2024 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts ................................................................................................... page 68
2024-2025 Clemson Bull Test Update .................................................................................................................... page 64
A Message from the CEO — Put the Shotgun Down, by Colin Woodall ........................................................... page 58
Amazing Grazing — Stockpiled Tall Fescue and Whole Cottonseed Go Together Well, by Dr. Matt Poore ................................................................................................................................................... page 14
American and British Beef Cookoff Advances International Trade Opportunities ..................................... page 63
American Angus Association News ....................................................................................................................... page 30
American Hereford Association News .................................................................................................................. page 35
Cattle & Carbon — Soil Organic Carbon on North Carolina Farms, by Alan Franzluebbers .......................... page 18
CattleCon 2025 — San Antonio Updates! ............................................................................................................ page 66
Clemson Corner — Why Dairy Producers are Utilizing Beef on Dairy, by Tina Horn .................................. page 58
Director’s Report — At Year’s End, by Milo Lewis ................................................................................................ page 3
E.B.’s View from the Cow Pasture — Not Enough Cribs in the County to Hold All the Korn, by E.B. Harris ........................................................................................................................................................... page 17
Federation of State Beef Councils Update ........................................................................................................... page 79
Food Animal Scholars Find Their Way, by Amy Burch ......................................................................................... page 56
Forage News — Forage Management Education Coming in December and January, by Matt Poore ........ page 15
Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef News .................................................................................................... page 47
Have You Herd — Trace Your Cattle Operation’s Productivity with Trace Minerals, by Kayla Norris ..... page 20
Holiday Roast Swap ..................... page 75
International Dairy Federation News ................................................................................................................... page72
Is Anyone Keeping Heifers?, by James Mitchell ..................................................................................................... page 37
N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame Inductees, by Ellerslie McCue ............................................ page 46
National Breeding Herd Expansion Situation and Resources of Note, by Glynn Tonsor .............................. page 43
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association News ..................................................................................................... page 64
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President’s Report
— How the Death Tax Almost Killed My Ranch, by Mark Eisele ................................................................... page 63
National Milk Producers Federation News .......................................................................................................... page 69
New NCCA Members for 2024 ................................................................................................................................ page 54
North Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ............................................................................................ page 17
Pasture Management Systems, Inc. “Mile of Fence” Program Update ........................................................... page 51 Perry Lee Teeter Passes ............................................................................................................................................ page 35
Pneu-Dart News .......................... page 54
Precision Livestock Technology Elevates CALS Research, by Chad Saleska ................................................... page 44
Premier Select Sires News ....................................................................................................................................... page 33
Ridley Block News — Cash Cows - Body Condition Crucial in Supporting Productivity and Longevity, by Jon Albo .............................................................................................................................................................. page 92
S.C Charolais News, by Georgeanne Webb ............................................................................................................. page 45
Senator James D. Speed Achievement Scholarship ............................................................................................ page 21
South Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ............................................................................................ page 20
The CEO’s Corner — Dairy Has Perservered Through a Successful Year, by Gregg Doud .......................... page 68
The Chaplain’s Corral — A Thanksgiving Month Before Christmas Day, by Dave Harvey ............................ page 16
The Simmental Trail, by Jennie Rucker .................................................................................................................... page 38
Three Inducted Into N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame, by Jamey Cross .................................................. page 47
TJB Gelbvieh Maternal Magic Bull Sale Report .................................................................................................... page 43
Trending in Food & Media .......... page 78
What to Know About USDA’s Updated Traceability Rule? ........................................................................... page 48
Yon Fall Maternal Roots Sale Results ..................................................................................................................... page 26
You Decide, by Dr. Mike Walden .............................................................................................................................. page 22
Zoetis Quick Tips — Understanding the FDA Guidelines for the Dry Lot Production Phase, by Bryan Bernhardt, Ph.D. .................................................................................................................................... page 66
N.C. Cattlemen’s Association
President RYAN CLARK
5250 NC 772 Hwy. • Madison, NC 27025
Vice Presidents BRANDON BOWMAN
2346 Ann Street • Claremont, NC 28610
JIM LEDFORD
260 Mulberry Lane • Otto, NC 28763
JOEY CARTER
250 Penny Road • Beulaville, NC 28763
Immediate Past President SCOTT WEST
489 Panacea Springs Road • Littleton, NC 27850
NCBA Policy Division Director - JOHN LANGDON N.C. Beef Council Director BROOKE HARWARD
Beef Board Director - BRIAN WARREN
Secretary/Treasurer - EVERETT JOHNSON
Directors At Large
MATT POORE • NEIL BOWMAN • TODD SEE
Executive Director - MILO LEWIS
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 - Joe Oswald IV
1st Vice President - Gene Crim 2nd Vice President - Ashley Mills
Haskel Sexton, Sparanburg • Gene Crim, St. Matthews
Al McClain, Anderson • Eric Seymour, Columbia Timmy Benton, Walterboro
S.C. Beef Council
Executive Director - ERIN DOLL
P.O. Box 11280 • Columbia, SC 29211
Phone: 803-734-9806
Email: edoll@scda.sc.gov
Website: www.sccattle.org
The Carolina Cattle Connection
Vol. 38, No. 12 DECEMBER 2024
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. MILO LEWIS
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
RED ANGUS
History of Red Angus Cattle … page 4 Net Return is Focus of Red Angus Program, by Jerry Simpson … page 10 Not Just Another Pretty Red Head, by Tracey Koester … page 6
Reproductive Success Starts with the Bull, by Lisa Bryant … page 8 Understanding Heterosis Helps Producers Develop Crossbreeding Plan, by Ryan Boldt … page 11
Director’s report
By MILO LEWIS Executive Director, NCCA
At Year’s End
Before joining the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association, I had the privilege of working for the N.C. Farm Bureau Federation. During my early years on staff, President Larry Wooten frequently reminded us that, “We are in the people business.” At the time, I took his words at face value, but over the last few months, I’ve come to realize just how deep and true that statement is.
