullblood bulls have come from those two farms. With the advances in technology now, Marvin hasn’t been to the sales in Canada for 20 years.

Some of the bred heifers at Waco Cattle Company.

This solid red bull came from Doug Smith of Winchester, Ind., and is a CDI Abundance 391C21 son.

Marvin Hutchison has been raising Simmental cattle since 1976, for 47 years!

These are some young calves out of a fullblood bull.

The bone and nice udder on this female show that she will be working in the Waco herd for some time.

Spotlight on SiMMEntAl e Special Section f

He just selects his bulls from the videos and the pedigree and EPD information and then lets a third party look them over in person. He has developed some good relationships with many Canadian cattlemen, so he just gives them a call if they are going to be at one of the sales. Since he does buy Canadian bulls, they like to select for hair up in those very cold conditions. Marvin tells the funny story that recently, when he was discussing a bull with the Lewis Farms sale consultant, the guy was saying, “This is a heck of a bull, but he just doesn’t have much hair.” Right away, Marvin knew that was the bull for him because he wouldn’t need a hairy coat down in western North Carolina.

“I don’t do well with change, but when Bar 5 went out of business, I had no choice. I needed bulls, so I have done well with Lewis Farms bulls,” says Marvin. At the last Lewis Farms Sale, there were 50 fullblood Simmental, and most of them were related to the last sires that Marvin had used. The bull with the best performance that wasn’t related to his herd turned out to be a horned bull. “I really don’t have a problem with horns. Simmental cattle were originally horned for hundreds of years,” says Marvin. Even using the horned bull last year, they only had to dehorn four calves. The majority of his cow herd is polled.

“I also used to buy bulls and females from Silver Towne Farms, but then they went out of business, too. I like to keep five mature bulls, so I always have a spare,” states Marvin.

The last bull he bought from Silver Towne is STF Rock Solid FB79, a polled purebred. Another young purebred Simmental bull he bought is a red son of WS All Aboard B80 from the Hofmann family in Kansas.

Marvin prefers to breed his cattle through natural service rather than using artificial insemination, which is why he selects his bulls so carefully. He puts the bull in with the virgin heifers on February 1, then the bulls go in with the mature cows on March 1. This way, the first calf heifers should start calving on November 15, and most of them will be done when the mature cows start calving around mid-December.

The first calf heifers are calved out near Marvin’s house so he can check them carefully as they calve. “I really like to keep an eye on them because there is no telling what a first calf heifer will do, either during or after calving,” he says.

His cattle numbers have been creeping up to over 100, but Marvin intends to bring that down to around 90 head of mamma cows. His two sons are both grown and married, and they are busy with their own lives. His oldest, Ruffin, is a veterinarian and does live nearby in Shelby. Ruffin mainly works with small animals at Cleveland Veterinary Hospital but does own his large animal service, White Oak Veterinary Large Animal Practice. He makes large animal calls during his lunch hour or after hours. He is super busy with a one-year-old son and also being like his father in that he is involved in many other enterprises on the side! Marvin’s youngest, Zack, works in human resources out of his home in Cary. Marvin’s wife LouAnn plans to retire in August from her human resources job.

Marvin does have some future plans for Waco Cattle Company. He serves as director of the N.C. Simmental Association and has been President in the past. He would like to hold another big event, such

as a field day in 2025, when the farm at Waco will have been in production under the same family for 150 years. This is an accomplishment, and also the fact that he is one of the oldest Simmental farms in our state since they have been raised here

since 1976. If you would like to visit these good red Simmental cattle and have a large selection of both fullblood and purebred cattle, give Marvin a call at 704-435-4607. You don’t want to wait until 2025 to tour the farm. This place is worth a visit now!

Marvin owns this sign that stands along Highway 150 in Waco, N.C. He says it’s one of the best marketing decisions he’s ever made.

Another good red bull working at Waco Cattle Company.

Eastern Regional Classic. Evie Jones from Shelby, N.C., attended the AJSA Eastern Regional Classic held on June 7-10 in Lima, Ohio. The judge was Kevin Jensen from Courtland, Kansas. Evie exhibited a class winner with JSUL Lola 2302K, a heifer sired by JSUL Something About Mary 8421. This heifer went on to be named Division III champion and then reserve champion purebred heifer of the entire show. Another heifer shown by Evie Jones, JSUL Evie’s Rosie 2219K, also sired by Something About Mary, was named seventh overall heifer of the purebred show. Congratulations, Evie!

NCSA Annual Meeting. The annual meeting and social event of the North Carolina Simmental Association will be held on September 1 at 6:00 p.m. at Shuffler Sale Facility in Union Grove. We will be serving a beef dinner for only $15 a plate. Everyone is welcome to attend.

By JENNIE RUCKER Executive Secretary N.C. Simmental Association

You can come early and view the cattle for the Fall Harvest Sale, then stay for the dinner and meeting. We will hold a short business meeting, then we really have fun.

This year we are holding a raffle for a Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss Chainsaw. This chainsaw is being donated by Pinkston’s Lawn Mower of Wadesboro, North Carolina. We really appreciate Preston and Erin Beth Pinkston’s generous donation of this chainsaw to help our association. Your chance to own this chainsaw is only a $2 raffle ticket, or buy three chances for $5. You can contact any N.C. Simmental Association member or send a check for any amount of tickets to N.C. Simmental Association, 1341 Highway 21, Hamptonville, NC 27020. You do not have to be present to win. We will make sure that the winner receives the chainsaw.

We also have our famous fundraising auction. Members bring items to donate to this auction, which helps build up our general

Harvest Sale

treasury and the Jim Graham Scholarship Fund. Many great things have been sold in the past, including chickens, puppies, baskets full of handmade goodies, quilts, feed, minerals, and the list could go on and on. There will also be some great homemade cakes for your bidding (and eating!) pleasure.

Teresa Swisher of Crescent Goodies usually donates one of her wonderful cakes, often the much requested German chocolate cake. It is worth the visit to our annual meeting just to see what cakes are available!

It is always a lot of fun to see what everyone brings and what sells for the most money. Following the auction, we will draw for the winner of the raffle. We will also auction off the back cover ad of the next year’s Simmental Directory and the full page ad on the inside back cover of next year’s Fall Harvest Sale catalog. Make plans to attend this annual meeting. Both members and interested people can attend.

NCSA Fall Harvest Sale. This year’s Fall Harvest Sale looks like it will be an excellent opportunity to purchase some quality females and bulls. There should be 80 or more lots of purebred Simmental and SimAngus cattle. Our sale facility host, Dr. Eugene Shuffler, will be reducing his Simmental herd and selling many females in this sale. This will be your chance to own some of those genetics that have dominated

the performance bull tests over the years. Some of our regular consignors will be offering their best, such as JBB Simmentals, Keaton Vandemark, Fred Smith Company Ranch, Bangma Farms, Lonesome Valley Investments, and TX Enterprises. We will also have some great out-of-state consignors, such as Todd Alford from Georgia and Virginia Tech. We are always excited when one of our juniors, this year Shelby Candler, will be offering some heifers in the sale. We will also have several embryo lots from some of the country’s top Simmental producers

The sale will be held on September 2 at 1:00 p.m. at Shuffler Sale Facility at 444 Union Grove Road, Union Grove, North Carolina. The N.C. Junior Simmental Association will be selling ribeye steak sandwiches and hamburgers for lunch.

For more information on this sale, please visit our Facebook page at N.C. Simmental or call 336-468-1679 for a sale catalog or visit our website at www.ncsimmental.com. You can also send an email to ncsa@yadtel.net to request a sale catalog. Make plans to be there! Bidding can also be done on DV Auction. Visit either the DV Auction website at www.dvauction.com or the DP Sales Management website at www. parkelivestock.com for information on how to bid on the great cattle in this sale.

Ashley’s Beef Corner T

Summer Sizzler

By ASHLEY W. HERRING Director of Consumer Information N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council

I had the opportunity to speak with the NCSU Livestock Science camp before their week of fun, learning, and neat experiences. There were 40 participants from across the state who visited all of the N.C. State University farms to study each species. Of course, they will learn about low stress cattle handling and Beef Quality Assurance. This camp has been held for seven years for 14-17 year olds. Approximately 30 percent of past attendees enter N.C. State University, and 10 percent enter the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at N.C. State University. The camp is organized by Dr. Carrie Pickworth with the animal science department.

The North Carolina FFA Convention is an annual event we proudly support. Thousands of middle and high school agriculture students attend the Raleigh Convention Center function. We can interact with the students at the career expo, where they can try their skills in

identifying lean cuts of beef. The event features many competitions and selects national delegates who will represent North Carolina at the national level. Here are this year’s delegates:

Levi Meadows, Bandys

Carson Park, Garner

Sarah Ball, Madison

Gavin Barbee, North Johnston

Dalton Jordan, North Iredell

Travis Cox, Richlands

Alan Rangel Vargas, Spring Creek

Junior Torres, St. Pauls

Savannah Dennis, Uwharrie Charter

Lauren Alford, West Iredell

Summer is meant for grilling, of course, but we also highlight meals like crisp salads beefed up with savory flavor. With summer activities keeping families out of the house, a quick meal is always welcome. Find video clips (reels) of seasonal recipes on our Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Brown ground beef with taco seasoning. Add tomato paste and toppings such as pico, corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla strips, and onion. A bed of romaine is the perfect way to enjoy all these flavors.

Also recently featured are meatball subs. The recipe is from www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com

Talk about easy! Meatball subs are a winner and please the whole family.

1 pound ground beef (93% lean or leaner)

¼ cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

2 egg whites or 1 egg, beaten

2 tablespoons water

¼ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon pepper

2 cups heart healthy or regular pasta sauce

4 crusty Italian bread rolls (5-6 inches each), split

4 tablespoons giardiniera, drained (optional)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine ground beef, bread crumbs, egg whites, water, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Shape into 12 two inch meatballs. Place on rack in broiler pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake in 400°F oven for 18-20 minutes.

Cook’s Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F.

Heat pasta sauce according to package directions in a medium saucepan. Add hot cooked meatballs to pasta sauce; stir to coat evenly. Divide meatballs and sauce evenly among the rolls. Top evenly with giardiniera.

By DR. MATT POORE & JOHNNY ROGERS N.C. State University

Running Wide Open this Spring and Summer!

We are having a great summer with the Amazing Grazing Program, so we thought it would be good to start telling the story. Our mission is to get folks motivated to do more to implement improved grazing management on their farms. The cost of feed and fertilizer makes it critical that we make the most of our ability to manage the farm to greatly reduce those input costs. Once you see yourself as part of the pasture ecology on your farm and take an interest in it, you

can manage adaptively to get the most from your system.

We started the season with a series of webinars in April. These webinars were based on our popular national Pastureland Ecology School we do for National Resource Conservation Service employees from across the country. The lectures included Johnny Rogers, Matt Poore, Deidre Harmon, Paul Siciliano, Andrew Weaver, Alan Franzluebbers, and Steve Woodruff. These were all well

attended, and we have made recordings of each 30 minute talk available online. See the link at the end of this article to access those videos.

In May, we were very excited to attend the International Grassland Congress in Covington, Kentucky. This is an international gathering of forage scientists and educators that has not been in the United States for over 20 years. We were there to support the Alliance for Grassland Renewal, a national organization we are affiliated with, which had a booth in the tradeshow and presented a session on novel endophyte tall fescue technology. We had a great time and made a lot of contacts that will prove valuable in the future.

We followed with another edition of the Pastureland Ecology 1 School in early

June. This school involves eight days of instruction where the students learn about the basic concepts of pastureland ecology and apply what they learn as they manage groups of beef cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. The activities are mostly at N.C. State University, but we also take tours to farms that are using the concepts presented. Over the 24 times we have taught the school, we have trained over 500 NRCS employees from all 50 states and several territories.

Hot off the heels of the Pastureland Ecology School, we began our series of Pastureland Ecology Workshops across the state. We have been in Surry County near Pilot Mountain on June 27, Pamlico County near New Bern on June 29, Randolph County near Erect on July 11, Alleghany County in Sparta

the chaplain’s corral

By SKEETER SPAULDING Chaplain, Cowboys for Christ

The Cattle on a Thousand Hills

Psalm 50:10-12 are some of the most amazing verses in the Bible. It reads, “For every animal of the forest is mine and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine and all that is in it.”

What a wonderful description of the mighty God we serve. This Psalm was written by Asaph, along with 11 other Psalms. He was a Levite commissioned by King David to oversee singing in the worship of God.

Without question, my favorite segment in these verses is, “the cattle on a thousand hills.” Some theologians say that the “thousand” represents everything, which means that when we get to hill one thousand and one, well, He owns that too. It just raises the imagination of the mind of how great the Lord is over all the earth in His ownership of it.

I wonder where Asaph got the idea about God owning everything. We find it in Genesis 1:24, which reads, “And God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds;

livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.’ And it was so.”

Asaph knew the word of God! He was aware of the creation story in Genesis. This example is very good for all of us. Knowing the Bible is so vitally important because it is how we get to know God and the character of God. Asaph is leading us down the right “cow” trial for us to follow. If you want to know God, then know His word.

I don’t personally know any cattlemen or cattlewomen who own a thousand hills or even how many acres that would take. However big your cattle operation is or hope it will become, Almighty God will help you manage it because HE created the livestock you’re raising on your land. He has the portfolio to back it up, and the proof is in His word.

I would encourage everyone reading this devotion to fall in love with the word of God. I challenge all of you to read Genesis first, then the Psalms and the gospel of John. Follow Asaph’s lead, and you may find yourself singing with Asaph!

on July 13, Wake County in Raleigh on July 25 (small ruminant focus), Stanly County in Norwood on July 26, and Cherokee County in Murphy on July 27, At these workshops we are introducing the concepts of pastureland ecology including a general discussion of our role as graziers in the pasture ecosystem and the problems caused by overgrazing. Root boxes demonstrate the shallow depth of rooting that occurs with close, continuous grazing compared to the large and deep roots you get from rotational grazing. We follow with a discussion of the plant types in pastures, including major forage and weed species using our plant collection.

Dung beetles are used to highlight the importance of insects and other forms of soil biology in pastures. So far, it has been a good dung beetle season, and workshop attendees have been able to see several types up close! We have had a lot of discussions about how to effectively control parasites and flies without wiping out your dung beetles and other beneficial insect populations.

Finally, we focus on effectively using temporary electric fence and troubleshooting electric fence problems. Maintaining high levels of power on electric fences is the key to keeping animals well trained and harnessing “The Power of One Wire.” Using good equipment and fencing techniques will lead to success while getting an energizer that is too weak, having an inadequate ground system, or not having adequate lightning protection can cause you a lot of grief. The Reel Race has become a signature activity at nearly every Amazing Grazing workshop. There really is no substitute for putting your hands on this equipment, and this is a great opportunity to do just that and have a little fun. We discuss the relative merits of a variety of reels, “poly” products (polywire, polytape, and polybraid), and posts currently available to graziers.

We have a good discussion of the tools needed for testing your electric fence and finding shorts that will sap your power. We also show how to diagnose your ground system to make sure you

are getting the full potential out of your energizer and to help safeguard against lightning damage. The concept of a spark gap lightning protector is presented, and participants see examples of a homemade version and a commercially available version.

We are looking forward to one more workshop in the series taking place in Lexington on August 7. We also look forward to continuing to bring the concepts of Pastureland Ecology to you in the future as we continue to work with a variety of educational projects. We have started a large multi-state project on bale grazing as a winter feeding system, and we look forward to continuing that project for several more years at farms across the region. Come see us at one of these workshops or at an Amazing Grazing workshop coming to a farm near you sometime in the future.

For links to a variety of Amazing Grazing e-resources, visit https://go.ncsu. edu/amazinggrazingresources . You will find the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series, great information and videos on Dung Beetles, Pastureland Plant Fact Sheets, The Power of One Wire, the 12 Steps to Amazing Grazing, along with many other resources for you.

Or go to this QR Code:

Johnny Rogers discusses The Power of One Wire with Amazing Grazing workshop participants in Randolph County.

By COURTNEY MEYER N.C. State University -- ANS 402 Beef Management

Improving Calf Crop Percentage — Managing the Source to Enhance the Results

Introduction - When driving through the Carolinas, it’s common to see beautiful fields and rolling hills of cattle and their calves on small farms. For cattle producers in the Carolinas, most operations consist of a cow/calf system. Producers want marketable calves on the ground that will grow efficiently and hopefully turn a profit at sale. A calculation that can be included in the management of any cow/calf operation

is the calf crop percentage. This is found by taking the total number of calves weaned divided by the number of cows exposed for breeding (Perry et al.). This simple formula could be one of the most essential calculations a cow/calf operation can measure. In order to have the best success with improving this percentage in a cow/calf operation, producers must first manage the source so that they may enhance the results.

Nutrition - Managing the source of a calf crop percentage starts with properly managing the cows in the herd, and that all starts with the right nutrition. Without proper nutrition available, cattle will ultimately have issues arise regarding their reproductive capabilities (Herd, Sprott) . One of the most useful tools for determining if a herd’s nutritional needs are being met is by using a body condition score, or BCS. Beef cattle are measured on a scale of 1-9, with a score of 5 being around average (Herd, Sprott) While measuring a cow’s BCS can give producers an idea of how effective their feeding plan is, it also correlates with reproductive success. It has been well documented that when cattle drop below a BCS of 5, their reproduction suffers (Figure 1). As long as there are no other factors influencing the herd’s conception rates, such as disease outbreaks, then cattle with scores of 5 or above should demonstrate better pregnancy rates (Herd, Sprott) . The BCS taken at calving is critical for the reproductive success of the cows and, therefore, the improvement of the calf crop percentage. Without proper nutrition, cattle may score under the recommended 5 for their BCS, which will have consequences on their ability

to rebreed in the next breeding season (Hardin). If producers measure BCS early enough in gestation, the nutrition for the cows can be adjusted to the best of the producer’s ability, and any cattle lower than the ideal score have a better chance of increasing their BCS and calving out at or above a score of 5.

Another influential aspect of nutrition is the cows’ energy intake. While a well balanced diet includes many vital nutrients, an inadequate daily intake of energy is a known primary cause of decreased performance and reproduction in cattle (Funston) . Cattle that are fed adequate levels of energy, both pre and post calving, have higher pregnancy rates than those with inadequate energy levels (Figure 3). Energy also contributes to the synthesis of reproductive hormones; thus, low energy availability compromises that synthesis. This includes key hormones such as progesterone, luteinizing hormone, and gonadotropin releasing hormone (The Importance). Energy plays a part in the communication that exists between the dam and the fetus in order to establish and maintain pregnancy (The Importance) . The calf crop percentage hinges on cattle conceiving and then raising a calf until weaning, so

Figure 1: Effect of body condition at calving on reproductive performance (Herd, Sprott)

maintaining pregnancies in the herd is an essential goal for cow/calf producers.

Cattle will have different energy requirements depending on their BCS, stage of production, and age. Still, one factor they all have in common is an increased nutritional demand in late gestation and lactation (Funston) Producers should monitor for symptoms such as low appetite, weight loss, and decreased growth as indicators of when energy is insufficient in a cow’s diet (Parish). One way to compensate for this is to offer supplementation to grazing cattle. Even supplementing with protein will generally improve both the energy and protein levels for cattle because it improves the digestibility and forage intake (Funston). Without this essential component of their nutrition, a cow will start to prioritize herself (Figure 2) and any current nursing calves, sacrificing reproductive abilities for future pregnancy in the process (The Importance). Giving cattle the energy they need, either through current feeds or supplementation, will help boost their reproductive success and allow producers to start increasing their calf crop percentage.

Breeding Season - There are other aspects leading up to and during the breeding season that can have a major

influence on the calf crop percentage on an operation. When looking at the potential gains in the calf crop of an operation, producers will experience the most loss simply by cows failing to conceive during the breeding season (Perry et al.). Another tool to combat this is to utilize a synchronization protocol with a controlled breeding season (Knight, Dyer). Synchronization protocols can be done with or without the inclusion of artificial insemination but still align well with a defined breeding window. Controlling the breeding season allows producers to have a more uniform calf crop but will also present opportunities to cull those cows that do not become pregnant in the season. Culling these cows and maintaining a well defined breeding season increases the calf crop percentage by increasing the number of exposed cows who calved.

Cows are often the main focus of any cattle producer’s breeding program, but there is another component that should be considered in order to increase the calf crop percentage. Performing breeding soundness exams on bulls to be used for breeding can help target and reduce reproductive problems before the start of the breeding season. Sound and fertile bulls are a fundamental piece of a herd’s

reproductive success (Hardin). Utilizing bulls with inadequate fertility (Figure 4), soundness, or health can result in cows being exposed and failing to conceive. Screening bulls around 60 days before the start of a breeding season can provide producers with enough time to evaluate the current bulls and make changes if necessary if an exam is unsatisfactory (Hardin). Using breeding soundness exams and a well defined breeding season will help increase pregnancy rates in exposed cows.

Conclusion - As most beef cattle producers know, there are many factors that will influence a herd, its reproductive success, and the calf crop percentage. While this is not an exhaustive list, nutrition and the breeding season are two of the most important areas for a producer to focus their management efforts in order to improve the calf crop percentage. The goal for improving this measurement is to increase the number of calves weaned with respect to the number of cows exposed for breeding. Proper nutrition and a well defined and managed breeding system might seem like a large obstacle to overcome, but it will lead to a cow/calf producer’s favorite sight, plenty of cows with plenty of calves.

References

Funston, R. (2014). Importance of Early Conception and Factors Influencing It. University of Nebraska West Central Research and Extension Center. www. beef.unl.edu

Hardin, D. (2015). Breeding Soundness Exam: A risk management tool for cow/calf producers. Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources UNL BEEF. wwwbeef.unl.edu

Herd, D.B., & Sprott, L.R. (n.d.). Body Condition, Nutrition, and Reproduction. Texas A&M Beef Skillathon. www. beefskillathon.tamu.edu

Knight, C H., & Dyer, T.G. (2002). How to Improve Your Percent Calf Crop.

University of Georgia Extension. www. extension.uga.edu

LeaMaster, B.R., & DuPonte, M.W. (2007). Bull Power: Examination of Beef Cattle Bulls for Breeding Soundness. University of Hawaii at Manoa Cooperative Extension Service. www.ctahr.hawaii.edu

Parish, J. (2009). Energy in Beef Cattle Diets. Cattle Business in Mississippi. www.extension.msstate.edu

Perry, G., Daly, R., & Melroe, T. (2009). Increasing Your Calf Crop by Management, Pregnancy Testing, and Breeding Soundness Examination of Bulls. S.D. State University Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. www.openprairie.sdstate.edu

The importance of energy nutrition for cattle. (n.d.). Oregon State University Extension Service. www.extension. oregonstate.edu

Have You Herd Article written as a portion of ANS 402 Beef Management course requirement at N.C. State University Department of Animal Science under the instruction of Dr. Carrie Pickworth. The opinions of Courtney Meyer are not necessarily those of N.C. State University or Dr. Carrie Pickworth.

NOTICE

Figure 4: Sample BSE scoring system

Figure 3: Effects of energy and protein levels pre calving and post calving (Funston)

Figure 2: Breakdown of energy utilization in cattle (The Importance)

Letters to the editor are welcome and we appreciate your input. HOWEVER, letters that are not signed will not be considered for publication.

ANGUS NEWS

Register Now for the 2023 Angus Convention. Registration is now open for the 2023 Angus Convention held in Orlando, Florida. With the theme of “Experience Angus Convention”, this year’s convention promises unparalleled educational opportunities, industry insight, and a solutions based trade show. Registration is now open for the highly anticipated 2023 Angus Convention, the premier event for cattle producers and industry professionals.

This year’s Angus Convention will take place November 3-6 at Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. For the first time, Angus Convention will be held in the Southeast.

“While the average consumer may think of beaches and amusement parks when they think of Florida, we know

the state is rich cow country,” said Mark McCully, chief executive officer of the American Angus Association.

Attendees can look forward to a lineup of engaging sessions, renowned speakers, and interactive workshops. Not to mention the large variety of tours this year makes it a family focused event.

Sign up for the National Angus Tour to learn more about Florida’s cattle industry or attend Beef Blitz to get a closer look at how beef makes its way to consumers. Other tours being offered include Gatorland, Kennedy Space Center, Wild Florida, and more. “Being in Florida, we knew that members might want to bring their families for a few days to experience the sights,” said Caitlyn Brandt, director of events and junior activities.

The first gathering of all attendees will be at the grand opening of the trade show on Friday evening. One of the highlights of the general sessions will be a session focused on genomics. “Genomics has transformed how we think about breeding cattle today. But it’s not just the Angus world that has seen change,” said McCully.

Throughout this year’s Angus Convention, educational sessions will introduce topics for attendees to learn more about production practices, new technologies, and marketing. Angus University sessions on Sunday morning are designed to pique the interest of any size cattlemen from across the country.

With production topics like artificial insemination (A.I.) best practices, fly control, and parasite resistance, association members are encouraged to invite their commercial cattleman customers. “The convention isn’t just for Angus breeders,” said Brandt. “All users of Angus genetics will find something of interest.”

Registration for Angus Convention 2023 is now open. Attendees can visit the official convention website at www. angusconvention.com to secure their spots and access additional information about the event, including the schedule, tours, accommodations, and exhibitor details.

Vote for Delegates Now. Signed ballots must be received by August 8 to be counted. State and district ballots were mailed in early July to eligible voting members to elect delegates and alternate delegates to represent each state or district at the 2023 American Angus Association Annual Convention of Delegates set for November 6 in Orlando, Florida.

Signed ballots must be received in the Association office no later than 5:30 p.m., August 8, to be counted.

Each active life and active regular Association membership that qualified as an eligible voting member should have received a ballot in the mail and may vote for no more than the number of delegates allowed for the state or district.

Details of the entire election process can be found in the Association’s Breeder’s Reference Guide, available online at www.angus.org

Elected delegates will conduct Association business at the 140th Annual Convention of Delegates on November 6 during the Angus Convention & Trade Show in Orlando, Florida. If a delegate cannot attend, an alternate delegate can then vote.

Members can mail their ballots to Association headquarters at 3201 Frederick Avenue, St. Joseph, MO 64506, in the self addressed envelope included

with the ballot.

Learn more about the upcoming Angus Convention at www. angusconvention.com, including details on world class tours, top notch education, and solutions based trade show.

Angus breeders engage in premiere education at Beef Leaders Institute (BLI). Young Angus enthusiasts gather for a week of producer education and development. The 2023 Beef Leaders Institute (BLI) was attended by 21 American Angus Association members from across the globe on June 1317. The annual event is hosted by the American Angus Association and funded by the Angus Foundation and Certified Angus Beef brand (CAB). BLI provides

Any news from your county? Be sure to share your meetings, sales, field days, etc., with your fellow cattlemen through the Connection!

Association members the opportunity to experience the beef value chain from pasture to plate.

“It’s truly a privilege to welcome a new Beef Leaders Institute class each year,” said Mark McCully, Association CEO. “This unique experience fosters growth for attendees and provides an opportunity to connect with their fellow breeders.”

Participants began the week at the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Missouri. While at the breed’s headquarters, attendees met with staff to learn about the many departments and programs housed within the Association. Several Association employees offered insights, including Mark McCully; Kelli Retallick-Riley, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) president; and Clay Zwilling, Angus MediaSM president.

Attendees then hit the road, departing from Saint Joseph to further explore the production and processing sectors of the beef industry. They toured Tyson Fresh Meats in Dakota City, Neb., and Weborg Feedyards in Pender, Nebraska.

For the next leg of the trip, attendees traveled to Ohio to continue studying the beef value chain. While visiting Buckhead Toledo in Northwood, Ohio, participants experienced the preparation of value added CAB products. They explored the impact of genetics in the beef industry at STgenetics in Tiffin, Ohio.

The final days of the experience were spent in The Culinary Center at the CAB brand’s headquarters in Wooster, Ohio. From a “Taste the Difference” steak tasting to a hands-on beef fabrication demonstration in the meat lab, participants explored the specifications behind putting a CAB steak on the dinner table. Their newly gained knowledge was even put to the test as they prepared their own steaks with the assistance of world class chef Venoy Rogers, III.

During a week of fully immersing themselves in the industry, the BLI class realized how the cattle they raise influence the industry well beyond their pastures.

“We’re always selling bulls, and you see the commercial people, but you don’t really see what happens to the beef after it leaves,” said Trevor Hinkle, an attendee from Nevada, Missouri.

“It’s just a really interesting process to see what happens after it gets to the packer, leaves the packer, and how there’s value made along the whole chain, and how many people are really working to do that — it’s a really eye opening experience.”

Hinkle said he’s eager to take what he learned home and share it with his

operation’s customers. He expressed his gratitude for the knowledge, perspective, and new friendships gained throughout the week.

“We are proud to support educational opportunities like Beef Leaders Institute for our members,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “Providing experiences that prepare our breeders for success is a vital part of the Foundation’s mission to ensure a bright future for the breed.”

Providing continued education for the Angus membership is a priority for the Association. BLI is designed to equip members ages 25-45 with the resources to understand all segments of the beef industry. Attendees leave as stronger, more effective leaders for the Angus breed and beef industry. To learn more about BLI, visit www.angus.org/Event/ BLIEntryForm. The 2024 application will be available in early November.

Six new National Junior Angus Association board of directors announced. Junior delegates elect six new board members at the 2023 National Junior Angus Show. Growing future industry leaders is an important part of the legacy of the National Junior Angus Association (NJAA). Each year, six junior members are elected to serve on the National Junior Angus Board (NJAB), where they further develop their leadership skills and represent Angus youth. The new directors were announced during the awards ceremony at the 2023 National Junior Angus Show on July 7 in Grand Island, Nebraska.

For many members, running for the board symbolizes a culmination of years of involvement and a chance to pursue a dream set at an early age.

“Upon meeting a great role model of mine and previous NJAA director, Daniel McFarland, I was given the confidence to go outside my comfort zone and try new opportunities; inspiring me from a young age, to take on new challenges and one day serve on the NJAA board,” said Jack Dameron, chairman.

The newly elected board members will serve two years on the NJAB — the first year as directors and the second as officers. They are Jonwyn Ayres of Powers, Ore.; Suter Clark of Gretna, Va.; Kyli Kraft of Fort Collins, Colo.; Alli Perry of Fayetteville, Tenn.; Sawyer Styles of Brentford, S.D.; and Mary Wood of Willow Spring, North Carolina.

During their term, board members travel the country, assisting with shows and conferences, supporting juniors at

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North Carolina Angus Association

ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS

Backed by the world’s largest and most reliable genetic evaluation program.

Registered Angus genetics deliver better calving ease, more growth, and superior marbling.

455 GORE FAMILY ANGUS Mark & Lori Gore Tabor City

702-401-8005 • 455goreangus@gmail.com www.455farms.com

4K FARMS/TARHEEL ANGUS

Richard D. Kirkman, DVM Siler City 919-742-5500 • rdk.cefa@gmail.com

BACK CREEK

Joe & Robin Hampton Mt. Ulla

704-880-2488 (Joe); 704-880-3572 (Robin) robinbackcreek@att.net

Facebook: Back Creek Angus

BILTMORE ESTATE

Kyle Mayberry - Manager Asheville

828-768-1956 • livestock@biltmore.com www.biltmorelivestock.com

CARSON FAMILY FARM, LLC John, Callie, Isaac & J.R. Carson Laurel Springs 336-818-9087 • carsonfamilyfarm@gmail.com

CHAPMAN CATTLE COMPANY Bryant Chapman Taylorsville 828-514-0526

FOUR S FARMS

Kim & Connie and Jason & Robin Starnes Luther Lyerly - Manager Salisbury 704-640-5875 • kim-4sfarms@carolina.rr.com

GENTRY HOMEPLACE ANGUS Howard & Donna Gentry King 336-413-6698 • whgentry@windstream.net

GRAGG FARMS

Paul, Chris & David Gragg Boone 828-268-4136 (Paul); 828-268-4137 (Chris) 828-268-4135 (David) gragg_farms@hotmail.com

H&H FARMS

Buddy & Jennifer Hamrick - Owners Bly Hamrick - Manager Boiling Springs 704-472-1912 • jennham@bellsouth.net

HI-LO FARMS, LLC

William & Kate Reichert Fuquay-Varina 919-812-0435 • hilofarmsblackangus.gmail.com

Cortney Holshouser NCAA Executive Secretary 919-796-2346 ncaa.sec@gmail.com www.ncangus.org

HILL ANGUS FARM

Dr. Gary M. Hill Hendersonville 229-848-3695 • gmhill@uga.edu

JACK KNOB FARMS

Karl, Janet & Logan Gillespie Franklin 828-371-2220 • karl@jackknobfarms.com www.jackknobfarms.com

JENKINS ANGUS FARM

Jaime & Christy Jenkins Marshall 828-206-1345 • jenkinsangusfarm@gmail.com

KNOLL CREST FARM

The Bennett Family Red House, VA 434-376-3567 • knollcrestfarm@knollcrestfarm.com www.knollcrestfarm.com

LANE ANGUS Roger & Bundy Lane Bundy Lane - Manager Gates 252-398-7705 (Bundy); 252-398-7719 (Miranda) 252-357-1279 (Office) bundylane@hughes.net; laneangusbeef@gmail.com www.laneangusbeef.com

PANTHER CREEK FARMS

John C. Smith, Jr. Pink Hill 252-526-1929 • johnsmith3982@embarqmail.com

S&J Farms

Steven & Julie Lung Nathan Lung - Manager Carthage 910-947-3414 • sandjfarms2013@gmail.com

SMITH CREEK ANGUS FARM

Marty & Lynne Rooker Norlina 252-213-1553 • mrooker@mrookerlaw.com

SPRINGFIELD ANGUS

Phil Goodson Louisburg 919-880-9062 • philgoodson2@gmail.com www.springfieldangus.com

TRIPLE LLL ANGUS

Greg Little Monroe 704-219-1294 • greg.little@atimetals.com

VANDEMARK ANGUS

Keaton & Janie Vandemark Spring Hope 252-885-0210 • keaton@vandemarkfarms.com

WINDY HILL FARMS, LLC

Michael A. Moss

Will Moss - Manager Ramseur 336-460-7451 • windyhillfarmsllc@gmail.com

WINSLOW GENETICS

Ben & Kathleen Winslow Halifax 252-578-5487 • bensbulls@gmail.com

WOOD ANGUS FARM, LLC Russell Wood Willow Spring 919-275-4397 • rwood4400@gmail.com www.woodangus.com

Angus News

continued from the previous page

state and national events, and furthering the mission of the NJAA.

New NJAB officers were also selected after a thorough interview process.

The team will be led by chairman Jack Dameron of Towanda, Ill., and vice chairman, Lauren Gilbert of Oldfield, Missouri. The officer team also includes Foundation director Colter Pohlman, Hereford, Tex.; secretary Avery Mather, State Center, Iowa; events director Lani LeBeouf, Deridder, La.; and education director Jayce Dickerson, Paradise, Kansas.

Mary Wood was born into the Angus family as a sixth generation Angus breeder on her family’s farm in Willow Spring, North Carolina. Over the years, her dedication to The Business Breed has contributed to her involvement in the NJAA and her role as the 2022 Miss American Angus. For Wood, being on the junior board is a dream. She hopes to be a positive role model, a supporter of Angus juniors, and an advocate for the breed.

“The support and encouragement that I have constantly received from the current board members and other juniors impacted me, and I want to be that person for other juniors,” Wood said. “I am excited to help the juniors within the Association reach their fullest potential.”

To learn more about the NJAB, visit www.angus.org/NJAA/home/board

Angus juniors serve Grand Island schools. Junior members serve local schools with supplies, donations at the 2023 National Junior Angus Show. A little generosity goes a long way, especially when hundreds of people give a little. That truth came to life with the 2023 “Service to Schools” Angus Impact project, which resulted in the gathering of over 700 items and packages of supplies, in addition to a monetary donation, being collected for public schools in Grand Island, Nebraska.

More specifically, most of the backpacks, headphones, crayons, pencils, erasers, and other school supplies given by exhibitors at the National Junior Angus Show have been directed to Howard Elementary School, a Title I school in the district.

“We would like to thank the participants of the National Junior Angus Show for their school supply donations to Howard Elementary,” said school principal Jessica Schroeder. “Your donations help students have supplies to start the school year. The beginning of the year is an exciting time and having new supplies to use aids in that excitement.”

Angus junior member, Cailee Flood, said why she was drawn to contribute to the 2023 project.

“I feel like for a lot of kids, school

is hard enough to begin with, whether you aren’t able to afford the supplies or whatever the reasoning may be,” the California junior member said. “I feel

like it’s really important that we’re able to support them like that and be able to provide them with supplies that they need so maybe they can have an easier time

Evelyn Hope (Gettys) Edmunds Passes

November 13, 1928 - June 27, 2023

Evelyn Hope Gettys Edmunds, 94, peacefully passed away on June 27 at Atrium Health, Kings Mountain, North Carolina.

A native of Clover, S.C., Mrs. Edmunds was born on November 13, 1928, to the late Walter Lee Gettys and Effie Mae McCarter Gettys.

Evelyn was active in all phases of agriculture, raising Angus cattle and turkeys. She belonged to numerous agricultural organizations and served on their boards, and was an officer for many years.

Evelyn was a 1946 graduate of Clover High School and attended Limestone College. She was a member of Clover Presbyterian Church and received a Life Membership for Presbyterian Women. In 2015, Evelyn was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by S.C. Governor Nikki Haley.

Mrs. Edmunds was preceded in death by her husband, John Wesley Edmunds, and two sisters, Frances Gettys Phillips and Kathryn Gettys Anthony.

Survivors include her children, Lynn E. Campbell of Clover, S.C., Leigh E. Harris (Kelly) of Asheboro, N.C., Allen E. Reel (Tod) of Spartanburg, S.C., Johnna Edmunds of Monetta, S.C., Lane E. McLoud (Doug) of Greer, S.C. and Wesley Edmunds (Mary) of Clover, S.C.; ten grandchildren, Dr. Wesley Campbell of Charlotte, N.C., Dr. John Campbell of Spartanburg, S.C., Megan McLoud of Dallas, Tex., Elizabeth Selman of Asheville, N.C., Dr. Jessica Vet of Durham, N.C., Wade Harris of Asheboro, N.C., John Toliver Reel of Cincinnati, Ohio, Rainsford Reel of Atlanta, Ga., Dr. John Edmunds, III of Clover, S.C., and Elizabeth Edmunds of Clover, S.C.; and eight great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:

Thornwell

302 South Broad Street

Clinton, SC 29325

Boys Farm, Inc. 6655 SC-34

Newberry, SC 29108

Clover Presbyterian Church

202 Kings Mountain St.

Clover, SC 29710

Clover Schools Alumni Named Scholarship

604 Bethel Street

Clover, SC 29710

(memo Evelyn Edmunds 1946)

Newly elected directors and officers for the National Junior Angus board pose during the awards ceremony at the 2023 National Junior Angus Show on July 7 in Grand Island, Nebraska. Pictured from front row from left are Jack Dameron of Towanda, Ill., chairman; Lauren Gilbert of Oldfield, Mo., vice chairman; Avery Mather of State Center, Iowa, secretary; Jayce Dickerson of Paradise, Kan., education director; Colter Pohlman of Hereford, Texas, Foundation director; and Lani LeBeouf of Deridder, La., events director. Directors by row from left are Suter Clark of Gretna, Va.; Alli Perry of Fayetteville, Tenn.; Jonwyn Ayres of Powers, Ore.; Mary Wood of Willow Spring, N.C.; Sawyer Styles of Brentford, S.D.; and Kyli Kraft of Fort Collins, Colorado.