The phrase “people helping people” couldn’t have been more apparent than in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which impacted North Carolina and surrounding states. Donations poured in, supplies arrived from as far as California, and convoys of more than 49 trucks and trailers delivered critical resources to affected areas. But more than anything, people showed up. Neighbors, farmers, and industry professionals from near and far came together, putting their own lives and businesses on hold to help. It’s been overwhelming to see the generosity of so many, with goods, services, time, and prayers continuing to show up months later.
To everyone who donated, volunteered, or prayed, your acts of
kindness have truly brought hope to many and have helped set the foundation for recovery. The devastation caused by the hurricane will be felt for years to come, but with each person who lent a hand, rebuilding is becoming a reality. This experience has reinforced something we all know to be true: our industry is so much more than just the cattle we raise. It’s the people who make our businesses strong and resilient.
As we wrap up a challenging year, we’re looking ahead with hope. The year 2025 holds much promise, and we’re excited to announce that we’re already in full swing planning the 73rd Annual N.C. Cattle Conference, set for February 21-22, 2025, at the Hickory Convention Center, presented by Piedmont Custom Meats.
This year’s conference theme will be “Stewards of the Land.” We’re excited to kick things off with Kim Brickhouse from Colorado State University, who will introduce us to AgNext, a groundbreaking research initiative focused on sustainability in animal agriculture. AgNext brings together industry leaders, researchers, and producers to develop scalable, innovative solutions for a more
sustainable future in livestock production.
We’re also thrilled to welcome CattleFax as the keynote speaker during our Friday lunch program. With decades of experience, CattleFax provides invaluable market analysis, helping cattlemen and women understand market trends, make data driven decisions, and improve profitability and sustainability in their operations.
Throughout the weekend, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from experts in various areas, including reproduction, bull selection, animal health, risk management programs, and policy issues critical to protecting our right to farm. Our Friday afternoon sessions will also include committee meetings and NCCA’s annual business meeting.
Be sure to visit the trade show, where our sponsors will be showcasing the latest products, services, technologies, genetics, and marketing opportunities. Friday evening will feature the popular brisket
social in the trade show, followed by the always entertaining NCBA PAC Auction. On Saturday morning, we’ll celebrate our youth with an awards breakfast and host a homemade cake auction to support youth programs.
We’re also pleased to announce the N.C. Forage and Grassland Council Winter Conference on February 20, just before the Cattle Conference kicks off. This is a great opportunity to network and learn from experts in the forage and grasslands community.
You can find more information about registering for both the 73rd Annual N.C. Cattle Conference and the N.C. Forage and Grassland Council Winter Conference in this publication or on our website at www.nccattle.com
From all of us at the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association, we wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. We look forward to seeing you in 2025!
2025 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 2025. 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.
2025 Reserved Spotlight Issues
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History of Red Angus Cattle
Seven innovative breeders chose to use Red Angus in 1954 to establish the industry’s first performance registry. Throughout its history, the Red Angus Association of America has gone on to make all the tough choices and all the right choices. In recent years, the Red Angus breed has attained a high level of popularity from commercial cattlemen, and for all the right reasons.
The Origin of “Angus” - Like most modern American beef breeds, the Red Angus breed had its beginning in Europe. In the 8 th century, according to some authorities, hardy Norsemen raiding the coasts of England and Scotland brought with them small, dun colored hornless cattle which interbred with black native Celtic cattle of inland Scotland, which had upright horns. A naturally polled black breed was produced, which roughly corresponded to the black Aberdeen Angus of today, although it was a considerably smaller bodied animal. The polled characteristic was very slow to spread inland and, for almost a thousand years, was confined principally to the coastal areas of England and Scotland.
Eric L.C. Pentecost, the noted English breeder of Red Angus cattle, offers a specific and logical explanation for the introduction of the red coloration into the Aberdeen Angus breed. In the 18 th century, the black Scottish cattle were too light to provide sufficiently large draught oxen, so larger English longhorns, predominantly red in color, were brought in and crossed with the black native polled breed. The resultant offspring were all black polled animals since black is a dominant color, and red is a recessive one. However, all carried the red gene. Subsequent interbreeding produced an average of one red calf in
Spotlight on RED AngUS
four, in accordance with Mendel’s law of heredity.
Angus - Red or Black - Early in the development of the Aberdeen Angus, Hugh Watson of Keillor, Scotland, arbitrarily decided that black was the proper color for the breed and thereby started a fashion. He might well have chosen red instead. Leon J. Cole and Sara V. H. Jones of the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station published a pamphlet in 1920 on “The Occurrence of Red Calves in Black Breeds of Cattle,” which contained this pertinent paragraph:
“One more point should be emphasized, namely that the red individuals appearing in such stock (Aberdeen Angus)...are just as truly ‘purebred’ as their black relatives, and there is no reason why, in all respects save color, they should not be fully as valuable. The fact that they are discarded while the blacks are retained is simply due to the turn of fortune that black rather than red became established fashion for the Aberdeen Angus breed. Had red been the chosen color, there would never have been any trouble with the appearance of blacks as off-color individuals since redto-red breeds true.”
The preceding paragraph, written more than three decades prior to the establishment of the Red Angus Association of America, shows a true appreciation of the basic strengths of the reds. This is emphasized by the current revival and popularity of the red strain of Aberdeen Angus throughout the world.
Early Angus Herdbooks - The first Aberdeen Angus herdbook, published in 1862 in Scotland, entered both reds and blacks without distinction. This practice is continued in Britain today, as
is the case throughout most of the world. Aberdeen Angus was introduced into America in the 1870s and soon attained high popularity. The first American herd books, published in 1886 and 1888, respectively, made no record as to the color of individual animals. In 1890, 22 reds were registered in the American Aberdeen Angus Herdbook of some 2,700 individuals entered that year. Finally, the reds and other colors were barred from registration altogether after 1917. This severe discrimination against the red color in an effort to ensure a pure black strain brought a marked decline in the number of red calves born in American herds.
Rebirth of “Red” Angus - Various cattlemen throughout the United States understood the outstanding values of the reds. In 1945, the first of these cattlemen started selecting and breeding reds cropped from the best black Aberdeen Angus herds in America. By 1954, a sufficient number of herds had been established to form a breeder’s organization known as the “Red Angus Association of America.”
With a temporary headquarters in Sheridan, Wyo., seven innovative cattle breeders created the Red Angus Association as the first performance breed registry in the United States. In August of 1954, the Association’s first president, Waldo Forbes, Sr., summed up this vision of the founding members:
“The policy of the (Red Angus) Association is to discourage the more artificial practices in purebred cattle production... and to place its faith instead in objective tests, consisting for the most part of comparisons within herds of factors of known economic importance
and known heritability...By making this an integral part of the registration system, Red Angus breeders feel that even faster progress can be made toward the ultimate goal of more efficient beef production.”
From the beginning, performance data was required for registration for all cattle. The ultimate goal was to initiate a system to objectively evaluate and select cattle based on traits of economic importance.
The Red Angus Association of America - The RAAA has long been noted for its farsighted vision of beef production. Over a variety of fronts, Red Angus has either led the industry or been an early adopter of new technologies. This maverick attitude allowed the RAAA to adopt philosophies and technologies deemed too risky or unconventional by other associations. Here is a sample of some visionary policies enacted by the RAAA:
A Leader in the Performance Movement - In 1954, when the Association took this bold move to build a “performance registry,” the scientific community had not even settled on using 205 days to serve as the age at which weaning weights would be adjusted to. Although collecting and turning in weaning weights has become second nature for Red Angus breeders, very few associations require performance data as criteria for registration, even today when the value and necessity of the performance data have been so clearly demonstrated.