Flood, along with other California Junior Angus Association members, organized a fundraiser totaling $600 through a 5K race their state hosted at the national show. Participants could elect to donate $5 on top of the regular race fee to benefit Howard Elementary students, and 65 of the 95 participants chose to donate the $5 amount or more.

Because of their generosity, Angus juniors and their families made an even larger impact than they set out to make.

Jennifer Worthington, chief of community and stakeholder engagement with Grand Island Public Schools, said the additional dollars will allow the district to fill in some gaps other schools in their district might have during the academic year.

Angus Impact is the official community service program of the National Junior Angus Association.

About the National Junior Angus Association. The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle while also providing leadership and self development

opportunities for more than 5,000 active members nationwide.

About the Angus Foundation. Established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1980, the Angus Foundation remains focused on its mission to support Angus education, youth, and research. The organization has distributed more than $3.9 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.3 million in beef cattle research in the past decade.

Angus Means Business. The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving nearly 25,000 members across the United States, Canada, and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by more than 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers, and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers. For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org

“But I Dewormed My Cows Last Week…”

By LEE JONES, DVM University of Georgia

The farmer and I were having a conversation about his management on the loading dock at the diagnostic lab where I work in Tifton, Ga., and he was explaining that he had used a generic pour-on product to work his cows the week before. He didn’t understand why he would have cows dying from intestinal worms. Specifically, his cow died from a severe case of what’s called Type 2 ostertagiasis or arrested brown stomach worms. That’s where the worms rest in the lining of the stomach and then suddenly emerge at the same time, causing severe damage to the lining of the stomach. We had a wet, cold snap that fall, and the worms decided, for whatever reason, to emerge. When we looked into the stomach of the cow, we saw thousands of tiny worms swimming in the stomach fluid and an inflamed lining damaged from the worms.

When the macrocyclic lactones (ML) class of dewormers first came out, they were very effective. The first was ivermectin, which came out in the early 1980s. It was injectable and a lot easier to use than drenching cows. The avermectin class of dewormers also includes eprinomectin and doramectin. A similar, related product is moxidectin (milbemycin). These are currently available as topical pour-on and injectable options. Today, there are numerous generic options for ivermectin. The other two classes we have are oral, white wormers, benzimidazoles, and imidazothiazole or levamisole.

As effective as these dewormers were, though, by the mid-‘90s, producers, and veterinarians started reporting that the MLs weren’t working as well as before, and reports of parasite resistance to the MLs began to surface. Cattle intestinal parasites weren’t going down without a fight.

The parasites have taught us that deworming cattle isn’t as simple as ‘working’ cows with a pour- on any time of the year at the convenience of the farmer or when they can get enough help to ‘work’ cows. In the past, we might have had the idea of conquering the worms. Today, however, we need to understand how to manage exposure and use products wisely. Even if new products do come on the market, the worms have demonstrated that they can adapt. We want things cheap, easy, quick, convenient, and good. We can’t have all five. In fact, we probably can have only two or three on that list.

There are four considerations for

effective deworming strategies:

1) the kind of parasite we deal with and their lifecycle (there are too many to discuss in this short article but a few very important ones),

2) the products available,

3) the cattle, and

4) management of cattle – human behavior.

Cattle have many internal parasites that inhabit the G.I. tract or other organs in cattle. The main intestinal parasites we are familiar with in North America are Haemonchus, Ostertagia, and Trichostrongylus (HOT) in the stomach and Cooperia in the small intestine. The female worms in the gut shed eggs, and they pass out in the manure on the pasture. The larva hatch and grow to a stage where they can infect the grazing cattle. Cattle eat larvae when they graze. Cattle get worms from consuming grass with the larvae on the grass, not from bad water. The larva then matures in the G.I. tract, mate (they are male or female), and the cycle starts again. Ostertagia matures in the lining of the stomach. In extreme heat or cold, the worms can sit in a dormant stage in the lining. Then, when conditions are better for larvae survival outside, they emerge. If large numbers are waiting to emerge, the damage can be severe.

The products work and work differently. Though some parasites are resistant to some of the products, most work as advertised. Farmers have pour-on, injectable, and oral options. Essentially, the injectable and pour-on products are in the same basic class, the MLs, and the oral white wormers are in another class. Levamisole is another class and has been on and off the market. It is often used orally, but there is a combination injectable.

Some are effective only against adult worms in the gut, while others are effective against the larvae in the lining of the gut too. This principle is important because we can clean out the gut only to have more worms come out the next week. Understanding the action and best timing of treatment matters.

Cattle get worms by grazing grass with larvae. Young calves that don’t graze yet aren’t going to have many worms, so deworming them is a waste of money. Larvae only crawl on wet grass up to about 4-6 inches and only within a few inches of the manure pat. If grass is taller than 6 inches, cattle can graze above the infective larvae. If the grass is short due to overgrazing, cattle

graze the grass short and close to the manure pats. Short grass increases the odds cattle will consume more worms.

Cattle also graze because that’s their behavior. Even when feeding in pastures or big pens, cattle will graze. So, even if we’re feeding a balanced, complete ration, if there’s any grass or forage in the paddock, cattle will try to graze it and eat worm larvae in the process.

Also, consider our management –human behavior. We want things simple, easy, convenient, and cheap. However, those things have led to the dilemma we’re in now with resistant worms. It’s not product failure; it’s human behavior.

Things that have led to reduced product effectiveness and worm resistance include deworming with the same product, overuse of the products for multiple purposes (using the same product to deworm and kill flies), not accurately dosing by weight, deworming at the wrong time of year for our region, and using products without needing to do so. Not every cow needs deworming every year. Routine deworming as a habit has contributed to the resistance we see today in cattle internal parasites.

Most farmers really don’t know if

their deworming program actually works. Using fecal samples, we can check egg levels to see if cattle have significant levels of infection. Also, egg shedding isn’t consistent, so multiple samples may be needed over time. We can see when pigweed doesn’t respond to glyphosate herbicide, but we don’t always know if our wormers aren’t working until we see cattle with symptoms of severe infection.

It’s time to rethink our deworming habits. We need to use fecal samples to see IF cows need to be dewormed and if our deworming practices are working. We need to make sure we are accurately dosing. We need to consider whether a combination (using an oral and injectable at the same time) is needed. Sometimes it’s effective, but other times, it’s not cost effective. We need to be selective in which products we use. All products are useful, but some may not be a good choice depending on our past use habits. And we need to be strategic in when and how we deworm. Some cattle don’t need it, and some benefit tremendously. We can still get the best of both – cost savings of not deworming some and benefits of deworming where we get the most return for our dollars. AND have products that work like we want.

You Decide!

By DR. MIKE WALDEN William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus N.C. State University

You Decide: Are There Easy Answers to Hard Questions? Each year, I do scores of presentations to a variety of groups. In the post COVID world, these talks are now a combination of in-person and virtual.

In my talks, I try to include topics people are concerned about. Recently that’s been easy, as almost everyone is worried about inflation, a possible recession, finding jobs, and hiring workers.

I always save time at the end of my presentations for a Q&A with the participants. I enjoy this time not only for the interaction with participants but because their questions give me an added indicator of what’s important to them.

In this column, I’ll share some of my recent Q&A sessions. It will be interesting for you to decide if your top economic questions line up with those of your neighbors from across North Carolina.

Question 1 - I hear Social Security is having financial problems. Will Social Security still exist when I retire? The latest report from the Social Security Administration says the system won’t have enough funds in 2033 to pay what was promised to retirees. Retirees will still get checks, but they will only be 77 percent of what was initially stated. My expectation is a national commission will be established before this happens –maybe around 2030 – to create a solution. But there will be some unpopular parts to the solution – like higher taxes and delayed retirements – which is why it will be a “last minute” event.

Question 2 - Are we running out of workers? The decline in birth rates is certainly causing a drop in people being added to the workforce. However, three alternatives could prevent a labor shortage. First, immigration. Almost two out of ten workers today are foreign born, the highest this century. Second, technology that replaces humans for some kinds of work. The latest version of this is A.I. or artificial intelligence. Third, increasing the productivity of the workforce meaning workers are able to do more in a given period of time.

Question 3 - Why can’t we make

everything we need in the United States? We are a country rich in resources and talent. Probably more than almost any other country, we could be self sufficient. The motivation for buying from other countries is cost – other countries may be able to make a product with less cost and therefore sell it to us at a lower price. Hence, we may have to pay higher prices for some products if we become totally self sufficient.

Question 4 - Should we believe the government’s inflation numbers? I think we should. The federal government has a large and sophisticated process of gathering price data for thousands of products and services and comparing changes over time. They do make adjustments for quality changes. For example, if vehicles have new technology that makes them safer and more efficient, the government will not count any price increase associated with the technology. Also, when aggregating the price changes to create the overall inflation rate, the individual price changes are first weighted by their relative importance in the average person’s budget. One point of confusion is over the special inflation rate that excludes food and energy prices. This is not the official inflation rate; the official inflation rate includes all prices.

Question 5 - How can we prevent greed from raising prices? In our economic system, with some exceptions, businesses are free to set the prices for their products and services. Holding their costs constant, a higher price gives a business a higher profit. But several factors restrain price hikes. One is customer relations. Since customers don’t like higher prices unless they’re getting better quality, they’ll look for sellers with a lower price. Therefore, the second factor restraining price increases is competition. The ability of customers to “take their business elsewhere” is essential to keeping prices in line with costs. Of course, businesses could get together –collude – and agree to charge the same higher prices. But for over a century, this has been illegal in the United States. Lastly, innovation has an important part in restraining greed. An inventive person watching consumers complain about high

prices for a product will be motivated to develop an alternative product that’s just as good but cheaper.

Question 6 - Is the “American Dream” still alive? This is a difficult question to answer because each person’s definition of the American Dream can be different. However, recognizing that I’m skipping many details, numerous economists who have researched this topic suggest living standards have trended upward in the country. Poverty rates have dropped, and inflation adjusted incomes have risen. Certainly, there can be bumps in the road, such as when we have recessions, but the trend has been upward. Still, recognize that not everyone’s upward income trend has been the same. Especially in the 21st century, richer households have seen faster income gains than other households. But interestingly, in the last three years spanning the COVID emergency, inequality in income gains narrowed.

Question 7 - How can we control the national debt? I’d start by reforming the federal budgetary system, making it more like the system used by states and businesses. There would be two budgets. One would be the “current account budget,” which is for day-today spending. No borrowing would be allowed for this budget. The second budget would be the “capital account budget,” which is for big-ticket, long lasting spending, like infrastructure and equipment. Borrowing would be allowed for the capital budget.

This is just a sampling of many Q&As. Are they good questions? And have I given good answers? You decide.

You Decide: What’s the Real Poverty Rate? I can remember when President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the war on poverty in 1964. Since then, a variety of governmental programs have been developed to address poverty with the goal of reducing the number of people who live in poor conditions. By some estimates, the total amount spent since the war on poverty was declared exceeds $20 trillion.

One way to determine if this war is being won is to track the poverty rate or percentage of people who are living in poor conditions. But to do this, we must have a way of measuring poverty. Perhaps surprising to many, there are actually numerous ways of measuring the poverty rate without total agreement about which is best.

Conceptually, determining if a household is poor should be straightforward. Two items are needed: the amount required for a household to cover basic needs and the amount it has to meet those basic needs. Both the amount

of resources needed and the amount of resources available are measured in dollars.

Then, determining poverty is just a matter of comparison. If a household has enough resources to cover basic needs, then that household is not considered to be poor. Conversely, if the household’s available resources fall short of resource needs, then the household is categorized as poor. The total number of people – including adults and children – in households labeled poor as a percentage of the total population is the poverty rate.

You can probably anticipate why there are disagreements over the best poverty measure. Many questions have to be answered in calculating poverty. How are basic needs determined? How are these basic needs updated each year? What should be included in determining the basic resources of the household? Should only earnings from working be included? How should taxes on work income be handled? And what about the resources a household receives from government programs, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or Medicaid and Medicare for health care? Should these benefits be counted as resources for the household, just like earnings from work?

Let me begin with the question of determining basic needs. The U.S. Census Bureau, which publishes the official poverty rate, uses a rather odd calculation. It takes the average yearly expenditure on food for a household of a given size and multiplies it by three to obtain the annual dollar amount required for basic needs. When this method was developed in the 1960s, food expenses were ⅓ of total expenses for necessities, which included food, shelter, clothing, and utilities. The number is updated each year to account for inflation.

Over the last six decades, this methodology has been criticized on two counts. First is the assumption that food costs have remained at ⅓ (33 percent) of the total costs of food, shelter, clothing, and utilities. Indeed, today’s food share has dropped to 30 percent.

The second criticism is that only four items – food, shelter, clothing, and utilities – are considered necessities. Notably absent is health care. Addressing both of these issues would increase the basic needs level for households and –everything else being equal – increase the poverty rate. But everything else is not equal because there’s also the income side of the poverty equation: what to include as income.

The official poverty measure calculated by the Census Bureau only counts cash earnings as income. The earnings can be from work, investments,

Social Security, unemployment compensation, and the federal cash assistance program called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. No tax deductions or tax credits are included.

A criticism of this income calculation is it doesn’t include the financial value of non-cash programs that provide resources. A good example is SNAP, the successor to food stamps. SNAP benefits are deposited in an electronic account the recipient can only use for purchases at authorized retail food stores.

E.B.'s ViEw from thE Cow PasturE

By E.B. HARRIS

Make Sure the Bottom of Your Boot is Clean

I have mentioned before in some of my articles that I serve on the National Cattlemen’s Beef Quality Assurance advisory board. Some of the meetings are Zoom meetings, but we usually meet in person twice a year which requires me to fly to attend the meeting.

This past month our meeting was scheduled to be in Lincoln, Nebraska. Anne got my plane tickets and reservations taken care of to go and come. I have the TSA pre-check (which has to be renewed every five years). For those who are not familiar with TSA precheck, this will allow you to get through screening quicker. It’s not quite as strict as going through the regular scan line. You still have to be checked in, and they scan your bags, but you don’t have to take your shoes off.

I went to the TSA pre-check line for getting on the plane, put my baggage to go through, took my phone out of my pocket and anything metal, and put it in the tray to be scanned. I was wearing the boots that I normally wear. I went into the booth to be scanned, and the alarm went off. It seemed like everything other than calling the SWAT team was happening.

The lady working the scan process said, “Mr. Harris, you need to step back and take your boots off and run them

In 2011 the Census Bureau began issuing a supplemental poverty rate, which includes as income the financial value of programs like SNAP and housing subsidies. Tax credits, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, are also considered as income, but taxes paid and any expenses related to work, child care, and out-ofpocket medical costs are now subtracted.

Notice that missing from income is the financial value of the two big public medical assistance programs, Medicare and Medicaid. There have been some

private efforts outside the Census Bureau to estimate the impact on the poverty rate, including the financial value of these programs.

Has there been progress in reducing the poverty rate since the 1960s, and if so, how much? Both Census Bureau measures – the official poverty rate and the supplemental poverty rate – suggest noticeable progress has been made, with the poverty rate falling from 22 percent in the early 1960s to 12 percent for the official rate and 8 percent for the

supplemental rate today. The calculation made by some academics outside the Census Bureau indicates a bigger decline, with a current poverty rate of nearly 2 percent when the value of all government benefits is included.

Who knew calculating poverty would be so difficult and could produce such dramatically different results? However, just like baking a cake, the result will be determined by the ingredients. Which ingredients should go into calculating poverty? You decide.

through the X-ray machine.” I stepped back, took off my boots, and put them in the tray to be scanned. This takes just a little bit longer to do.

I walked back through again, and she motioned me to come on through.

She said, “Something showed up on your boots that was unusual that caused me to have to do this.” I said, “Okay.” I went down to the other end, sat down on the bench and put my keys and other items in my pockets, and got my luggage.

I was sitting there, and as my boots came through, I looked at them. This is the same pair of boots that I have worn many times through airport security and have never had to take them off, but if you looked very carefully at the very inside of the heel on one boot, there was what we call bull fertilizer that I had not scrapped off. I guess I am feeding enough iron, zinc, and all kinds of good stuff in the minerals I feed my cattle that made that sensitive alarm go off. I am almost sure it could not detect what it was.

If you are going through airport security wearing boots that may have

been in the cow pasture, make sure you wash the bottom of your boot before going there because they may not know about all natural organic fertilizer.

“If you have cattle, pastureland, or raise hay like I do, you need to call Donna Byrum. In 10 minutes on the hood of my pickup, she signed me up for a program that I had no idea about. The next time she came by the farm, she brought me a check!

~ E.B. Harris

Be sure the bull is off the boot before you go to the airport.

To advertise here, contact Myron McCoy ncherefordassociation@gmail.com

4B FARMS, LLC

Shelby, NC

Bryson Westbrook

Ed Soto (Manager) 980-230-4868 - Bryson 704-974-1407 - Ed brysonw@thewestbrookco.com

BLINSON POLLED HEREFORDS

Lenoir, NC

Keith & Peggy Blinson - 828-310-4526

Bryan & Beth Blinson - 919-422-9108

DOUBLE J FARM

Traphill, NC • Earlysville, VA

John Wheeler 910-489-0024

doublejfarmllc@yahoo.com www.doublejfarmllc.com

E. CARROLL JOYNER

BEEF UNIT

Raleigh, NC

Matt Morrison 716-720-0227

FIVE J’S BEEF & CATTLE COMPANY

Clayton, NC

Jody & Angela Standley

Kim Prestwood (Manager) 828-320-7317 - Kim jodystandley@gmail.com

HEREFORD HILLS

Greensboro, NC

Bill Kirkman III 336-382-9635 ST Genetics Representative

LOOKABILL FAMILY LIVESTOCK

Lexington, NC

Reggie, Patty, Tyler & Noah Lookabill 336-240-2142 rlookabill6015@gmail.com

McCOY CATTLE FARM Cove City, NC Myron & Charlie McCoy 252-229-4602 mccoycattlefarms@gmail.com

AUGUST EVENTS

N.C. Junior Beef Round-Up • August 12-13

The N.C. Junior Beef Round-Up will be held at the WNC Agriculture Center at the N.C. Mountain State Fairgrounds in Fletcher.

This youth beef cattle show is for exhibitors under the age of 21 from North Carolina and surrounding states. Educational events include: Judging Contest, Skillathon Contest, Media Contest, and other instructional opportunities.

MITCHEM’S FARM 3C

Vale, NC

Wayne, Crystal, Regan & Jordan Mitchem 704-472-4369 mitchemsfarm@bellsouth.net

NORTH PINO LAND & CATTLE COMPANY Mocksville, NC Kevin Robinson 336-940-2547 kevrob1@aol.com

LOVE FARMS Blowing Rock, NC Jim Love 828-266-1458 cell • 828-295-4236

P and J FARMS Monroe, NC Andy Smith 704-400-3436 pandjfarmsherefords@gmail.com

PRESTWOOD BEEF CATTLE

Lenoir, NC Kim & Lori Prestwood 828-320-7317 - Kim 828-432-7434 - Lori brownloriclyde@yahoo

QUAIL RIDGE FARM Rutherfordton, NC Mark Brewer 828-329-2074 markbrewer65@gmail.com

TAYLOR’S MILL FARM Zebulon, NC J. Brent Creech 919-801-7561 tmfherefords@icloud.com

TERRACE FARM Lexington, NC Jim, Linda & Chad Davis 336-247-1554 jgdavis101@yahoo.com

TRIPLETT POLLED HEREFORDS Statesville, NC James Triplett 704-902-2250 triplettmarble@bellsouth.net

W&A HEREFORD FARM Providence, NC George, Tammy, William, & Andy Ward 434-251-3637 gwwardjr@comcast.net

WILL-VIA POLLED HEREFORDS Mooresville NC Lavette Teeter 704-662-5262

Fall 2023 Herd Inventory. Inventories updated after September 1 will incur a $2 per head surcharge on every female maintained on the inventory. Remember, MyHerd users can log in anytime to view and update the 2023 Fall inventory.