A Leader in Open A.I. - Artificial Insemination has proven to be one of the most powerful tools in the beef industry’s genetic progress. However, as this technology became available, most breed associations enforced strict regulations, making the technology impractical for many breeders until the 1970s. However,
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the RAAA in 1954 set its own course in which A.I. was open and unrestricted within the Red Angus breed.
A Leader in Performance Data in the Showring - In the decade of the ‘90s, several breeds started the use of objective data in the showring as an additional tool for the judge, besides the traditional visual appraisal of animals. Red Angus was the first to incorporate performance data in the show ring, holding the first “performance” show in 1956. Although Red Angus is not known as a “show” breed, the Association does sponsor a National Show each year. How is it run? You guessed it, the same as in 1956, with the judge being provided all pertinent objective information such as EPDs.
A Leader in the Promotion of Crossbreeding - As early as 1961, the RAAA developed a pamphlet promoting crossbreeding. This was approximately ten years prior to the industry even starting to accept crossbreeding as a tool for commercial cow/calf production. In 1970, Red Angus continued its industry leadership by starting and promoting an F-1 program. 1999 marked another first as the RAAA successfully spearheaded a joint breed promotion extolling the advantages of heterosis.
A Leader in Offering an Open Registry - In 1980, the RAAA broke ranks from the other British breeds by instituting a category registration system. This far sighted program still kept the 100 percent Category 1-A cattle separated, but it additionally allowed breeders to develop purebred Category 1-B cattle through a process of breeding up. Furthermore, by instituting a Category II and III, the Association is able to maintain a performance registry for foundation animals and composites.
A Leader in Focusing on Commercial Customers - Red Angus has always prided itself as the first breed
Spotlight on RED AngUS
that focused its primary attention on customers — the commercial cow/calf producers of the United States. In keeping with this focus, the American Red Angus Magazine is sent to all Red Angus bull customers. The Association also started a Commercial Marketing Program in 1994. Believed to be the second such program in the industry, it offers a wide range of services designed to enhance the profitability of producers utilizing Red Angus genetics in their commercial operations.
A Leader in Total Herd Reporting
- In the tradition of being the true “performance breed,” the Association again broke ranks with the other breed associations when they implemented an inventory based fee structure and reporting system in 1995. Total Herd Reporting (THR) requires the production of every registered Red Angus female to be accounted for every year, as well as the performance of every Red Angus calf raised through weaning. If a cow and her calf are not accounted for in a given year, the cow is removed from the registry.
A Leader in Evaluating FertilityThe RAAA has led the industry with its commitment to objectively describing traits related to reproduction and sustained fertility. The first of this new class of EPDs was Red Angus’ Stayability estimate. This EPD ranks animals with regard to the probability their daughters will continue producing in the herd past six years of age. The development of a new Heifer Pregnancy EPD expands Red Angus’ commitment to this vital area.
A Leader in Genotypic Certification
- In 1995, Red Angus unveiled the industry’s first genotypic and source identified program, the Feeder Calf Certification Program (FCCP). The innovative FCCP has the honor of being
the first program of its kind to be USDA Process Verified, certifying a calf’s link to the “Angus” gene pool.
A Leader in Value Based Marketing
- Red Angus has been at the forefront of the industry’s efforts to move toward a system of value based marketing. The Association is believed to be the first breed association to offer its members and commercial customers a valuebased pricing grid with a major packing company.
Leadership Has Made A Difference
- Red Angus are Angus, yet the Red Angus breeders’ history of leadership and innovation has made a profound difference in the red strain. They have avoided the short term fads that have negatively affected so many other breeds. Coupled with the long term commercial focus of the membership, the Red Angus gene pool also offers many advantages. Red Angus provides a consistent source of traditional Angus traits, including carcass quality, maternal characteristics, calving ease, and moderate size. In addition, Red Angus offer uniformity, good disposition, and an outstanding appetite.
Today, Red Angus are seeing unparalleled popularity both in the U.S. and internationally. In fact, the growing
notoriety of the breed is bringing worldwide demand for breeding stock from South Africa, Australia, and South America, where the majority of the cattle are red in color. This has led Red Angus to become the leading U.S. beef breed in semen exports. In the U.S., the number of Red Angus has tripled from the mid1980s through the mid-1990s. In Canada, where red and black Angus cattle are registered together (which is the case in most countries), the number of red cattle registered is approximately the same as the black strain.
The Future - Due to the numerous natural advantages with which the Red Angus breed is endowed, and based on the heritage and continued philosophy of the Red Angus Association of America, it appears that a great breed is coming into its own. The future of the breed as the common denominator in progressive cattle producers’ crossbreeding systems is unlimited. As Joseph Givhan, founding RAAA member, shared in his early publication on the breed’s history...
“Here is a noble breed that will never die, destined to increase and flourish. It shall cover the grazing lands of the earth and forever enrich the husbandry of mankind.”
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!
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Not Just Another Pretty Red Head
By TRACEY KOESTER Red Angus Association of America
Ask any Red Angus breeder or stakeholder why he or she loves the breed, and their first response will likely be, “The cows!” We all love the cows. Both commercial and seedstock breeders brag about their cowherds. It’s their pride and joy.
If you press further, their “why” ranges from:
“She just does her job.”
“She has an incredible disposition.”
“She is what a cow should be.”
Excellence By Design - This love for the Red Angus brood cow isn’t by chance, nor is it limited to her incredible maternal traits. The Red Angus female is the backbone for performance, feed efficiency and carcass traits, too.
She is hands down the foundation of the herd, the breed, and, ultimately, the cattle industry. While sires get the fame and notoriety, the Red Angus cow still carries half the genetic equation, influences multiple generations, and truly makes or breaks the management and efficiency at the grass-roots ranch level.
From the beginning of the breed’s organization in 1954, the founders had a vision.
Waldo Forbes, founding member, and the first president, said, “In general then, the policy of the [Red Angus] Association is to discourage the more artificial
Spotlight on RED AngUS
practices in purebred cattle production, and to place its faith instead in objective test, consisting for the most part of comparisons within herds of factors of known economic importance and known heritability. By making it an integral part of the registration system, the Red Angus breeders feel that even faster progress can be made toward the ultimate goal of more efficient beef production.”
That vision of economic importance and efficient beef production holds true nearly seven decades later.
It really is simple how the Red Angus Association of America ensures these red headed damsels are held to a high standard that serves as the foundation of commercial herds. The RAAA places strict guidelines on registered cows that ultimately influence commercial cow/calf operations across the country.
Total Herd Reporting - Every year, every cow is accountable to raise and report a calf. Even if that calf is below average or dies, the RAAA member must report it – or a reason why the cow didn’t have a calf – in order to keep that cow on an active registered status.
To register her calf, the breeder must report a birth date, weaning date, and weaning weight on the calf, although additional data is highly encouraged. Those additional data points on the calf
include birth weight, yearling date and weight, carcass ultrasound scans, scrotal circumference measurements on bulls, and heifer pregnancy data on heifers.
Annual cow data includes her udder score at calving and weight and body condition score at weaning. Foot scores on all animals are strongly suggested. DNA profiling and parentage are required on sires and donor dams and highly encouraged on all registered cattle to quickly improve the accuracy of the individual’s EPDs.
Why would any of this information be important to a commercial cow/calf operator?
Every weight, score, and metric
collected and analyzed increases the accuracy of predicting how that animal –or offspring – will perform. It raises the standard and holds the animal and breeder accountable.
Most importantly, this quality control is directly passed down to commercial cow/calf operations using Red Angus genetics.
Select with Confidence - As we head into bull sale season, now is the perfect time for bull buyers to familiarize themselves with Red Angus EPDs so when catalogs fill their mailboxes, they are ready to pore over the data to select the perfect bull for their production goals.
For commercial producers, RAAA
Spotlight on RED AngUS
offers three selection indexes to assist in their bull buying decisions. HerdBuilder, GridMaster, and the recently added Profitability and Sustainability Index, or ProS, combine related economic factors into one easy to understand number.
Ryan Boldt, RAAA director of breed improvement, said, “These selection indexes now provide economic information on each animal that indicates how its genetic profile will contribute to profitability in all major sectors of the beef supply chain.”
Information in the HerdBuilder index covers traits that occur at the commercial cow/calf level, from conception through weaning.
The GridMaster index encompasses traits that occur after weaning through harvest.
ProS is simply a combination of HerdBuilder and GridMaster that allows for a single value to summarize an animal’s EPD profile and predict the profitability across the board.
The full suite of EPDs is also available for those operations that want to hone-in on a trait at a deeper level.
Red Choice - RAAA recently launched the Red Choice program to promote improved heifer development, increase marketing opportunities for Red Angus females, and create reliable sources of high quality replacement heifers for cattle producers. The program embraces proven reproductive and genetic management practices which, in turn, lead to high quality, long lasting females ready to hit the ground running in commercial herds.
Based on the Show-Me-Select
Replacement Heifer Program from the University of Missouri, the Red Choice program comes with several requirements that increase the overall quality of enrolled females, such as minimum vaccination requirements, pre-breeding exams, utilization of reproductive technologies, parasite control, and feet and leg scoring.
The program culminates with sale eligibility wherein cattle producers can purchase premium Red Choice females for their herd with the confidence that those females have been managed and raised to the highest quality standards possible. The primary goal for these better managed heifers is their retention in the herd of origin, where their extra value will be measurable over time.