How to Update Your Herd Inventory on MyHerd - Follow these steps to update and submit your herd inventory using www.MyHerd.org

1. Log into MyHerd and click on the “ToDo” task labeled “2022 Spring Herd Inventory Update needed.”

2. MyHerd populates a list of females expected to calve this spring. Review and update the cow herd inventory.

• If the populated list is correct, click the “Submit Inventory Billing” button.

• To make changes to any cows listed, follow the steps below:

- Click on the line of the female needing to be updated.

- Click the “Disposal” button for females that were previously sold or culled and give the proper disposal code and date.

- Click the “Reproductive Status” to mark females as “Next Season” if they’re bred to calve in the fall 2022 season, “Non-Exposed” if they haven’t been exposed to breeding conditions (this code can only be used for first time heifers) or provide a proper calving ease score for females not expected to calve this season.

- Add new or additional females to the inventory; provide their registration numbers and add them a herd ID.

- Review each herd ID, and make corrections. Each female must have a unique herd ID, and it cannot be repeated within the herd.

3. When the cow inventory list is up-to-date, click the “Submit Inventory Billing” button.

4. Once the “Submit Inventory Billing” button is clicked, the inventory is submitted to the AHA, and the charges are billed.

Australian Intern Joins the American Hereford Association. The American Hereford Association (AHA) welcomed Charlotte Nugent, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, to the team on June 23. Nugent assisted the ambassador and communications teams during the 2023 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) in Madison, Wisconsin.

News

Nugent joins the AHA all the way from Australia, where she is entering her final year at Charles Sturt University. She plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business management in October 2023. Post graduation, she intends to pursue a master’s degree in agricultural communications through Texas Tech University, beginning in August 2024.

During her studies, Nugent has had many different opportunities. She received an Angus Australia internship in 2021 and worked in the organization’s sire benchmarking program. She was named an AgriFutures Australia Horizon Scholar in 2022, which provided her with the opportunity to join the AHA for a summer internship. Outside of her studies and internships, Nugent is the current chair of the Australian Red Angus Youth Council and has been heavily involved in the cattle industry for many years.

Nugent is excited to join the AHA team with hopes of gaining a broader understanding of the global beef industry, its breeding, and other practices. She enjoyed her experience at JNHE, where she gained firsthand experience in event

management. She plans to utilize the skills and knowledge she learns from her time with the AHA to further develop youth livestock programs in Australia.

“The AHA is excited to have Charlotte on the team and to utilize her skillset for our hallmark event of the summer,” says Taylor Belle Matheny, AHA director of communications and digital content.

About the American Hereford

Association. AHA, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the largest U.S. beef breed associations. The not-for-profit organization, along with its subsidiaries — Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI), and American Beef Records Association (ABRA) — provides programs and services for its members and their customers while promoting the Hereford breed and supporting education, youth, and research.

Heat Tolerant Composites are a Benefit to Cattlemen

By HEATHER SMITH THOMAS

Millions of beef cattle suffer heat stress in regions with hot, humid environments. This reduces production and profit because heat stressed animals don’t gain well, and high temperatures can hinder fertility. There are ways to manage stress and try to keep cattle cooler, but the only real solution comes through genetics — a more heat tolerant animal that can handle these environments and do well.

Most beef cattle in the U.S. are British or European breeds (Bos Taurus species) but they don’t handle heat as well as cattle originating in hotter climates. Cattlemen in southern parts of the country have dealt with this problem by introducing Brahman, beginning in the 1880s. Brahman is one of several Bos Indicus breeds, which belong to a separate species of humped cattle that evolved in India and China. Bos Indicus cattle do well in hot, humid weather and are widely used in tropical and subtropical climates.

Some people in recent years have been experimenting with other breeds and breed combinations, looking at Bos Taurus breeds that are heat tolerant. According to Dr. David Riley, Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics at Texas A&M, the most heat tolerant Bos Taurus breeds have Spanish and/or African origins and include Mashona, Criollo, Romosinuano, Tuli, and Senepol. Some of the composites created from these include the Bonsmara, Barzona, South Poll, and Hotlander.

Riley says the Bonsmara is known for high quality beef and disease resistance. This blend originated in South Africa as

an experiment of Professor Jan Bonsma, starting in 1936 at the Mara Research Station. The Bonsmara was created after many crosses and backcrosses to create a composite consisting of ⅝ Afrikaner (Sanga type cattle), 3/16 Hereford, and 3/16 Shorthorn.

The Barzona composite was developed in the high desert region of Arizona in the 1940s and 1950s, using equal proportions of Afrikaner, Hereford, Beef Shorthorn, and Angus. The Hotlander composite (Angus/Red Angus, Simmental, Brahman, and Senepol) was developed on the R.A. Brown Ranch in Throckmorton, Tex., during the 1980s.

The South Poll was created by Teddy Gentry of the country music band Alabama, starting in 1989 when he wanted cattle that would thrive in the hot, humid summers of Fort Payne, Ala., on fescue pastures. He bred Barzona

to Hereford and Senepol to Red Angus and put those two crosses together to create offspring he called South Poll. By using Bos Taurus genetics, his goal was moderate frame, longevity, fertility, easy calving, gentle disposition, high heat tolerance, and tender meat — to produce more pounds of quality beef per acre on grass, with the least input costs.

tolerance. A slick, short hair coat is one of the characteristics of an animal that can handle the heat.

“We have cooperative herds in Missouri, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama that for the past ten years have been experimenting with several different breeds and breed combinations to come up with the best genetic solution to heat stress,” says Pharo.

“We want to minimize the use of Brahman (Bos Indicus) genetics because even though Brahman cattle excel in heat tolerance, they are too big and inefficient to fit our low input program,” he explains. Some of them also have issues with temperament.

His group has been experimenting with Bos Taurus breeds of Spanish and/ or African origins. “Although we are working with some purebred cattle, we prefer to create composites that are the result of using our thick, easy fleshing, ultra low maintenance red and black Angus cattle as the base. Phenotypically, these composites are superior to the purebred heat tolerant cattle. For nearly

More recently, Pharo Cattle Company (PCC) in Colorado has been creating Bos Taurus composites. Using genetics to solve problems has been PCC’s claim to fame for more than three decades, and heat tolerance has been a topic of interest for 25 years. PCC has cooperating herds around the country to produce efficient, fertile cattle with calving ease and good dispositions, and some of these cooperators are now producing heat tolerant bulls.

Kit Pharo, who started PCC, says he and his crews have been evaluating and scoring hair coat for more than 20 years on bulls they sell, since hair coat can be a genetic indicator for heat

30 years, we’ve had slick haired Angus and Red Angus cattle working in hot, humid environments, and now we have heat tolerant composite cattle that work ten times better. We’ve been marketing our heat tolerant composite bulls through our Missouri, Texas, and Alabama bull sales for the past five years,” Pharo says.

Weston Walker of Walker Cattle Company, Al DeWit of D Bar 7 Ranch, and Richard Luciano of R2R Ranch are some of the cooperating breeders in Missouri and Texas involved in this research. These producers have put a lot of time and money into researching heat tolerant Bos Taurus breeds and what might be involved in creating a Mashona-

Red Angus composite. At one time, Walker and DeWit also looked into using Senepol but couldn’t find the kind of genetics they wanted. Luciano, however, was able to import some good Senepol heifers and bulls from Costa Rica. Walker and DeWit looked more closely at Mashona and Romosinuano, and today much of the focus is on a Mashona-Red Angus composite, using thick, easy fleshing, slick haired, moderate sized Red Angus cattle as the base.

In 2012 when Kit Pharo had a speaking engagement in Florida, he and his wife looked at the largest herd of Mashona cattle outside of Zimbabwe. “We were impressed with their disposition and how well they were doing on very poor forages. The Mashona is an indigenous breed from Africa that originated with the Shona people in Zimbabwe. This breed developed under natural selection without any external inputs for thousands of years in an extremely harsh and unforgiving environment. Mashona cattle have very low maintenance requirements, are very fertile and easy fleshing — and highly mobile grazers that have the ability to browse,” he says.

“Mashona have early carcass maturity and finish well on grass. They

work well on endophyte infected fescue and have high resistance to parasites and disease. Best of all, Mashona is a Bos Taurus breed. They are smaller and more fertile than Bos Indicus (Brahman) cattle.”

PCC’s first composite bulls were developed naturally on grass in East Texas. “We have been amazed at how much heat and humidity they can handle. They are out grazing when other cattle are shaded up or standing in water. Maximizing grazing time is key to profitability in this business. Heat adapted animals that graze twice as long as unadapted animals will likely be twice as profitable,” Pharo says.

Johann Zietsman, author of Man, Cattle, and Veld , advocated using Mashona influenced cattle in hot climates. His recipe for fitting livestock to their environment is to use ½ Mashona x ½ British/Continental breeding for cattle living in regions from approximately the 38 th parallel (about mid-Missouri and mid-Virginia) south and use cattle that are ¼ Mashona x ¾ British/Continental breeding north of this arbitrary line.

Walker Cattle Company is located just south of this line in southwest Missouri. “Our main forage is endophyte infected fescue,” says Walker. “When

you combine the toxic effects of endophyte with extreme humidity and high temperatures in summer and ice and sub-freezing temperatures in winter, you have an environment that can challenge even the best adapted cattle genetics. Our climate also favors high internal and external parasite loads in our livestock,” he says.

“Our endophyte infected fescue appears lush and attractive to those who don’t understand its negative role in cattle production, but for most of the growing season it is negatively affecting health and gaining ability of the cattle that consume it. Walker Cattle Company has been producing Fescue Country Red Angus bulls for PCC since 2006. The focus of our program is, like all PCC cooperating herds, to produce low input, easy fleshing, moderate framed, easy calving, early maturing momma cows for making bulls. We believe in being tougher on our momma cows than most

producers, so we can provide customers with stock that will meet or exceed their expectations for cattle performance,” says Walker.

“As we continue to improve our cattle, we have implemented a breeding program utilizing our PCC Red Angus genetics, crossing them with the best available Mashona bulls we could find. “We’ve been breeding every quality Red Angus heifer we can to Mashona and/or Romosinuano purebred or crossbred bulls since committing to this journey. Our first crossbred calves were born in September 2016,” says Walker.

Making a composite with more than two breeds could have additional heterosis — such as a Bos Taurus composite that is ½ Red Angus, ¼ Romo, ¼ Mashona. The exact combination of breeds may differ, depending upon how the phenotype of breeds complement one another and work together for different regions.

Pasture Management Systems, Inc.

MILE OF FENCE PROGRAM

New Members by County in 2023 (as of 7-14-23)

Grand Total 825

New NCCA Members for 2023

In 2007, the NCCA Membership Committee passed a resolution to recognize all NEW members, defined as someone who has never been a member or has rejoined after a break in membership, in The Carolina Cattle Connection. Below are NCCA’s new members for the last month:

Out-of-State

Travis Rocha – Rocha Farms – Texas

Grady & Julia Williams – Virginia

Buncombe County

Carroll Bartlett – Bartlett Farms

James Bartlett – Bartlett Farms

Camden Pegg – Pegg Cattle Company

Cleveland County

Jonathan Cooper – Camps Creek Cattle Company

David County

Eli Lindsey

Duplin County

Anna Hering – Hering Farms

Quinn Howard – Pack Farms

Scott Wargo – Sandy Branch Farms

Forsyth County

Steve Lankford – LC Cattle Company

Franklin County

Alton Keith

Haywood County

Jeff Powell – Spring Hill Farm

Madison County

Christopher Sawyer – Sawyer Farms

McDowell County

Jay English – English Cattle Company

Moore County

Lisa George – Hilltop Farm

Pitt County

Robbie Edwards – Sticks Farm

Wake County

Andrew Wolfe

Wilson County

Danny Ambrosio

Miles Anderson

Jordon Arnold

Jayden Artis

William Bailey

Tayah Baker

Celina Bautista-Herrera

Adlan Bounemia

Jackson Boykin

Dylan Brooks

Mackenzie Bunn

Anabel Carreno-Torres

William Chadwick

Jaylen Clay

Emily Coleman

Madelyn Coleman

Kenan Collins

Dalton Comstock

Kamya Dean

Omar Diaz-Alcantar

Jazmine Dimas Villeda

Monserrat Duran-Morales

Owen Etheridge

Kensley Evans

Alejandra Garcia

Ricardo Guzman-Ortiz

Daylon Hendricks

Sarai Horner

Christopher Howard

Keidra Howell

Paige Howell

Megan Paola Iraheta Machado

Zaire McGee

Jason McKeel

Alise Medley

Zachary Mobley

Marcell Polk

Jacob Powell

Alexander Rawlings

Amariah Savage

Cristian Scott

Faith Shader

Jose Silva

Jailyn Smith

Rolando Uribe-Nigoche

Jennifer Ventura Santos

Jessika Ventura Santos

Earl Ward

McKenzie Ward

Shantice Watson

Allyson Winstead

Gracelynn Wolzen

Ashton Young

S.C. CharolaiS NewS

By GEORGEANNE WEBB S.C. Charolais Association

Not much is going on in the Charolais group. We are thankful for all the rain and hope it keeps up through August. We sure don’t need another summer like last year. I am also thankful to report that there is no bad news, sickness, or death to report this time.

I am still getting over my trip to Pickens on July 1. I was part of the 50,000 that stood on Main Street to see Donald Trump. I just had to see for myself since Pickens is not big enough for a termite convention. It was something to see and hot as blue blazes, but I survived.

Clemson is getting ready for the S.C. Junior Beef Round-Up, so try to attend and support the young folks if you can. They are also excited about the new vet school to be built. Of course, in my opinion, this should have been built ten years ago. Seems like they waited until there were no vets in South Carolina to

even consider it. I get calls every week from folks looking for a vet, and I have no clue who to call.

We are all beginning to get ready for the Southern Connection sale in Knoxville, Tenn., on the first Saturday of October. Contact me or Dennis Adams if you are interested in consigning.

Just a little exciting family news to report. Michelle Johnson is excited to report that her nine-year-old son was baptized during Bible School. I will report that my eight-year-old granddaughter asked to talk to the preacher at her church, and she wants to be baptized in the OCEAN! They live in Jacksonville, Fla., and have scheduled her baptism in the ocean next week. I don’t know what made her want that, but it will happen.

If you have any exciting news about your cattle or family, be sure to contact me, and we will spread the news.

Clemson Trustees Officially Approve Development of New College of Veterinary Medicine

Following a historic approval by its Board of Trustees, Clemson University is preparing to launch the first College of Veterinary Medicine in the State of South Carolina. The approval follows the completion of the FY24 state budget, which includes significant support for the new college from Governor Henry McMaster and the South Carolina General Assembly.

The University’s first professional school, the Clemson University College of Veterinary Medicine, plans to enroll the first students in Fall 2026, with the first class of veterinarians graduating in 2030, and the college will leverage the University’s existing animal health programs and infrastructure to create a veterinary medicine workforce to fill a statewide shortage of veterinarians.

“Today is a historic day. We are thrilled that Clemson University has received landmark funding to establish the state of South Carolina’s first college

of veterinary medicine,” said Clemson University President Jim Clements.

“Clemson University is continuing its mission of positively impacting the lives of our students and the citizens of South Carolina. The new college will continue to elevate the state of South Carolina by meeting the needs of our communities, retaining top talent, supporting the state’s economy and protecting animal and human health.”

“Veterinarians today play an increasingly important role, in addition to caring for both companion and farm animals, protecting public health, playing an essential role in food safety as well as in detection and control of zoonotic diseases,” said Boyd Parr, co-chair of the Clemson College of Veterinary Medicine steering committee and retired South Carolina State Veterinarian. “This new veterinary college can produce the veterinarians and research that will contribute to a better future for our

citizens and our animals.”

The new college will use a distributed model of clinical teaching, where students learn their basic sciences, anatomy, preclinical skills, and communication skills during their first three years on campus, after which students conduct clinical learning in distributed learning sites throughout the state.

Background - The approval of the new college follows the creation of a steering committee comprised of experts in veterinary and human health and an independent feasibility study conducted over the past 18 months.

The feasibility study found:

• 33 percent of South Carolina counties have fewer than five veterinarians.

• 48 percent of the state’s counties have fewer than ten veterinarians.

• Nearly 200 South Carolina students were actively enrolled at 13 veterinary colleges outside the state (2022).

• The qualified pool that was not admitted to a veterinary program is estimated to be 500–1,000 (2018).

The feasibility study also found Clemson University to have the academic and regulatory programs, land, and on-campus animal science farms and infrastructure to position it ideally to support and contain a veterinary college. Some diseases, called zoonotic diseases, can be spread between animals and people. More than half of all infections people can get can be spread by animals, including rabies, salmonella, and West Nile virus.

Currently, the state provides tuition coverage for 46 students to pursue veterinary education at Tuskegee University (7), Mississippi State University (10), and University of Georgia (29) at a cost of over $6 million per year.

Starting Young, Taking Advantage of Opportunities. Cody Morgan didn’t grow up on a ranch. That didn’t stop him from becoming a young ranch owner. Cody Morgan was born to be a rancher. The trouble is, he wasn’t born on a ranch.

That minor impediment proved to be no problem. Cody Morgan set his mind to become a rancher. And he did.

It’s not that he didn’t grow up close to ranching. He grew up in Mackay, Idaho, with parents whose work sometimes found them working with the ranchers in the area whose economic impact largely kept the small town alive. His father worked for the Forest Service, and his mother was a range conservationist with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

“You’re (a rancher) trying to make the range conservationist happy and dealing with the government,”

he remembers. “So it was interesting, growing up, seeing both sides of it.”

A Passion for Ranching - In the end, however, his affinity was with the ranchers. “We had a little place, and I was in 4-H with steers.” In high school, he began working for neighboring ranchers and “did a bunch of range riding in the summer.” That became his passion — managing the range and the cattle that graze it.

He continued cowboying after high school, working on various ranches while furthering his academic experience a Great Basin College in Elko, Nevada, and later earning a bachelor’s degree in range ecology and management in the spring of 2016 from the University of Idaho. All the while, he continued his cowboy education with his feet in the stirrups and his head on a swivel, learning everything he could from ranchers and experienced cowboys

he surrounded himself with.

With a degree in hand, he traveled to northeast Oregon and furthered his cowboy education. When the cattle shipped off the summer range, he moved to another division of the ranch in southeast Oregon. That, he says, was “a very cool experience.”

Riding for Himself - By then, combining his academic and years of inthe-saddle learning, it was time to begin fulfilling his dream. During his time at the University of Idaho, he worked summers riding BLM allotments for absentee owners of cattle near May, Idaho, where he’s located now. In 2015, they offered him full time work. “It was the first big deal where I was responsible for everything,” he says. He was 23 years old.

And in a way, things came full circle. While the owners were absentee, they were conservation minded, he says. “And so, what we did on the range was geared toward making sure we kept the standards set by the BLM.” As a result, he found himself trying to keep the BLM range conservationist happy.

Then came the opportunity he was looking for. “At the end of the year, we

shipped the cattle off to winter range and I just cold called the guy who owned the permit and asked if he’d be interested in leasing it to me. And he said he would.”

So, for the first time in his young cowboy career, he was riding for himself, not the other guy.

He cobbled together a set of cows from around Idaho and neighboring states and got started. “And then, I figured since I had access to a big range permit if I could tie in some irrigated ground, we could create a ranch and a place to grow some hay.”

First Generation Outfit - But even with that, Morgan’s dream still wasn’t complete. He wanted a place of his own, with his name on the loan, a home place with deeded land. That opportunity quickly came about when a neighboring ranch came up for sale. “My folks and I leased it in 2017, bought it in 2018,” he says. “That’s how we got going, calling banks and borrowing a bunch of money to buy the place.” Even with their day jobs, his parents longed for the ranching life. “In the end, it took the entire family to make the ranch acquisition a reality.”

Since then, several other lease opportunities have come about, allowing

Contact these RAAC members to learn more about Red Angus genetics and how they can fit into your herd.

HARDROCK BEEF CATTLE

Ronnie & Donna Holman 4613 Hickory Nut Ridge Road • Granite Falls, NC 828-302-8659 ronnie@hardrockbeefcattle.com

JK RED ANGUS

Jeff Banfield & Madison Adams 331 Tee Jay Farm Road • Aberdeen, NC 910-315-3821 jkredangus@gmail.com

LANGDON RED ANGUS & SIMMENTAL John & Eileen Langdon 7728 Raleigh Road • Benson, NC 919-796-5010 johnlangdon5@gmail.com

ROGERS CATTLE COMPANY

Johnny & Sharon Rogers 945 Woodsdale Road • Roxboro, NC 336-504-7268 rccbeef@gmail.com

PRESNELL RED ANGUS

Jonathan & Jacob Presnell 368 Whitaker Road • Shelby, NC 704-473-2627 (Jonathan) • 704-616-8775 (Jacob)

BULL HILL RANCH

Jim & Alvina Meeks • Raymond Prescott, Manager 1986 Trinity Church Road • Gray Court, SC 864-682-3900 • 864-682-2828 bullhill2@mindspring.com

COUNTRY BOY FARMS

David Miller 316 Key Road • Edgefield, SC 706-840-3709

Cole Maness, President - scmaness3@gmail.com

him to expand even more, including more irrigated ground to grow hay. “And that’s where we’re at and how we got started,” he says. “So, it’s really a first generation outfit.”

While it’s a first generation ranch, it’s home to three generations of Morgans. His parents retired and moved to the ranch. “There’s only one house there, so I lived in a camper for three-and-a-half years down by the river with a generator and an outhouse.” Which was fine, he says, because he was a bachelor cowboy, and they don’t have much use for indoor space.

But it wasn’t too many years before his bachelor status changed. He married his girlfriend in 2020 after she finished vet school, and the couple upgraded from a camper to a single wide complete with indoor plumbing. Cody and Casey welcomed the third generation on the ranch in early 2023, when their son was born. Now, they plan to build a house on the other end of the ranch in late 2023.

“So, it’s the folks and my little sister who moved back from Texas,” he says. “We’ve got a guy hired, and a high school kid helps run the swather and other equipment.”

Home to 700 Mother Cows - The outfit now runs about 700 mother cows on around 112,000 acres. Because he had to stock the operation, he bought cows from anywhere he could find them. “I’ve got cattle from all over the western states — Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, South Dakota. We had to go all over to find the right type of cattle,” he says. The herd is mostly black Angus. “And we’ve got a few Red Angus and a few Herefords in there for fun,” he says.

Being a new operation and 100 percent financed in a time when land isn’t cheap means a careful study of where to spend and where to save is critical. “Starting out, we didn’t have a bunch of money for bulls. So I was able to locate some ranches that calve in the fall,” he says.

“Since their bulls aren’t being used in the spring when we need bulls, we’ve been able to work out some deals to lease those bulls and run black Angus, Red Angus, and a few Charolais bulls.” After breeding season, the bulls are returned to their home ranches.

At the outset, the ranch didn’t have much infrastructure, so the cows calve on the hay ground irrigated by center pivots. Calving starts in March, after the worst of the winter weather is behind them, and generally calve without a lot of handson attention. “If the cows are in good condition, I feel they can handle it,” he says.

“Nutrition is Everything” - That’s

where he’s willing to spend a little extra to get a little extra. He started putting the orange Riomax tubs in front of his cows in 2022 and saw results that following winter, which turned out to be the longest winter on record for central Idaho.

Typically, before adding Riomax as a supplement, his cows were consuming around 32 pounds per head per day on average and as much as 50 pounds at peak lactation. That’s a lot, but winters are tough, and “I don’t believe in letting cows get drawn down,” he says. “Nutrition is everything.”

With Riomax added to the mix, average hay consumption dropped to around 22-25 pounds, and peak consumption dropped to 30-35 pounds per head per day, “and they were leaving hay on the ground. That’s the lowest pounds per head we’ve ever fed.” He had a 96 percent breed-up running cows and bulls in big pastures, which he says is tremendous. The cows went into calving season in great condition, “and the calves looked great.”

He weans from mid-September through October and backgrounds the calves on a VAC-45 or VAC-60 program before they’re sold on video through Superior Livestock Auction, for which he is also a rep. In the western states, the difference between weaned and unweaned calves is about $11.50 to $12.50 premium, he adds, citing Kansas State University’s price analysis.

“In 2022, we weaned our heaviest calves. That’s partly due to adding Riomax and weighing them more accurately.” That’s because, prior to becoming a Superior rep, he didn’t have scales on the ranch.

The range starts drying out and getting rough beginning in September when he starts to turn the cows out on fall range. “They have to walk a mile or two from good feed to water and may drink every other day,” he says.

Yet, with a lot of miles to water and dry, tough feed, the cows not only stay in good condition with Riomax, he sees the animals actually putting on weight. “It makes them pretty efficient. It’s exciting to see them using the resource correctly and thriving out there, actually gaining body condition on tough fall feed.” Besides the hay savings, that’s the biggest benefit with Riomax, he says.

Advice to Others - Cody Morgan started as a high school kid who just wanted to be a cowboy. Now he’s running a ranch that puts him in the top 5 percent of operations in the country based on the number of cows. He learned a lot during that journey and willingly advises others with the same goal.

You’ll start at the bottom and

probably won’t live in the best conditions, he says. Stay humble and learn everything you can from the more experienced people around you. “And be willing to do the things that nobody else wants to do,” he says, “and don’t wait to be told to do them. Look for things that need to be done and jump in.”

And realize there’s more to being a rancher than riding a horse and chasing cows. “Treat the land with respect and treat the cattle with respect,” he says. And think like an owner, not a hired hand.

In his mind, a good rancher is always looking for ways to grow the operation and make it better. That may mean doing things a little differently, like taking on investors or seeking other ways to

make money from the resources you’re managing. “Play the long game,” he says, “and do something in your community to make your community better.”

In the end, however, it requires taking the risk and making a leap of faith. “Know your operation and know your plan,” he says. Then practice what he calls “extreme ownership” - “Take it on and own it.”

About Riomax. Riomax started in a one-car garage and today works with countless ranchers all across the United States and Canada. Their mission? To bring profitability back into agriculture. Learn more about their nutritional products for cattle, horses, sheep, and soil at www.riomax.net/products

Our advertisers are “Champions” too. For expert A.I., superior genetics, the best in purebreds and outstanding farm supplies, check the Classifieds in this issue!

A MessAge froM the Ceo

By COLIN WOODALL National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

For Just $19 a Month

You have all seen commercials on television where images of abused and neglected animals tug at the heartstrings. After illustrating the plight of these mistreated dogs and cats, a calm voice implores you to help them by simply donating $19 a month. While several activist groups utilize this fund-raising method, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) seems to saturate the airwaves. According to the Center for the Environment and Welfare, ASPCA’s dirty little secret is they only spend 3 percent of their annual budget supporting local pet shelters. So, where does the rest of it go?

According to CharityWatch, almost half of ASPCA’s annual budget actually goes to the overhead required to run the organization. They have more than $500 million in total assets, including $11 million offshore in the Caribbean. If you are trying to help animals, why do you need to keep some of your money in offshore accounts? Well, since they

settled a racketeering lawsuit filed against them alleging they paid a witness who lied in court proceedings, it becomes clear their actions are not as noble as they advertise. ASPCA is using its money to advance its political agenda, and that is why you find them supporting legislation such as Senator Cory Booker’s Industrial Agriculture Accountability Act that attacks feedlots.

Last month I wrote about the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act, better known as the OFF Act, which is also sponsored by Senator Booker. This is a piece of legislation attacking the Beef Checkoff and is being supported by many animal activist groups, including ASPCA. It is also a fitting example of the activist community’s strategy to find new ways to attack cattle producers. These groups have realized extreme methods and messaging, like the kind you see employed by PETA, do not resonate with the majority of Congress. They also know efforts to ban meat production or

consumption are never going to make it into law. So, they went back and developed a better plan to come after us and achieve their goals of reducing and ultimately eliminating meat consumption.

The activist strategy is now focused on supporting legislation, rules, and regulations that make it harder for us as producers to raise cattle and run our operations. For example, coalitions of these groups support EPA’s WOTUS proposal. WOTUS has nothing to do with animal welfare, but it definitely would make it harder for us to operate as we always have. They support the OFF Act because they know it will hurt beef research and promotion to a point where the Beef Checkoff is no longer effective at building beef demand. Over

the years, we have seen them support many proposals that would only result in weakening our industry. It is by design, and they have been successful in getting groups like R-CALF to help support their efforts as a way to claim they are really taking these actions to protect producers. We know better than that.

In an attempt to appeal to the mainstream public, we now find these activists trying to hijack legitimate groups to get more support. Earlier this spring, we discovered the traditionally conservative group Freedom Works had hired known animal activist Marty Irby as their Chief Operating Officer. Instead of fighting big government, they were now supporting legislation like the OFF Act. My thanks to all of you who attended our Legislative Conference in April and went to the Hill to expose Irby’s masquerade. Due to your efforts, I am pleased to announce he is no longer employed by Freedom Works.

The animal activists also have strong Political Action Committees (PACs) and are supporting Democrats and Republicans in an effort to gain support for their agenda. We have been disturbed to see some of the Members of Congress who have taken activist PAC checks. These activists are well funded, coordinated, smart, and dangerous, and they are not going away. We will continue to fight back, but we need your help. Call your representative and two senators and tell them to stay away from the OFF Act. We also need to make it harder for these groups to keep raising the money they do. As I write this article, the top petition on the website www.change.org is one to tell ASPCA to “stop hoarding money instead of helping local shelters.” Go to www. change.org and sign the petition so we can make them scramble and think twice before they take us on again.

NCBA

PresideNt’s rePort

By TODD WILKINSON National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Common Theme

I’ve had the opportunity to travel to quite a few state meetings this year, and something that has impressed me is the number of young producers in attendance. It’s invigorating to see young cattlemen and women showing up with the intention of becoming more involved in the industry, especially with the many commitments young producers have today. It’s not lost on me that these young producers are in the thick of it — many of them raising and feeding cattle while balancing off-farm jobs

and raising families, but they are still showing up. That’s the common theme for our organization — people have been showing up as part of NCBA for 125 years.

Part of NCBA’s role, and an important part of our success, is the ability to identify and develop leaders while also preparing them to meet industry challenges head-on. NCBA’s flagship program for leadership development is the Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC). Last month, I had the opportunity to spend

a few days with the 40th class of NCBA’s YCC program. After a three year hiatus, the conference was back with the largest class ever of 71 participants. After nine days of intensive leadership training and a five city tour, which showcased every facet of the beef industry, these leaders completed their trip with a full day of representation in Washington, D.C.

Industry advocacy is one of the most important things we do, and YCC participants are vital to our organization’s advocacy program moving forward. The backstories of these participants are interesting, coming from different parts of the country and managing different types of operations from every segment of the industry. When I started my leadership journey, I questioned whether a rancher from a small town in South Dakota could have an impact on the national level. NCBA has taught me that your background is an important part of your story, and we need people from every corner of the nation to stand up and fight for this industry. Whether you are a first generation producer or come from seven generations of ranchers, and whether you are managing a 50,000 head feedlot or running 50 cows, everyone matters.

It’s too easy for all of us to stay in our comfort zone and not get involved or speak up. One thing I saw in the YCC group was a willingness to step up and learn more about the issues and each other, discuss industry challenges, and, ultimately, come together for a common cause. I look forward to seeing these YCC participants serve their state organizations and become more involved at the national level.

Now that these producers have their coveted YCC pin, they will be amazed at how many people will introduce themselves and want to know more about our industry. This is such a great way to spread positive news about what we do because so often, people question how we care for cattle and the environment, all the while they live in a congested city. I’m proud that NCBA has a program that equips our young leaders with the knowledge and skills to hit back with the truth. Sometimes, in Congress and in the media, reality is lost, and it takes all of us to go out there and correct the record. The one message I want to impart to young producers is not to sell yourself short. Be excited, be informed, and find ways to give back to the industry.

ABBA exeCutive uPdAte

By DR. JOE C. PASCHAL American Brahman Breeders Association

meetings and events. We will just need to be more careful about expenditures until we have a better idea about income.

I have canceled some of my travel and some sponsorships, but much of the travel is prepaid for in an attempt to keep costs down. One of ABBA’s biggest issues is visibility, for us to be able to be at events and promote the breed. Perhaps in the future, we could rely on directors to do some of those events.

Dear ABBA Members,

My last email was right before the Board Meeting in Lake Charles, and I promised updates. However, I lost my notebook and notes; so much of this is from memory. Fortunately, Iridiana, Caydi, and A.J. all took excellent notes, and the board meeting minutes are on the website now. I am going to cover some of those items in this email.

My first committee meeting was the finance committee, where we reviewed

the Association’s income and expenses and overall financial health. With Secretary-Treasurer Kelvin Moreno’s help, Idi has been working on updating the accounts, both our working accounts and the investment accounts. Some of these needed updating: having new names added, and that is now done. One of the items that came out of the committee was that, for now, staff travel needs to be reviewed and approved by the officers. I agree that we need to look at travel, but we will still need to travel to cattle

My next committee to attend was the 2024 World Brahman Congress (WBC). It came to ABBAs attention that the original venue, the Texas A&M Hildebrand Equestrian Event Center, though an excellent choice for the Congress, would not allow cattle to be shown or stalled in the arenas or makeup areas due to safety reasons. We could erect tents, but the committee decided against that idea. Instead, I have been asked to head up looking for a new venue for the WBC, and as soon as I get a location and date, I’ll let everyone know.

Next, I attended the show committee (I am on the subcommittee that looked into the current ABBA show arrangement). That committee presented a division of the current shows that will be very helpful to Caydi.

ABBA will essentially be responsible for the National, International, and the WBC Show as sponsored shows, with the rest of the shows (about 28 or so) being ABBA sanctioned shows. The sponsored shows will be relatively unchanged from the current shows, but the sanctioned shows, as long as they follow ABBA classes and rules, have a little more leeway (and less direct ABBA involvement). Sanctioned shows will not have to use ABBA approved judges, but we will send them a list and ask them to do so. There were also new divisions added to reduce class sizes, and two new group classes were added. If you would like more information, the new show rules are posted on the ABBA website. I just wanted to give a quick review here. Many thanks to the committee and subcommittee’s efforts.

I also attended the marketing committee meeting chaired by the indomitable Brand Jones. We reviewed the 2023 ABBA National Brahman and F1 Sale results, fixed a new date (same location), and will hire a sale manager to assist. I am currently looking for one. They also looked over the first F1 Newsletter that I recently wrote at the request of the chair, Terry Novak.

Apparently, that had been requested a year or so ago to be distributed to the F1 members for information and as a promotional tool. The F1 Newsletter is now on the ABBA website and is being used as a guide for a prepaid four color, full page ad developed by The Brahman Journal to be printed in the Southern Livestock Standard directory that will be out in August and given to every participant at the 2023 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course.

Last but not least, I attended the membership committee meeting. Cyana had a lot of great ideas, including vetting the new members prior to either the executive committee or the Board voting to admit them to membership. The committee plans on contacting prospective members and letting them know the process, and asking how they want their initial membership information (electronically or paper). The committee would also like to survey the membership about issues of importance to them and is looking at ways to improve and increase the participation of the membership in voting. All great ideas!

I did not get to attend any of the other committee meetings (but Caydi, Idi, and A.J. did), but they all came up with great ideas and action items.

At the board meeting (minutes are posted on the ABBA website), all of the action items recommended by the committees passed, and the 100 th anniversary committee highlighted their logo and steak knife fundraiser (set of four for $50). The steak knives can be purchased on our website at www. shopamericanbrahman.myshopify.com

After we returned home from the board meeting, I met with 13 Nicaraguan Brahman enthusiasts that had been at Texas A&M since Wednesday. Dr. Thomas Hairgrove and Dr. Ky Pohler had been conducting classes with them, and Dr. Hairgrove took them to ST Genetics and then to Kallion Farms on Friday. On Saturday, I took them to Producers CoOp in Bryan to learn about the business model and then to Bar Nothing Ranch in Brenham to look at their Brahmans and cutting horses. On Monday, we went to Graham Feedyard in Gonzales, where we looked at some Brahman cattle on feed and ended up at Bulls Eye Ranch in Burton. It was a good group, and they had a lot of questions. On Tuesday, we gave them certificates of course completion and ABBA bags full of Brahman information.

On June 12, I went to George West, Tex., to attend the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Ranch Gathering. I am a member of TSCRA, but I

went as the ABBA representative. We were recognized as the only breed association at the event. Initially, these “sponsorships” were $250 for each Gathering, but since I plan on going to several in Brahman country, they will be less for ABBA. There were about 150 folks in attendance, many I knew, more who knew me, and I got to talk to a lot of folks about Brahmans and ABBA and hand out the new F1 Newsletter!

The Ranch Gatherings are free to the public. If you want more information, contact me or TSCRA at 817-916-1744 or 45.

Although I was initially scheduled to go, A.J. went to the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention. I want to thank Jesse Savell of the UF Animal Science Department and secretary of the Florida Brahman Association for having the Florida Junior Brahman Association members assist at the ABBA booth! At the time of writing, A.J. is now at the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Meeting in Calgary, Canada. BIF is an international organization of beef cattle breeds and breeders, geneticists, performance testing gurus, and others. I initially planned to go, but my passport expired before I renewed it. BIF influences how performance testing data (docility scores, weaning weights, ultrasound measurements, frame scores, EPD calculations, etc.) are collected, analyzed, and reported, so the Brahman breed needs to be there. A.J. will report later on his activities.

Caydi, Idi, and I just returned from the 2023 AJBA All American, and I can tell you I thought it was a tremendous success! I had never seen so many young Brahman enthusiasts! I know that there were a lot of moving parts to the All American, but my hat is off to Caydi, Hatch Smith and the youth committee, the AJBA board of directors, and all the folks who provided scholarships and made donations of their time, talent, and treasure to this event! Dr. Rhonda Vann of Mississippi State University, who has scanned for the Better Beef Contest for the past three years, ultrasounded over 150 head this year! She and A.J. will provide those results to each exhibitor in the coming month.

I will attend the Independent Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) Annual Meeting in San Marcos. Texas has two cattle organizations, ICA and TSCRA, and it is important to be a part of both organizations (like many of you in your own state). I had originally wanted a booth, as it would be the first time ABBA would be there, but in light of our concern about travel, I canceled it. The Executive Director of ICA, Cooper Little, called me back and told me they were giving me

(ABBA) a booth and registration since I had done so much with them and for them over the years (I was on their board and had a few awards from ICA), so I plan to be there.

Finally, I hope that you might consider attending the 2023 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course on August 7-9 on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. Monday morning and all day Tuesday are over 17 breakout sessions devoted to specific topics – new/ novice producers, nutrition and feeding, reproduction, breeding and genetics, brush control, agricultural law, etc. with a huge commercial display area.