Enrollment deadlines are February 1 for spring breeding and September 1 for the fall breeding season. A full description of the program and its requirements is available at www.RedAngus.org
Long Lasting Impact - Most ranchers easily appreciate the Red Angus cow for her good work ethic, predictable performance, unmatched maternal traits, and gentle disposition.
Behind those traits are decades of records, planned matings, and tough culling decisions that impact every Red Angus commercial producer, feedlot, packer, and consumer.
So, while the herd bulls will continue to be in the limelight, know that the adage, “Behind every good bull is a great cow,” isn’t just clever verbiage in the Red Angus breed. That cow is sticking to business and raising her calf on the range, which, in turn, impacts the entire beef supply chain.
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Spotlight on RED AngUS
Reproductive Success Starts with the Bull
By LISA BRYANT
Annual breeding soundness exams are key to overall herd fertility.
Buying health insurance is not a fun task, but it’s a necessity to mitigate your risk in case of a major health event. Increasing your herd’s reproductive performance presents a similar scenario. Testing all your bulls before breeding season is a simple task that can help prevent a major blow to your wallet.
“Passing a breeding soundness exam is insurance for the owner,” said Barry Whitworth, DVM and senior extension specialist in the Oklahoma State University Department of Animal and Food Sciences. “All bulls should be tested annually to make sure they’re good.”
An untested, sterile bull can be costly if several open cows turn up, he said. Smaller producers with only one bull are at higher risk, but Whitworth warned that ranchers running five or six bulls in a pasture can also have issues if one bull is sterile. “If he’s the biggest, baddest guy out there, he’s going to keep everybody beat off, and you’re still going to have lower pregnancy rates.”
Whitworth said sub-fertile bulls will eventually get cows bred, but not in a desirable timeframe like a bull that passes a BSE.
“You’re going to have more cows that get bred later in the breeding season and calves born later in the calving
season,” he said. “At weaning time, there will be more lightweight calves compared to the cows that bred and calved early in the season. You’re just losing pounds.”
Research shows that bulls that pass a BSE get cows bred earlier in the breeding cycle, and they have a higher success rate of settling, Whitworth said. “You don’t tend to see repeat breeders that may breed and conceive, but 30 days later, she’s breeding right back. That means you’re going to have more calves born at the first of the calving season, which should correspond with higher weaning weights at the end of the year.
“A bull should get about 60 percent of the herd bred in the first 21 days. Within 45 days, 98 percent of all cows should be bred.” He added that it’s economically important to get all cows bred in the first three breeding cycles.
Age doesn’t matter when it comes to the importance of performing a BSE on
bulls, Whitworth said. However, the “why” to test may vary for different ages of bulls. It’s not unusual for a young bull to fail the exam initially, especially if he’s been over conditioned, he continued. “A lot of our young bulls, especially if they’ve been fed a lot, will get a deferred rating the first time because they are so fat.”
Too much fat in the scrotum causes an inability for temperature regulation. This leads to motility and morphology abnormalities in the sperm cells. Whitworth said we can often fix this by letting the bull lose weight or by getting him out in the field where he can travel and increase exercise.
On the flip side, older bulls are more likely to fail because of an infection or injury.
Extreme weather events in regions not accustomed to that type of weather can also temporarily affect a bull’s sperm. Whitworth said frostbite or extreme heat can damage the testicles, and the severity of the damage may influence recovery time.
Sperm production takes 61 days, so if there’s an insult or injury to the testicles, the producer may see open cows if he maintains a tight breeding season. If he leaves bulls out with cows longer, he may see an extended calving season.
Whitworth said it’s important to note what a BSE isn’t. “A BSE doesn’t guarantee you that the bull is going to breed cows because we don’t test libido.
We also don’t know how aggressive that bull will be about getting cows bred.”
Whitworth said the BSE exam also doesn’t test if a bull can breed the cows, so it’s critical for ranchers to observe the bull breeding cows. The exam also doesn’t test for trichomoniasis or other diseases, which can affect the bull’s breeding ability or cause issues with fertility.
“Bulls can have infections that may not prevent the bull from breeding, but the cows may not settle,” he said. “For instance, if we’ve got trich, the bull’s going to breed, and those cows will probably settle. However, through the breeding process, we’ve infected her with the organism, and she will slough the calf.”
So many factors play a role in getting a live calf on the ground, so it’s important to minimize risks whenever possible. Since profitability in the cow/calf industry starts with high pregnancy rates, a simple breeding soundness exam is a small
e Special Section f
investment in the profit picture to help ensure great returns.