ABBA will be there, and in fact, we will be sponsoring three sessions in animal breeding and genetics and the purebred session. Monday evening is a general session, and the famous Aggie prime rib dinner (the one I had in Florida at their beef cattle short course was great, too!). On Wednesday are half day breakout sessions on determining carcass merit, cattle working, cattle handling, chute side veterinary, and reproductive management, among others. For more information, visit www.beefcattleshortcourse.com

That’s it for now. As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Kevin Lincomfelt Joins Premier Select Sires as Sales Support Specialist. Kevin Lincomfelt has been named a Sales Support Specialist for Premier Select Sires’ Southern Region. In his role, Lincomfelt will assist the local Premier team in providing customers with services related to the Select Reproductive Solutions (SRS) program, the Select Mating Service (SMS), CowManager, artificial insemination (A.I.) training, and more. He will serve primarily eastern Tennessee, North Carolina, and southern Virginia.

“I look forward to working with the Premier team and meeting a new customer base as I adapt my experience to southern farms,” said Lincomfelt.

Lincomfelt has garnered approximately 20 years of A.I. industry experience in California. For ten years, he served All West Select Sires as an independent agent managing his own technician route. He also managed a reproductive and technician team for a California genetics company for several years.

“With his hands-on experience, Kevin has developed his skills as a technician and technician trainer while also becoming familiar and proficient with DairyComp, SCR, CowManager, embryo transfer implanting, and genetic selection,” said Brad Barham, Regional Sales Manager for Premier’s southern territory. “I had the privilege of working with Kevin during

my time working at All West Select Sires, and I know he will make an excellent addition to the Premier team.”

In addition to his dairy experience, Lincomfelt and his family have also raised and managed a small beef herd, and he has provided service to many beef customers during his time in California. Along with performing embryo work, he worked on beef breeding synchronization projects from 50 head to 1,000 head.

Please join Premier Select Sires in welcoming Kevin Lincomfelt!

About Premier Select Sires. Premier Select Sires is a farmer owned cooperative that serves beef and dairy producers in its 23 state member area. Dedicated to providing its members with all they need to achieve success, Premier provides:

• Industry leading genetics from the Select Sires, Accelerated Genetics, and GenerVations brands

• Effective herd health and management products, as well as artificial insemination supplies

• Reliable services and programs backed by years of success

• Knowledgeable industry experts who are easily accessed for consultation, advice, and on-farm assistance

Together with its five sister cooperatives across the United States, Premier owns and controls Select Sires Inc., the world’s most recognized name in bovine genetics.

Cargill RegenConnect and John Deere announce collaboration to enable new revenue streams for farmers adopting sustainable practices. Collaboration will streamline program enrollment and field data management through John Deere Operations Center. Cargill and John Deere are announcing a collaborative effort to streamline the digital and in-field experience for farmers using John Deere technology and electing to participate in the Cargill RegenConnect program.

Cargill RegenConnect provides farmers with a financial incentive for positive environmental outcomes through the adoption of regenerative agriculture practices while helping to improve soil health and decarbonize the agriculture supply chain. John Deere’s precision ag technology and digital platform, Operations Center, helps farmers to implement and document the practices they choose to adopt as part of Cargill RegenConnect.

John Deere and Cargill will work together to help farmers adopt and use precision technology and synchronize the flow of information when they opt-in to share data between systems. Farmers will be able to use existing planting, harvest, and tillage documentation data stored in the Operations Center, easily fill in missing information, and enroll in the 2023 Cargill RegenConnect program. This will help farmers save

time, ensure greater accuracy of data and offer the most up-to-date, consistent, and comprehensive view of their operation.

“John Deere and Cargill have a shared vision for advancing sustainability through digital capabilities that support farmers. Farmers will have another tool in their toolbox to make the best decisions about sustainability and profitability for their farm,” said Alexey Rostapshov, Head of Sustainability Solutions for John Deere. “The connection to Operations Center provides Cargill RegenConnect participants the opportunity to learn about the program, manage and implement practice changes, and sync data across systems. This will save farmers time and empower them to make the best agronomic and economic decisions for their farm.”

The streamlined Operations Center functionality will be rolled out and enhanced over several program years. The Cargill RegenConnect program is available to all Operations Center users in 24 U.S. states. Farmers will be able to work directly with their John Deere dealer to learn about equipment and technology available to implement practices eligible under the Cargill RegenConnect program and to ensure the as-applied documentation data is complete.

“Organizing and providing data to seamlessly participate in environmental markets through programs like Cargill

RegenConnect not only helps farmers get organized on the front end to better manage their on-farm data but also prepares them to participate in future market opportunities,” said Chantelle Donahue, North American Agriculture Supply Chain Vice President, from Cargill.

Cargill RegenConnect is in its third year. This program pays farmers for improving soil health based on the regenerative agriculture practices they have adopted, including cover crops, no-till, or reduced till. Eligible acres must have a primary crop of corn, soy, wheat, or cotton.

Enrollment in the 2023 Cargill RegenConnect program is open through September 15. To enroll, visit www. cargillregenconnect.com . For more information, contact your local John Deere dealer or visit http://sustainabilityprograms.deere.com/

About Cargill. Cargill helps the world’s food system work for you. We connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and families with daily essentials – from the foods they eat to the floors they walk on. Our communities as

we work to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way.

From feed that reduces methane emissions to waste-based renewable fuels, the possibilities are boundless. But our values remain the same. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the right thing. It’s how we’ve met the needs of the people we call neighbors and the planet we call home for 157 years — and how we’ll do so for generations to come. For more information, visit www.Cargill.com

About John Deere. Deere & Company is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, turf, construction, and forestry equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries of what’s possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable to help life leap forward. Our technology enabled products, including John Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor, See & Spray, and E-Power Backhoe, are just some of the ways we help meet the world’s increasing need for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also provides financial services through John Deere Financial. For more information, visit www.deere.com

Carolina Cooking

Grilled Cowboy Steaks

Total Time - 5 minutes

2 beef ribeye steaks (about 1 pound)

Rub

2 teaspoons sweet paprika

1½ teaspoons dried thyme leaves

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon salt (optional)

½ teaspoon pepper

Combine rub ingredients; press evenly onto beef ribeye steaks.

Cook’s tip: beef top sirloin, top loin (strip), or tenderloin steaks, cut 1 inch thick; or 2 pounds beef Porterhouse or T-bone steaks, cut 1 inch thick, may be used.

Place steak(s) on a grid over medium, ash covered coals or over medium heat on a preheated gas grill. Grill according to the chart for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning

occasionally.

Makes 4 servings.

Grilled Cowboy Steaks

Alltech releases 2022 Sustainability Report supporting its commitment of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty. Alltech has released the 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report, which demonstrates the actions the company is taking to align the business with its commitments to the United Nations Global Compact, the U.N. Ten Principles, the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, and Working Together for a Planet of Plenty.

“Today, climate change threatens agriculture’s ability to feed the world’s growing population. Fortunately, the world’s best problem solvers are on the case,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “We believe agriculture has the greatest potential to positively shape the future of our planet and that is why Alltech is uniting the agri-food community in Working Together for a Planet of Plenty. It’s not just our mission, it’s our purpose.”

Alltech is committed to the efficient production of nutritious food while working to minimize its carbon footprint and helping producers worldwide find and implement solutions to their sustainability challenges.

Through data and stories from Alltech team members around the world, the 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report emphasizes the role of agriculture in combatting climate change and creating healthy, sustainable food systems. It also includes information about Alltech’s emissions reduction goals, efforts to promote sustainability, and the ways in which Alltech is advancing environmental actions in the industry.

Additionally, the report outlines the steps Alltech has taken to promote an inclusive work environment and highlights its team members’ efforts to make a difference in the communities in which they live and work.

“By adopting new technologies, improving business practices and embracing innovation, the agri-food industry is working together to harness the power of human ingenuity and the sustainable science of agri-food to create a Planet of Plenty, and we are honored to be part of it,” said Dr. Lyons.

Highlights include:

• Alltech invested $4.5 million in efficiency projects in 2022, resulting in a reduction of 7,600 metric tons of CO2e.

• 100 percent of production team members are trained in health and safety procedures.

• The Alltech Mini-MBA, Alltech’s advanced management development program, has had 576 graduates –25 percent have been women. In the 2023 Mini-MBA class, 52 percent of participants are women.

• 70 percent of office based team members have received role related training and development.

• Alltech’s climate advisory service, Alltech E-CO 2, supports 30 countries and has conducted over 20,000 on-farm environmental assessments.

• Alltech Coppens’ new sustainability scoring index reflects the carbon footprint of feed on packaging.

• Alltech Serdán received Empresa Socialmente Responsible (ESR) certification and reduced CO2e by 650 tons through its photovoltaic system and use of compressed natural gas (CNG).

• Alltech was reaccredited by the Pet Sustainability Coalition.

• Alltech São Pedro received the Paraná Climate Seal for its emissions reduction.

“Through collaboration and innovation, the agri-food community can create a world where science based solutions help ensure sustainable food production for the global population,” said Dr. Lyons. “Agriculture has already made huge strides in sustainability. Imagine what is possible when we all work toward the shared goal of creating a world of abundance for future generations.”

For more information and to download the 2022 Alltech Sustainability Report in full, visit www.alltech.com/ sustainability

About Alltech. Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech delivers smarter, more sustainable solutions for agriculture. Our diverse portfolio of products and services improves the health and performance of plants and animals, resulting in better nutrition for all and a decreased environmental impact.

We are a global leader in the agriculture industry. Our team produces specialty ingredients, premix supplements, feed, and biologicals, backed by science and an unparalleled platform of services.

Strengthened by more than 40 years of scientific research, we carry forward a legacy of innovation and a unique culture that views challenges through an entrepreneurial lens. As a private, family

owned company, we adapt quickly to our customers’ needs and focus on advanced innovation.

We believe agriculture has the greatest potential to shape the future of our planet. Our more than 5,000 talented team members worldwide share our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty. Together, we can provide nutrition for all, revitalize local

economies, and replenish the planet’s natural resources.

Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Ken., Alltech serves customers in more than 120 countries, has five bioscience centers, and operates more than 80 manufacturing facilities across the globe.

For more information, visit www. alltech.com

Celebrating 50 Years of NALJA. This year marks 50 years of the North American Limousin Junior Association (NALJA). Much has happened since the organization’s infancy in 1973, and we are proud to celebrate the impact its investments have made in both the Limousin breed and the young people involved with it.

NALJA Origins - According to Mark Leonard of Leonard Limousin & Angus in Holstein, Iowa, there were five Junior Members of NALF at the National Convention in 1972 who expressed a shared interest in starting a junior association. He notes that Wyona Warren, National Limousin Queen at the time, was a big ambassador and motivator for forming the group.

An assembly of juniors gathered every day during that National Convention and slowly developed bullet points that composed a constitution and bylaws for what would someday officially be NALJA. That original group stayed in touch via snail mail and phone calls until the next year’s National Convention, July 1973, in Denver.

It was during the French Connection Limousin sale the juniors met to finalize all of their drafts before submitting them to the board at the annual business meeting that was held at that same time. The board approved their proposal.

The next step was the installation of officers for the junior association, with Ronnie Murray of Oklahoma being elected as the first NALJA president in 1973 and Leonard elected as secretary. In July 1974, Leonard was elected President and served in the role until July 1976.

It was at NALF’s annual meeting in 1975 that discussions of the first junior exclusive national heifer show (to be held the following summer) commenced.

That first National Junior Show

was held alongside the World Limousin Futurity at the Iowa State Fair. Leonard believes this was a wise move as it earned the infant organization more attention from showmen who were already traveling for the Futurity anyway.

Leonard recalls some of his colleagues who helped to make the event a success.

Leland Dudley, Fred Wood, and Don Faidley were all early leaders in the breed from Iowa,” he shares. “I couldn’t have got it done without their help. They had the connections with the Iowa State Fair to help assure barn space. The Executive Director of NALF at the time was intensely opposed to the idea of a National Junior show, stating that without screening of entries, we’d have a lot of poor cattle show up. We went ahead with the show anyway and proved him wrong. It was truly due to the support of the Iowa Limousin Board of Directors and especially Dudley, Wood, and Faidley that the Juniors were able to make it happen.”

Through the Decades - “The (early) publicity was mostly through the Limousin magazine, which, thankfully, we really used the circulation in those days,” says Leonard. “And if you look, take a look at just the historical registration numbers, and we were registering 100,000 cattle a year or more several years through the ‘70s and ‘80s.”

Mark Smith of Grassroots Genetics in Ankeny, Iowa, was a staff member at the time the NALJA began. He saw the heifer show grow from 50 head to well over 300 at times.

“The early years were like any other show from a young breed. People were looking to show the cattle and juniors wanted to have it as a project,” he said. “The national heifer show became

popular because kids started becoming friends with people from other states. At first, they would meet every year at the national heifer show. As time went on, they started regionals.”

Like so many other people involved with junior breed organization activities, Smith avidly recalls the countless lifelong friendships he established. This comradery, he believes, is part of what encourages juniors to attend the show year after year.

Bruce Lawrence of Lawrence Family Limousin in Anton, Tex., shares how his family attended their first Junior Nationals in 1992 (held in Fort Worth) and have only missed one show (1993) ever since.

A true family affair, his daughter was both a NALJA president and served on the board, as well as his son being actively involved. Today, he has grandkids that are also proud NALJA members.

“Our growth has been static for a few years, until the last six to eight years, I think that the popularity of the Limousin show has really increased a lot the last five to seven years,” says Lawrence.

For Lawrence, one of his most memorable NALJA honors was receiving the laurels in the bred-and-owned show. His grandsons Tucker and Colt have both exhibited national bred-and-owned champions and then won several division champions.

“I guess the highlight would have been Amber’s boy, Colt. That would have been in 2020,” he reflects. “Colt exhibited the grand champion bred-and-owned female which went on to be reserve grand champion heifer the following days.”

The Future of NALJA - Leonard notes that the show has expanded the age range for juniors, but there is still a majority who do not continue with the breed after they go off to college.

While the show world has certainly played a big role in the proliferation of the Limousin breed among young showmen, Leonard believes selective breeding, DNA testing, and EPDs should still maintain important production traits, such as

2023 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts

average growth rate, average for ribeye, and average maternal value – in addition to the sought after phenotypic traits.

“The popularity in the Limousin and Limflex female and the quality of them brings some more people into the breed, and as far as NALJA, it contributes to growth,” shares Lawrence. “As to the growth, I think it’s just the programs that NALJA brings outside the show ring that helps shape the future of these young people and hopefully, maintains more of them and makes more breeders out of them and provides longevity of the breed.”

Smith’s comment on the purpose of the junior show and association was, “I think it’s a way that cattlemen in America can reinvest in us. And hopefully, they learn lifelong lessons and lifelong work habits, not just work habits but family habits and ethics, and it’s just the way that is an addition to their schooling and it involves animals.”

A true theme to farm and ranch living, Smith highlights how the life lessons kids learn from caring and being responsible for cattle will benefit them down the road with job applications and work ethics.

“Ag kids know how to work hard, which is beneficial when applying to jobs,” he continues. “Kids learn those important soft skills like a firm handshake or how to carry a conversation. Whether it’s being a NALJA member or a 4-H or FFA member, you get what you put into it and the experience you have will correlate as well. It’s also okay to fail and learn from failing.”

About the North American Limousin Foundation. The North American Limousin Foundation, headquartered in Englewood, Colo., provides programs and services, including the documentation of more than 25,000 head of cattle annually, for approximately 4,000 members and their commercial customers. The Limousin breed and Lim-Flex® hybrid offer industry leading growth and efficiency while being an ideal complement to British breeds. For more information about NALF, please visit www.nalf.org

Beef Promotion and Research Program

PRIVATE TREATY SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM

Information is required by (7 CRF 1260.201). Failure to report can result in a fine. Information is held confidential (7 CRF 1260.203).

Today’s Date: ________________

Seller’s Name: ____________________________

Buyer’s Name: ____________________________

Address: Address:

City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: ______

Seller’s Signature: _________________________

Buyer’s Signature: _________________________

Both the seller & the buyer are responsible for making sure that the $1.50 per head assessment is collected and remitted to the Beef Promotion & Research Board.

Total Number of Cattle Sold: ___________________ x $1.50 Per Head = $

Date of Sale: __________________ Person remitting assessment form: Seller o Buyer o

* State of Origin of Cattle:

* If the cattle purch ased came from another state within the last 30 days, indicate from which state the cattle were purchased.

Send Report and Remittance to:

SOUTH CAROLINA BEEF COUNCIL

P.O. Box 11280

Columbia, SC 29211

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0093. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1.8 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disbility, sexual orientation, marital or family status, political beliefs, parental status, or protected genetic information. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14 th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Joint Juice — A Supplement that Stands Out Against the Competition. For livestock exhibitors, there are a plethora of options that exist when it comes to supplements. Choices are plentiful for skin and hair health, digestive health, adding fill, taking away belly, supporting bone and joint health, and more. There is one supplement that will help you stand out against the competition, and it should be part of your #Formula4Success: Sure Champ Joint Juice.

Sure Champ Joint Juice is a liquid product for livestock designed to support joint health utilizing patented technology. It is powered by MHB3 Hyaluronan, a high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) that holds eight U.S. Patents. MHB3 is fully hydrated for maximum bioavailability – up to 3.8 times more effective than dry forms of HA. The

patented formula also contains a profile of high molecular weight HA molecules that mimic what is found naturally in the joints.

With age and trauma, the body’s own hyaluronan breaks down and must be replenished. As livestock grow and put on weight, the quality of the synovial fluid that lubricates and cushions the joints becomes of utmost importance. A lack of quality synovial fluid and subpar joint health contribute to swollen hocks and snapping or clicking in the animal’s pasterns.

“It is vital to keep the synovial fluid level up in the joints to keep that gliding motion between their cartilage and their joints and to minimize the friction. It is proven that hyaluronic acid has a tremendous impact on supporting joint health,” said Chris Cassady, Ph.D., BioZyme Senior Manager of Beef

Technical Sales.

Stand Out Against the Competition

- Joint Juice stands out against its competition in several areas. Here’s what you can expect from Joint Juice:

• MHB3 Hyaluronan, a high quality, multi-patented hyaluronic acid

• 200 mg hyaluronic acid per ounce –more concentrated than other brands

• A cost effective, proven formula

• No fillers

“Not only is the HA at a more concentrated level, but Joint Juice is also one of the most economically priced supplements on the market that makes it affordable for your animal to receive the full benefits of MHB3 Hyaluronan every day,” Cassady said.

Easy to Use for All Species - Sure Champ Joint Juice is designed for daily oral consumption. It can be top dressed on feed and is formulated for cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. Its active ingredient, MBH3 Hyaluronan, is unique and proven. Joint Juice comes in two convenient sizes – a gallon and half gallon – with an easyto-use metered pump.

Stand out against the competition and

keep your show livestock feeling their best and moving sound. Add Joint Juice to your #Formula4Sucess and support sustainable soundness all the way to the backdrop this show season. Learn more about Sure Champ Joint Juice or find a dealer near you at www.surechamp.com

About BioZyme Inc. BioZyme Inc., founded in 1951, develops and manufactures natural, proprietary products focused on animal nutrition, health, and microbiology. With a continued commitment to research, BioZyme offers a complete line of feed additives and high density, highly available vitamin, mineral, trace mineral, and protein supplements for a variety of animals, including cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. BioZyme brands include AO-Biotics ® , VitaFerm®, Gain Smart®, Vita Charge®, Sure Champ®, Vitalize®, DuraFerm®, and Backyard Boost®. With headquarters in St. Joseph, Mo., the company reaches a global market of customers that stretches into countries across five continents. For more information about BioZyme, visit www.biozymeinc.com

Natalie Kovarik and Brandi Buzzard to serve as mentors in 2023 College Aggies Online program. Sign up today; nearly $20,000 in scholarships and prizes awarded last year. Cattle ranchers and social media influencers Natalie Kovarik and Brandi Buzzard are two of the mentors set to advise participants in the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship program, which begins on September 11. Registration is now open for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students studying in the U.S., as well as collegiate clubs and classes. Last year, nearly $20,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded to participants. Sign up for this year’s competition at www.animalagalliance.org/ initiatives/college-aggies-online

CAO connects college students from across the country who are passionate about sharing positive, factual information about agriculture. Participants receive nine interactive and educational weeks of content to help them become confident and effective communicators for agriculture with guidance from farmers and industry mentors. During their scheduled week of the program, Kovarik and Buzzard will share valuable insights and helpful tips when it comes to engaging about agriculture.

“College Aggies Online equips college students with the tools needed to effectively bridge the gap between farm and table,” said Emily Ellis, Animal Agriculture Alliance manager of communications and content. “In only nine weeks in 2022, more than 8.5 million people were reached through the program with the students’ social media content and on-campus events. This is thanks, in part, to the opportunities for students to

network with and learn from mentors like Kovarik and Buzzard, two fan favorites who are returning this year.”

Kovarik is a proud rancher’s daughter, wife, mother, and rancher herself. She works alongside her husband, Luke, and her three sons, to own and operate Kovarik Cattle Company, a cow/calf business with a growing registered herd. Growing up, Natalie was raised on her family’s registered Hereford operation in southwest Montana. She began sharing her ranching story online four years ago to foster a community that trusts and believes in agriculture as much as she does. Today, she is the co-host of the popular podcast Discover Ag as well as the co-founder of Elevate Ag, an online course and community providing farmers and ranchers with the tools needed to successfully advocate for agriculture online.

Buzzard is the editor of Red Angus Magazine and blogger and speaker under the title Buzzard’s Beat. She and her husband operate a small ranch in southeast Kansas, where she spends the majority of her time rodeoing, ranching, and engaging with her rural community. Buzzard started the blog “Buzzard’s Beat,” in 2009 and focuses on opening the door to American agriculture, how our food is raised, and the people who raise it. She is an active speaker and has been featured on many platforms, including CBS News, Fox News, MSNBC News, and many more.

In addition to sharing tips for communicating about agriculture, Kovarik and Buzzard will also provide feedback on submitted social media posts and challenges and help in selecting weekly scholarship winners. The top participants at the conclusion of the program will be invited to attend the Alliance’s 2024

Stakeholders Summit, set for May 8-9 in Kansas City, Mo., for national recognition.

Students interested in networking with industry professionals and learning from successful agriculture influencers while strengthening their communication skills are invited to sign up today at www. animalagalliance.org/initiatives/collegeaggies-online

About the Animal Agriculture Alliance. The Alliance safeguards the

future of animal agriculture and its value to society by bridging the communication gap between the farm and food communities. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation. NEWS

Performance Livestock Analytics Secures Investment from Builders VC, Separates from Zoetis to Fuel Growth. Newly independent entity will continue to serve its growing customer base while accelerating progress in precision livestock farming. Performance Livestock Analytics (PLA), a leader in data analytics solutions for livestock producers, announces its separation from Zoetis. The newly independent PLA business is led by its original founders, Dane Kuper and Dustin Balsley, and with financial investment from Builders VC.

The strategic decision for PLA to separate from Zoetis is a result of PLA’s growth and increasing market demand for its cutting edge digital solutions. The separation will provide PLA with increased agility and autonomy to respond to market dynamics and customer needs.

Builders VC’s investment will fuel PLA’s expansion plans, including further product development, expanding market reach, and scaling operations to support growing customer demand.

“This represents an exciting milestone in our journey. We are grateful to Zoetis for their support in growing Performance Livestock Analytics and enabling us to reach this pivotal moment,” says Dane Kuper, CEO of Performance Livestock Analytics. “With the backing of Builders VC, we are well-positioned to accelerate our growth and continue empowering livestock producers with the tools they need to make informed decisions, improve their operations, and drive profitability.”

PLA is an established leader in the livestock technology space, combining cloud based platforms with automated onfarm data collection to provide powerful analytics livestock producers need to make the best decisions.

The company’s core product,

Performance Beef, makes it easy to change rations, create accurate invoices and closeout reports, track individual animal health, and analyze trends in performance. Cattle Krush complements Performance Beef, using real time market data to give producers instant breakeven, market analytics, and profit alerts to help in buying and selling cattle.

“We are thrilled to once again collaborate with the Performance Livestock Analytics team as they embark on this exciting new chapter,” said Mark Blackwell, General Partner at Builders VC. “As an early backer of the team in the initial iteration of the business, we have witnessed their remarkable growth and unwavering dedication to revolutionizing the livestock industry. We are delighted to continue supporting their mission as they chart their independent path, leveraging data analytics to empower livestock producers and drive sustainable practices. Together, we are poised to make an even greater impact on the industry.”

The PLA team will continue to work closely with Zoetis as a strategic partner to ensure a seamless transition for existing customers.

About Performance Livestock Analytics. Performance Livestock Analytics was founded to provide a digital platform for the livestock industry. Using practical insights from livestock producers, technical expertise of data engineers, and their own livestock and Silicon Valley experience, the company’s founders created the beef industry’s first cloud based platform. Performance Livestock Analytics aims to provide innovative solutions to connect the livestock industry and empower data driven decisions through every step of the supply chain. For more information, visit www.performancelivestockanalytics.com

You shouldn’t have to have a gun held to your head to take advantage of the expert A.I., superior genetics, the best in purebreds and outstanding farm supplies featured in the Classifieds in this issue!

By LAURENTIA VANRENSBURG, Alltech

What are Organic Trace Minerals?

Beef cattle require minerals for maintenance and to support adequate growth, reproduction, and health. When considering minerals, it is important to realize that minerals can be classified as either macro or micro (or trace) minerals. Macro minerals, as their name indicates, are typically needed in larger amounts and include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. Micro, or trace, minerals are needed in much smaller amounts but are still considered essential nutrients, as they are involved in many metabolic and physiological functions, including serving as components of hormones, the endocrine system, and certain enzyme factors, playing a role cell replication and differentiation, and being involved in the immune response. Examples of micro or trace minerals include copper, manganese, zinc, cobalt, and selenium.

The amount of minerals in feedstuffs and forages varies greatly. These differences can be regional or seasonal and also vary based on the forage species or feedstuff provided. Certain minerals are often present in levels below what is needed to fulfill the animal’s requirements, which creates the need to supplement them in the animal’s diet.

Trace minerals can be supplemented in either an inorganic or organic form. In essence, the main difference between inorganic and organic trace minerals is that in the case of organic trace minerals, metal ions are bound to a carbon containing molecule, whereas that is not true with inorganic trace minerals. Inorganic trace minerals — including sulfates, oxides, chlorides, and sodium selenite — are typically byproducts of other industrial processes. While inexpensive, these trace minerals are typically not as bioavailable as their organic counterparts. Due to the low bioavailability of inorganic trace minerals, it is not uncommon to see them being supplemented at levels above the animal’s actual requirements. This is an issue because not only can these high levels of supplementation lead to mineralto-mineral antagonisms, but due to poor absorption and utilization, the majority of

inorganic trace minerals also get excreted back into the environment, leaving very little to be utilized by the animal. Furthermore, inorganic trace minerals are also very reactive, with strong prooxidative qualities that can inhibit vitamin stability and indirectly impact the overall supplement value and, potentially, the animal’s performance.

Organic trace minerals, on the other hand, refer to metal ions (e.g., copper, manganese, cobalt, or zinc) that have been bound, chelated, or “linked” to a carbon containing molecule or molecules. These molecules can be amino acids, peptides (the preferred bonding groups used in Bioplex trace minerals), sugars, and even organic acids. This makes inorganic and organic minerals structurally very different. In general, organic trace minerals are more similar to the form in which animals would find trace minerals in nature; as such, livestock is better adapted to utilize minerals when they are provided in an organic form.

Most areas within the U.S. are known to have selenium deficient soils and forages. Selenium, however, cannot be chelated; therefore, it must be supplemented as selenium yeast, such as the organic version that is included in Sel-Plex. The inorganic form of selenium is not only highly toxic but is also poorly absorbed and utilized. For ruminants, organic selenium such as SelPlex offers a double advantage because, unlike selenite, organic selenium is both well absorbed and better retained by the animal. Rumen microbes rapidly reduce much of the highly oxidized selenite or selenate to unabsorbable forms. In contrast, selenoamino acids and other selenoproteins (including those found in Sel-Plex) are already highly reduced and can be readily used in a formation of microbial protein or can move post ruminally for absorption.

In beef cattle, trace mineral deficiencies are typically associated with low intakes of the trace mineral in question. They can also be the result of poor absorption, even when producers are supplementing trace minerals but

are using sources (e.g., inorganic trace minerals) that offer lower bioavailability. Mineral deficiencies are often not visible but can contribute to poor or suboptimal performance and, as a result, can affect beef producers’ profitability. A sub-optimal trace mineral status can affect an animal’s reproductive health and efficiency, metabolism, growth and development, and response to stress and disease challenges, all of which can directly impact the herd’s pregnancy rates, calving percentages, birth and weaning weights, calf mortality numbers, and gains.

Organic trace minerals are better absorbed and utilized by beef cattle and contribute to the optimal trace mineral status needed for reproductive efficiency, immunity, and growth. With this in mind, trace mineral supplementation as a nutritional strategy is an important economic decision for cow/calf, stocker, and feedlot operations. High quality organic trace minerals such as Bioplex and Sel-Plex are a cornerstone of the Crystalyx brand and are specifically designed to optimize performance and profitability throughout all phases of cattle production.

S.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of JUNE 2023

Cattle Receipts: 12,593 • Previous Month: 12,516

Feeder supply - 35% steers • 41% heifers • 23% bulls

Tauramox (moxidectin) Injectable Solution, the cattle industry’s first generic Cydectin (moxidectin) Injectable Solution, now available from Norbrook Tauramox provides economical, effective control of many internal and external parasites in cattle. Norbrook has added Tauramox Injectable Solution to its extensive portfolio of cattle health products available to North American producers and veterinarians. Tauramox is the first generic Cydectin Injectable Solution available for the treatment of a broad range of internal and external parasites that impact the health and performance of beef and nonlactating dairy cattle (under 20 months of age).

Eric Moore, DVM, director of technical services for Norbrook, says internal and external parasites can cause a range of problems for both beef and dairy cattle, potentially reducing their milk production and limiting

opportunities for weight gain. “All cattle are exposed to parasites at some point in their lifetime. Understanding which parasite lifecycle you are dealing with is critical in maximizing the effectiveness of your deworming program. Your program should include targeting a broad range of parasites. The active ingredient in Tauramox is an effective dewormer that targets both internal parasites such as gastrointestinal roundworms (including Ostertagia ), lungworms, and external parasites such as grubs, mites, and lice.”

Ready-to-use Tauramox contains 1% moxidectin and is labeled to control adult and certain larval forms of 12 types of roundworms, including the more devastating Ostertagia species; lungworms ( Dictyocaulus viviparus adults and L4); grubs (Hypoderma bovis and lineatum ); mites ( Psoroptes ovis ( Psoroptes communis var. bovis )); and

lice (Linognathus vituli and Solenopotes capillatus ). The product provides up to 42 days control of Dictyocaulus viviparus and Oesophagostomum radiatum, 35 days of control of Haemonchus placei, and 14 days control of Ostertagia ostertagi and Trichostrongylus axei

“One unique aspect of the moxidectin molecule is that it doesn’t decimate the dung beetle population in your pastures,” says Moore. “Moxidectin, the active ingredient in Tauramox, is dung beetle friendly.1 The injectable formulation of Tauramox offers the same parasite control and animal performance advantages as Cydectin Injectable, but at a lower cost.”

Tauramox has a short, 21 day preslaughter withdrawal time, and producers can expect the same weight gain advantage as with Cydectin Injectable. Tauramox is approved for use in beef cattle eight weeks of age and older and in nonlactating dairy cows eight weeks to 20 months of age. It is not approved for use in veal calves. It is available in 500 mL bottles.

For more information on Tauramox Injectable Solution from Norbrook, contact your veterinarian or animal health provider or visit www.Norbrook.com.

Reference

1Jacobs, C.T. & Scholtz, C.H., 2015,

‘A review on the effect of macrocyclic lactones on dung dwelling insects: Toxicity of macrocyclic lactones to dung beetles’, Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 82(1), Art. #858, 8 pages. http:// dx.doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v82i1.858

About Norbrook. Established in 1969 by the late Lord Ballyedmond, Norbrook is one of the largest privately owned veterinary pharmaceutical companies in the world. With more than 40 years of experience delivering trusted, quality brands for our customers, we are continuing to drive the business forward through new product development, substantial investment, and increasing revenue in all our main markets.

Norbrook has a clear vision - to be a world class global provider of veterinary pharmaceuticals enhancing the health of farm and companion animals. With an overarching emphasis on our customers, our mission supports all aspects of our commitments as a family owned global business. Central to this is our overall strategy for growth and long term shareholder value, which is underpinned by our six core values. These six valuescustomer value, one team, results driven, excellence, innovation, and quality shape our company culture and behaviors.

Beef CheCkoff News

“Meating” of the Minds: MultiDisciplinary Scientists Convene to Explore Integrated Beef Research Opportunities. As a catalyst and leader in improving beef demand through high quality research and evidence, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, hosted the Beef Science Summit on April 12-13 at its headquarters in Centennial, Colo., to unite the brightest minds to help take on the beef industry’s biggest challenges. By convening 31 scientists with various backgrounds –beef safety, product quality, sustainability, and human nutrition – from 17 universities, private research entities, and USDA-ARS, NCBA cultivated a multi-disciplinary discussion about Beef Checkoff research goals and priorities while also providing a perspective on key beef research insights. To address some of the industry’s most pertinent research needs, NCBA facilitated this one-of-a-kind event to help inspire collaboration and integration among key technical experts and to lead the beef industry in scientific discovery. Research is a foundational component of the Beef Checkoff, and the increasing need for novel research provides NCBA with the opportunity to explore new territories across disciplines and continuously drive beef demand with sound science.

As new frontiers for beef research unfold, it becomes evident that the topics of product quality, safety, human nutrition, and sustainability are independent and integrated research opportunities. The Beef Science Summit was held to explore those intersections and to encourage ideas for cross sectional, targeted research to address industry complexities challenging beef from gate to plate. NCBA research program directors had a chance to share their respective research roadmaps to help stimulate ideation for future scientific projects. Attendees expressed their visions for future multidisciplinary approaches to research in areas such as food waste and food safety advancements while balancing other factors, including public health and nutrition recommendations, the cultural relevance of beef, the value of beef for children and adolescents, rural sustainability, the role of ruminants in ecosystems, byproduct innovations, quality standards and more.

Attendees were able to interact with North Dakota beef producer, Travis Maddock, to gather deeper insights on the everyday challenges of beef production as well as the importance of market signals leading implementation of new practices or initiatives in the beef industry. Attendees also heard from Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, Dr. Jayson Lusk, who provoked deeper thinking with an overview of the industry. Dr. Phil Bass, Assistant Professor for the Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences at the University of Idaho, provided an exciting and optimistic presentation, “Staying Positive in the Beef Industry,” focusing on the unique benefits the beef industry brings to the table such as the number of jobs created, the economic contributions, the boost for the transportation industry. The Beef Science Summit attendees were exposed to a multitude of perspectives and experiences to help generate ideas for the future of beef research, collaborate on ways to tackle the “big issues,” and lead the industry through scientific innovation, growth, and exploration.

The Beef Science Summit fostered an environment for relationship building

among researchers across disciplines, which will come to fruition over time through future research, science education, and further engagement with the scientific community. This event helped stimulate action in research programs across the United States, which builds upon the scientific library of high quality evidence supporting beef’s role in society. Like much of the work from the Beef Checkoff, the entire beef industry is grounded in research and scientific evidence to build consumer trust and to optimize and promote beef. As consumers, health experts, scientists, foodservice professionals, and even news media outlets become increasingly dependent on scientific evidence to make food decisions and recommendations, immense value exists in pursuing

multidisciplinary research to support beef at every stage. Facilitating sound research has been a priority of NCBA, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, for many years. By fostering scientific collaboration and innovative thinking, this commitment to research continues to show beef’s benefit to society now and into the future.

About the Beef Checkoff. The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The Checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States may retain up to 50¢ on the dollar and forward the other 50¢ per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

Reports Detailing 2022 National Beef Quality Audit Results Now Available. Approximately every five years, the beef cattle industry undergoes a National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA), funded by the Beef Checkoff, to help determine quality conformance of the U.S. beef supply. Reports detailing 2022 NBQA results are now available at www. bqa.org. The Market Cows and Bulls and Fed Cattle reports outline where the beef supply chain is making positive changes as well as areas for improvement.

“The NBQA gives us an idea of what we need to be focusing on as an industry,” said Dr. Trey Patterson, CEO of Padlock Ranch and chair of the Beef Quality Assurance Advisory Group. “We can celebrate successes in safety, quality, and efficiency and we can challenge ourselves on what we can do better.”

Since 1991, the NBQA has provided an understanding of what quality means to the various industry sectors and the value of those quality attributes. This research helps the industry make modifications necessary to increase the value of its products.

The findings from the 2022 NBQA serve to improve quality, minimize economic loss, and aid in advancements in producer education for the U.S. beef industry. The 2022 NBQA provides valuable information about the production of live cattle into beef carcasses and serves

as a benchmark for the beef industry.

The NBQA remains an important measure for the U.S. beef industry as it strives to improve quality and consumer demand. Results from the 2022 NBQA can be utilized by all segments of beef production to improve upon current management practices and implement innovative techniques, ultimately enhancing consistency and quality of cattle and beef products across the U.S. beef supply chain.

For more information about the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit and to read the reports, visit the Beef Quality Assurance website at www.bqa. org. A special episode of Cattlemen to Cattlemen highlighting 2022 NBQA results is available at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=M8N9FvdDa4k

About the National Beef Quality Audit. The NBQA, conducted approximately every five years, provides an understanding of what quality means to the various industry sectors and the value of those quality attributes. This research helps the industry make modifications necessary to increase the value of its products. The efforts of the findings from the 2022 NBQA serve to improve quality, minimize economic loss, and aid in advancements in producer education for the U.S. beef industry. For more information about the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit, visit www.bqa.org

State BeeF CounCilS update

Roundtable Discussions Open

Supply Chain Doors. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor of the Beef Checkoff, hosts regular roundtable discussions with state beef councils (SBC) to build relationships and to drive beef demand and value effectively and efficiently throughout the supply chain. The bi-monthly meetings serve as a place for states to share successes and challenges and cross collaborate with each other, as well as learn about resources, materials, and educational opportunities.

The roundtables kicked off during the Partnerships in Action conference in October 2022, which revitalized supply chain conversations with states. Since then, meeting topics have included relationship and account development, K-12 school foodservice, and e-commerce. All state beef councils are invited to attend, and meeting topics are driven by SBC suggestions and areas of interest. The roundtable is an open conversation, often led by the states who share their experiences and best practices.

“It is exciting to see how these discussions are creating opportunities for collaboration,” said Shelley Bradway, senior director of B2B engagement at NCBA. “There are many state beef councils engaging with supply chain partners, and our goal is to serve as a partner in their local efforts.”

The first supply chain roundtable focused on account engagement and development, including finding contacts and preparing for meetings with foodservice and retail partners. As a result of the discussion, NCBA developed a best practices document to help SBCs with their supply chain activities.

The topic of K-12 school foodservice also came to life, demonstrating the

power of partnerships. Wisconsin Beef Council actively encourages schools to incorporate beef into meals and is in the process of creating a resource guide for schools. The guide is being developed by the Federation of State Beef Councils Creative Services team and will be made available to all SBCs for customization.