Inside the Breeding Soundness Exam
- A breeding soundness exam is a systematic evaluation by a licensed veterinarian to determine a bull’s reproductive potential. An exam will typically cost $50-$65.
Whitworth said most vets will start with a physical exam to evaluate the bull’s overall condition. The vet will verify that the bull can walk, breathe normally, and has two good eyes.
“Sight is really important. Bulls mainly rely on sight to watch for cows in standing heat,” he said. “If they have only one good eye, they’re not seeing the whole picture, so the bull could miss some cows that are in heat.”
A rectal exam will follow to check for abnormalities and ensure the seminal vesicles are not enlarged, inflamed, or infected.
Vets will measure scrotal
Spotlight on RED AngUS
circumference and verify that the bull meets minimal requirements for his age. Scrotal circumference is important for multiple reasons, Whitworth said.
“Through research, we know that bulls with larger testicles have more capacity to breed cows. We also know the female offspring of bulls with larger testicles cycle and get bred earlier, increasing fertility.”
The vet will also palpate the testicles for firmness. “They ought to be a lot like your biceps when flexed.”
They will check the penis for warts, signs of damage and to make sure the bull can extend without deviation. Whitworth said the electro-ejaculator can cause some corkscrew or side-to-side deviation. If a deviation is noted, producers should make sure they observe the bull breeding a cow.
Semen will be collected and evaluated for motility and abnormalities.
“Seventy percent of sperm cells should be normal for a bull to pass,” Whitworth
said. The vet will also inspect the sperm cells for head defects and make sure there is progressive motility in a common direction in a certain number of cells.
After the exam, the vet will classify the bull as satisfactory, unsatisfactory, or deferred. Whitworth said an unsatisfactory
rating is rare since that would show a problem that will never change. He said it’s more common for vets to check the deferred classification, attempt treatment of the issue, and retest the bull in 60 days.
Reprinted with permission from RAAA
Spotlight on RED AngUS
Net Return is Focus of Red Angus Programs
By JERRY SIMPSON Red Angus Association of the Carolinas
An often used cliche’ is “the easiest money you will ever make is the money you don’t spend.” Regardless of whether it’s crops, poultry, or cattle, a certain level of production requires a certain level of inputs, and lowering the costs of these inputs is often the key to a net return on investment and, in some cases, financial survival.
This is particularly true in the cattle business as with a decline in prices, producers have failed to realize a similar decline in the cost of inputs. Often this can result in producers who get caught up in a failed paradigm; that is, they keep managing their operation the same way while expecting different results. Such is the case with beef cattle. As beef producers, we are no longer
in competition with pork and poultry producers for market share alone. We are also in competition with those same industries along with others for inputs like fertilizer, fuel, grain, and land. There just seems to be no “free lunch” when it comes to the cost of beef production.
These changes require a new shift in management away from maximum output and more towards efficiency. Since its inception in 1954, Red Angus has had among its core values, “…to discourage the more artificial practices in purebred cattle production and to place its faith instead in objective tests, consisting for the most part of measurements of important factors of known economic importance.” Focusing
on these “Economically Relevant Traits” most important to commercial producers has allowed Red Angus to become the fastest growing purebred breed today and the only breed to show an increase in registrations over the last two years.
Why? Fertility - Profit starts at Reproduction. No trait impacts profitability like fertility, especially fertility with reproductive pressure. It’s one thing to have a 95 percent pregnancy rate, but can you do it in less than 60 days to yield more calves in the first 21 days of the calving season and yield a more uniform, higher value calf crop?
Rather than simply using yearling bulls’ scrotal circumference as an indicator of their daughters’ age at puberty, the Red
Angus Heifer Pregnancy (HPG) E PD predicts producer desired results.
Pregnant Heifers - Producers who can count on a higher percentage of pregnant heifers will have a larger number of replacements they can cash crop.
Longevity - University studies estimate a cow must produce until age five or six in order to break even. Females that stay in the herd mean reduced replacement rates and more valuable heifers to sell, which is a huge economic driver for cow/calf producers. As one of the few breeds with mandatory Total Herd
Continued on the next page
Contact these RAAC members to learn more about Red Angus genetics and how they can fit into your herd.
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 864-981-2080 bullhill2@prtcnet.com • www.bullhillredangus.com
COUNTRY BOY FARMS
David Miller
316 Key Road • Edgefield, SC 706-840-3709
e Special Section f
Spotlight on RED AngUS
Understanding Heterosis Helps Producers Develop Crossbreeding Plan
By RYAN BOLDT
Commercial operations often look to crossbreeding to give their calves an extra boost in performance and to produce replacement females with increased fertility and longevity. By understanding heterosis created through crossbreeding – and the different types of heterosis – cattlemen and women can develop a crossbreeding system that best suits their individual environment and management scenarios.