For e-commerce, California and Texas shared tips for successful online promotions as well as pitfalls to avoid. The candid conversation offered historical perspectives on what has worked in the past as well as ideas for future projects.

Going forward, the supply chain roundtables will continue to focus on valuable topics and highlight state best practices within retail and foodservice to optimize resources and drive beef demand.

Federation Through the Decades: 2010s. As the Federation of State Beef Councils celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, let’s step back in time and look at successful projects that have created a strong state/national partnership through the decades.

Research continued to be the foundation for Federation funded programs, and nutrition research especially helped drive the beef narrative during the decade. The Checkoff funded Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) study provided evidence that the inclusion of lean beef as part of a heart healthy diet is as effective in lowering heart disease risk as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Enthusiastic states joined national efforts to roll out the results, which suggested that lean beef improves cholesterol levels, even when eaten daily as part of a heart healthy lifestyle.

Digital advertising came of age in the 2010s with consumers “liking,” “tweeting,” and “pinning” beef. To reach consumers where they were finding information and making buying decisions, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. advertising transitioned to promoting beef through social media platforms, as well as through online audio and video advertisements. Another shift was the consolidation of several beef related websites into the convenient www. BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com website to better connect consumers with producers.

The Beef Store opened for business in 2010, giving state beef councils, retailers, foodservice professionals, teachers, and health educators the

opportunity to order Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. materials day or night. In 2013, Beef Checkoff funded recipe development and product enhancement got a boost when the Culinary Innovation Center received an expansion, providing an updated facility where a team of culinary professionals created recipes highlighting the best ways to utilize beef.

A new “Nicely done, beef.” slogan differentiated beef from other protein options by highlighting beef’s taste and nutrition. Creative campaign assets were used extensively by state beef councils, going as far as to promote a cowboy ninja. In 2018, Idaho cattle producer and American Ninja Warrior Lance Pekus became a brand ambassador for beef, sharing how beef’s nutrients played a role in his strength training. Pekus was a natural draw for state beef councils as well,

and their local extension resulted in more consumers reached through social media.

The decade ended with the introduction of Chuck Knows Beef, powered by Google Artificial Intelligence. Chuck Knows Beef guided consumers to all things beef – recipes, cooking tips, cut information, production background – helping source its customized responses from content found on www. BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com . With a simple voice command to Google and Alexa devices, consumers could access everything they wanted to know about selecting and preparing beef.

For more information about the Federation of State Beef Councils, visit www.ncba.org/federation . Next month, we catch up with current events as the Federation’s journey through the decades wraps up.

N.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of JUNE 2023

Cattle Receipts: 23,443 • Previous Month: 19,384

Feeder supply - 27% steers • 42% heifers • 30% bulls

NCBA News

NCBA Files Legal Motion to Strike Down

Biden WOTUS Rule. Recently, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and litigation partners filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas asking the court to strike down the Biden administration’s Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett v. EPA.

“In Sackett v. EPA, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the EPA had overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act,” said NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart. “A full rewrite of the Biden Administration’s WOTUS definition is the only path to comply with the Sackett decision. NCBA is seeking summary judgement in our lawsuit against the Biden WOTUS rule

and urging the Southern District of Texas to strike the rule from the books.”

The Sackett case was not directly about agriculture, but the plaintiffs in the case were harmed by the EPA’s overregulation of WOTUS. NCBA filed an amicus brief before the Supreme Court, siding with the Sackett family in their lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers. Ultimately, points raised in NCBA’s brief were incorporated in the justice’s final opinion, demonstrating the importance of NCBA joining the fight on this issue.

Separate from the Sackett case, NCBA and a coalition of litigation partners also filed their own lawsuit against the Biden administration’s WOTUS rule to block it from taking

Cutting Through the Carbon Clutter

Cattle producers know the importance of managing land and water resources and how their practices affect efficiency, the environment, and their bottom line. Carbon markets may offer an opportunity to capture additional income through climate smart practices. A recent Cattlemen’s Webinar Series event cut through the carbon clutter to provide insights on how to enter the wild, wild west of carbon markets.

Nicole Buckley Biggs, Ph.D., director of sustainability for AgriWebb, says that practices such as genetics and breeding, animal health, optimized feed, feed additives, grazing management, tree planting, and compost application, among others, can help sequester and drawdown carbon, opening the door to be paid for adopting these climate smart practices. According to Biggs, there are four approaches to sustainability revenue, including government programs such as subsidies and technical assistance; credit markets for biodiversity and carbon credits; price premiums for certifications and carbon insetting; and financial lender support through project loans and improved financing.

USDA’s new Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities grant is a recent example of government programs. According to its website, USDA is investing $3.1 billion in 141 projects that will “provide technical and financial assistance to producers

to implement climate smart production practices on a voluntary basis on working lands; pilot innovative and cost effective methods for quantification, monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas benefits; and develop markets and promote the resulting climate smart commodities.”

Kevin Kester, past NCBA president and California rancher, would like to see more grant dollars dedicated to rangeland research to determine profitable propositions for the climate, society, and ranchers. Pilot projects could help clarify carbon questions and lead to a better understanding of how production practices affect soil carbon. If a rancher changes practices, what impact do they have, and how can potential changes in soil carbon be predicted? Additional research would also give third parties the information needed to conduct audits and validate claims.

Biggs points out that producers have choices when it comes to selecting carbon projects; however, there are differences to be aware of, as well as restrictions. For example, producers can either sell offsets or low carbon beef, but not both.

“The reason for this is that when you sell a carbon offset, you are selling the right to claim that carbon benefit to another entity,” said Biggs. “The other party receives the credit, and it can no longer be attached to the producer’s land or livestock.”

Carbon offsets technically permit businesses to pollute. Cattle producers implement climate smart practices on their operation, then companies buy and use the credit. Many carbon offsets are sold to companies outside the cattle industry.

One option to keep carbon credits

flowing through the beef supply chain is carbon insetting. Through insetting, companies invest in their own source farms to reduce their carbon footprint instead of buying offsets from a different industry. According to Biggs, while insetting can build public trust, the premium price to be paid is yet to be determined.

A barrier for producers is that many markets only incentivize new practices, but Kester wants to ensure that producers are rewarded for positive practices already in place.

“If somebody has been doing good for the environment by sequestering carbon, they should get credit for that whenever they enter a contract,” said Kester. “From a policy standpoint, I’m going to try to change that mindset as we go forward because if you want to get ranchers engaged, they should get credit for the good they are doing for the environment and society.”

Most cattle producers are waiting for more information before making decisions about carbon markets; however, participating in any carbon project requires data collection and recordkeeping to monitor improvements. Basic records such as livestock numbers, sales and purchases of animals, feed and forage amounts, grazing movements, and feed additives are generally required to participate in carbon projects.

“Even if you decide to wait, it’s not too early to collect data and be ready for a market when it is right for you,” said Chad Ellis, CEO of Texas Ag Land and Trust.

When entering into a carbon market agreement, Ellis suggests, as with any

effect. NCBA secured injunctions in 27 states to temporarily halt the rule. Now, NCBA is filing a motion for summary judgement to ask the court to rule on vacating the full Biden administration WOTUS rule based on the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Sackett case.

“NCBA has been fighting against overreaching WOTUS rules for years, and this is just the latest example of how NCBA fights on every front from Congress to the courtroom,” said Hart. “We are proud to be the voice of America’s cattle producers in Washington.”

Cattle Producers Praise Congressional Resolution Supporting Beef Checkoff. Recently, cattle industry leaders praised the introduction of a bipartisan congressional resolution recognizing the importance of commodity checkoff

contract, having an attorney review it and understand what is required. He also says it is important to make sure the producer maintains ownership of the data collected.

“It is good practice to keep records and track information,” says Ellis. “I really believe there’s value in that data, especially on grazing lands, and that you can get paid for that data in the future.”

Webinar presenters agree that producers need to take the time to do the research before entering carbon market agreements, and decisions on which carbon projects to undertake need to be based on what makes the most sense for the operation and family members.

“Patience and playing the waiting game are good things and it doesn’t mean that you’re behind,” said Biggs. “It means you are evaluating risk and looking at the long term view to determine what makes sense for you and your family.”

Biggs encourages producers to select projects that improve productivity, efficiency, and resilience to climate events.

“Don’t join a carbon market just for the money,” she says. “The project should fit your goals and improve the long term outlook for the next generation taking over your operation.”

Ultimately, everyone should benefit from carbon markets because “Conservation without compensation is only a conversation,” concluded Ellis.

For more information about carbon markets and to watch the webinar, visit www.ncba.org/producers

programs, including the Beef Checkoff.

“As a cattle producer who invests in the Beef Checkoff, I know how important this program is to the continued success of America’s cattlemen and cattlewomen. The Beef Checkoff was created by cattle producers, is run by cattle producers, and provides immense benefit to cattle producers,” said National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “I am proud of Representative Barry Moore (R-Ala.) for leading this resolution and standing with cattle producers to recognize the importance of checkoff programs. I hope more members of Congress listen to farmers and ranchers and reject animal rights

activist led proposals like the OFF Act that undermine producer control of checkoffs.”

Every time cattle are sold in the U.S., $1 from the sale goes to support the Beef Checkoff. These investments are collected by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), a producer led organization overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Each year, industry organizations, research institutions, and land grant universities develop proposals focused on strengthening beef demand through research, consumer education, marketing, and promotion efforts. The cattlemen and cattlewomen who volunteer their time to serve on the Beef Board, as appointed by the Secretary of

NEWS

Beef Producers, Consumers Share Some Common Ground on Sustainability Perceptions. The “great divide” between beef producers and the consumers who enjoy their product may not be so great, after all.

Elanco Animal Health recently conducted comprehensive surveys among producers and consumers, revealing that both audiences:

• Indicate environmental sustainability is important to them

• Are willing to make decisions and take steps to improve environmental sustainability

• Support the role of safe innovation in improving the sustainability of beef

In addition to these shared values, the surveys further show that consumers have a high degree of trust in those who produce their beef. In fact, 78 percent indicate they trust cattle ranchers to ensure food safety. Feedyard managers also have above average trust at 69 percent, compared to lower ranking entities like social media influencers at 37 percent.

The findings were gathered from national quantitative surveys of 1,200 meat eating consumers and 46 feedlot owners/managers from major cattle producing states. Among the feedlot operators surveyed, more than half feed 20,000 head of cattle or more annually. Additional qualitative interviews and online focus groups were conducted to supplement the quantitative findings.

“Our research points to a universal truth that when it comes to environmental sustainability, it boils down to continual improvement,” said Katie Cook, Vice President of Farm Animal Innovation and Marketing at Elanco. “For producers, the goal is to remain financially viable while leaving their operations, the land, and their animals in a better place for the next generation. Meanwhile, consumers also want the environment to be left in better shape and are willing to do their part –even if it’s in small ways.”

To kick off the research, consumers were grounded in the following description of sustainability: Sustainability means meeting the needs of the present without sacrificing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. There are environmental, social, and economic aspects to this definition. The language was well received among consumers, with nearly two in three of those surveyed (65 percent) finding the definition somewhat or very appealing.

Meanwhile, 80 percent of surveyed producers agree on the importance of their operations being sustainable. Notably, most producers view the sustainability definition through the lens of economic viability.

When it comes to taking action to support environmental sustainability, more than three in four beef consumers (78 percent) agree that they would be

Agriculture, determine which proposals to fund. The organizations that receive funding become contractors to the Beef Checkoff and undergo regular audits to ensure the judicious use of producer dollars and compliance with the program.

“The Beef Checkoff might be most well known for the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. campaign, but the Checkoff’s benefits go far beyond advertising. Checkoff funded programs have led to the development of new cuts of beef and strengthened consumer trust in the cattle industry’s animal welfare and sustainability,” said NCBA Policy Division Chairman Gene Copenhaver, a Virginia cattle producer. “The Checkoff has made sure that beef is at the center of Americans’

dinner plates for generations while providing a strong return on investment to cattle producers. I am proud to pay into the Checkoff and know that this collective effort does way more for my operation and this industry than I could do own my own.”

About the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. NCBA has represented America’s cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy. As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.

willing to make small changes to help future generations. Meanwhile, seven in ten consumers agree that improving the impact of beef on the planet is a shared responsibility for both consumers and producers.

The younger Gen Z audience, defined as those 18-24 years of age, is significantly more likely than other generations to agree that they would be willing to make small changes if they knew it would help future generations. Producers are also willing to make changes while balancing economic considerations. Specifically, 74 percent of producers surveyed said they need to better understand the financial benefits of implementing sustainability practices before adopting them or improving upon them. Similarly, 65 percent indicate they need research to help identify financially viable solutions that reduce the environmental footprint before adopting them.

The survey further found that price, quality, and freshness are the most important factors for consumers when purchasing beef. Many consumers agree that if these factors are equal, they are likely to purchase beef raised with a product that helps to reduce cattle’s impact on the environment. To that end, consumers were shown “Product H*,” which was positioned as a feed ingredient that reduces ammonia gas emissions in beef cattle. Based on that description alone, eight in ten consumers indicate they were neutral to somewhat likely to buy beef from cattle given this product. Additional information the consumer would want to know about the product included knowing that the feed ingredient was safe for the animal and effective in delivering positive environmental benefits; and beef from the animal fed this product was safe, had no long term health effects, and was priced at a

comparable price point.

About two in five feedlots express strong interest in incorporating innovations that would help to reduce their feedlot’s environmental impact, with a statistically significant increase in interest among feedlots feeding a majority of company owned cattle. In particular, feedlot operators indicate that they would be most interested in an innovation that does not negatively impact cattle performance while contributing to environmental sustainability.

“Our research indicates that both producers and consumers are willing to accept innovations that can help improve sustainability,” said Cook. “As a leader in animal health, our goal is to continue to walk alongside our customers and the beef industry to add value and offer innovative products and solutions to help build the next era of livestock sustainability.”

For additional research findings, please visit www.experiorbeef.com to download the Leave it Better Beef Sustainability Perspectives report.

About Elanco. Elanco Animal Health is a global leader in animal health dedicated to innovating and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets, creating value for farmers, pet owners, veterinarians, stakeholders, and society as a whole. With nearly 70 years of animal health heritage, we are committed to helping our customers improve the health of animals in their care while also making a meaningful impact on our local and global communities. At Elanco, we’re driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our approach to sustainability, Elanco Healthy Purpose – all to advance the health of animals, people, the planet, and our enterprise. Learn more at www.elanco.com

NDEX OF DVERTISERS

ANGUS

Aug. 5 — Edisto Pines Female Production Sale, Leesville, S.C.

Sep. 30 — Biltmore Angus Field Day & Fall Sale, Asheville, N.C.

Oct. 14 — Fred Smith Company Ranch

Extra Effort Fall Sale, Clayton, N.C.

Oct. 27 — Yon Family Farms Maternal

Roots Fall Female Sale, Ridge Spring, S.C.

Oct. 28 — Yon Family Farms Maternal

Roots Fall Bull Sale, Ridge Spring, S.C.

Nov. 3-6 — 2023 Angus Convention, Orlando, Fla.

Nov. 4 — Barnett Angus Ranches

4th Annual Bull Sale, Washington, Ga.

Nov. 4 — Châtel Farms 2023 Fall Bull Sale, Reidsville, Ga.

Nov. 4 — Locust Level Farms Sale, Vernon Hill, Va.

Nov. 4 — SimAngus Solution

15th Annual Sale, Burlington, N.C.

Nov. 10 — Lane Angus Sale, Rocky Mount, N.C.

Nov. 18 — Southeast Bull Expo & Sale, Asheboro, N.C.

Dec. 1 — Knoll Crest Farm Total

Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.

Dec. 2 — 48th Annual Union County

Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.

Dec. 12 — Brushy Mountain Genetics

Bull & Female Sale, Taylorsville, N.C.

2024

Jan. 6 — 15th Annual EBS Select

Bull & Female Sale, Monroe, N.C.

Feb. 17 — Yon Family Farms Spring Bull & Female Sale, Ridge Spring, S.C.

VENTS

Livestock market sales

Aug. 1 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales

Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Aug. 2 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

BRAHMAN

Oct. 14 — Circle F Farms Fall Sale, Baxley, Ga.

Charolais

Oct. 12 — JMar Genetics Quality Over Quantity Charolais Bull & Heifer Sale, via DVAuctions

GELBVIEH

Dec. 1 — Knoll Crest Farm Total

Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.

Dec. 2 — 48th Annual Union County

Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.

HEREFORD

Nov. 18 — Southern Partners in Performance, Union Grove, N.C.

Dec. 1 — Knoll Crest Farm Total

Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.

SIMMENTAL

Aug. 25-29 — American Simmental

Association Fall Focus 2023, Denver, Colo.

Sep. 1 — N.C. Simmental Association

Social Event, Union Grove, N.C.

Sep. 2 — N.C. Simmental Association

Fall Harvest Sale, Union Grove, N.C.

Oct. 14 — Fred Smith Company Ranch

Extra Effort Fall Sale, Clayton, N.C.

Dec. 2 — 48th Annual Union County

Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.

WAGYU

Sep. 21-29 — American Wagyu Association & World Wagyu Council Conference, San Antonio, Tex.

Nov. 4 — Wilders Wagyu Stay Wild ‘23

Production Sale, Turkey, N.C.

OTHER EVENTS

Aug. 3 — Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Aug. 5-6 — S.C. Junior Beef Round-Up, Clemson, S.C.

Aug. 12-13 — N.C. Junior Beef Round-Up, Fletcher, N.C.

Aug. 29 — S.C. Cattlemen’s Association

Regional Meeting, Chester County

Aug. 30 — S.C. Cattlemen’s Association

Regional Meeting, Saluda County

Aug. 31 — S.C. Cattlemen’s Association

Regional Meeting, Anderson County

Sep.13 — Windy Hill Farms/In-Vitro

Fertilization Collection Events, Ramseur, N.C.

Sep. 28 — Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Nov. 16 — Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Aug. 2 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Aug. 7 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Aug. 9 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Aug. 9 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Aug. 14 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Aug. 15 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales

Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Aug. 16 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Aug. 16 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Aug. 21 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Aug. 23 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Aug. 23 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Aug. 28 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Aug. 30 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

HEThree friends die in a car accident and they go to an orientation in Heaven. They are all asked, “When you are in your casket and friends and family are talking about you, what would you like them to say?”

The first guy says,”I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time, and a great family man.”

The second guy says, “I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher which made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow.”

The last guy replies, “I would like to hear them say ... Look, He’s Moving!

Aug. 30 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Sep. 4 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Sep. 5 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales

Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Sep. 6 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Sep. 6 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Sep. 11 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Sep. 13 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Sep. 13 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Sep. 18 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Sep. 19 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales

Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Sep. 20 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Sep. 20 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Sep. 25 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Sep. 27 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Sep. 27 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

A prince had a curse put on him when he was a little boy. He could only speak two words every year. But, if he didn’t speak for a whole year, he would then be able to speak four words the next year and so on.

One day he met a princess named Josie and he wanted to say, “My Princess.”

The next year he saw her he wanted to

say, “My princess, I love you.”

The third year he saw her he wanted to say “My princess, I love you. Will you marry me?” But, the young prince, now growing older knew he would have to wait a couple more years.

So, on the fifth year, excited to finally present his question, he visited the princess.

He approached her respectfully and asked, “JOSIE, MY PRINCESS, I LOVE YOU. WILL YOU MARRY ME?”

And the princess said, “Pardon?”

A warthog hits this lady and the husband calls 911.

The operator asks, “Where are you at”?

The husband replies, “I’m on Eucolipstic Road.”

The operator asks, “Can you spell that for me?”

“Well... I’ll just drag her over to Oak so you can you pick her up there?”

Don’t put your cart before your horse...advertise that sale ahead of time! You’ll see positive results.