Factors Affecting Performance —
The equation to calculate the expected phenotype of an animal is relatively simple. The factors that affect the performance of the animal are the animal’s genotypic value and the environment that the animal experienced. Within this equation, an animal’s genotypic value can be broken down further into two main parts.
The first component is an animal’s breeding value or additive genetic value. This part of the genetic model is important as it’s the portion of an animal’s genotypic value that can be passed on through selection and mating.
The second part of an animal’s genotypic value is the gene combination value. This portion of the genotypic model focuses on the combination of alleles possessed by an animal. Due to the fact that animals generally receive half of their genetic makeup from each of their parents, the gene combination value that an animal possesses is not passed from
one generation to the next. However, through the set up of proper mating systems, the benefits of increased gene combination value can still be utilized
Types of Heterosis — There are three main types of heterosis that can be utilized within beef cattle production. These types include individual, maternal, and paternal heterosis.
When most people think of heterosis, they think of it in terms of individual heterosis. Take weaning weight, for example. If the average performance of the breed of the sire was 550 pounds and the average of the purebred dam’s breed was 540 pounds, the average or expected performance of this cross would be 545 pounds. If the average performance of the calves was 555 pounds, the increase of ten pounds over the average of the parents would be individual heterosis of the progeny. Commonly, heterosis is expressed as a percent. In this example, the percent individual hybrid vigor that would be expressed is 1.8 percent.
The other two types of heterosis relate to the ability of crossbred parents to outperform straight bred counterparts. An example of maternal heterosis is improved mothering ability in crossbred dams. The main way that these are separated out is that individual heterosis focuses on the current generation, whereas maternal and paternal heterosis
are part of the previous generation that is used to breed the current generation.
The most common method to introduce heterosis in commercial cattle production is through the use of crossbreeding. There are multiple mating strategies that allow for the increase of hybrid vigor. However, hybrid vigor can also be achieved within a breed when individuals from distinct lines or pedigrees are mated. The reason for this is as animals become more inbred, they may exhibit what is known as inbreeding depression. This is caused by an increase in homozygosity and a reduction of gene combination value. However, when these
inbred individuals are mated to animals that are not closely related – known as outcrossing – the potential inbreeding depression in the offspring is reversed.
In order to be successful, one of a commercial operation’s main goals should be to maximize all three forms of heterosis. The most common method is to do this through the use of a mating system that takes advantage of breed complementarity. The first step to this process is to develop a plan to take advantage of heterosis. Once the plan is established, producers can continue to make mating decisions and purchases that allow that plan to be successful.
Net Return continued from the previous page
Reporting (THR), Red Angus offers the advantage of Stayability (STAY) EPDs, which predict a bull’s ability to sire daughters that remain productive past their breakeven point. Red Angus females sired by high Stayability Red Angus sires are the foundation of a cow herd built to last.
Cows Eat Money! Feed costs typically represent producers’ largest expense, and this is never truer than today. In this era of increased input costs (grain, hay, land value, fertilizer, etc.), reducing annual cow maintenance costs is paramount to profitability. Red Angus’s Mature Cow Maintenance Energy Requirement (ME) EPD arms producers with a tool to help keep feed costs in check. Efficient, easy fleshing Red Angus replacements can help you get a handle on feed costs and make the most of available forage.
Calving - Profit begins with a live calf. Heifers that experience calving problems are often slower and harder to rebreed. Calving ease is a trait of major economic impact, and Red Angus describes the trait genetically with Direct and Maternal Calving Ease EPDs. Purchase Red Angus replacements sired by high Maternal Calving Ease Red Angus sires and you’ll sleep better.
Disposition - Beyond obvious safety issues, the superior docility of Red Angus increases profits through easier handling, better A.I. conception, faster gains, higher USDA quality grade, and fewer dark cutters.
It just makes sense, lowering the cost of inputs while adding value leads to increased opportunity for profit. I know I told you earlier there’s no such thing as a free lunch, well actually there is...heterosis! Every cattleman knows the impact hybrid vigor can have on performance and added value when used in a well planned crossbreeding system. Premium Baldy and Red Navigator are two programs that offer commercial producers opportunities to capitalize on heterosis through the use of Red Angus genetics. Since 1954, Red Angus has focused its efforts on commercial profitability. These efforts have been realized when net return is key because Red is Right Now!
If you would like more information on how Red Angus can add to the efficiency of your operation or if you need help in locating Red Angus bulls or replacement females, feel free to give me a call at 704-302-2940, or contact any of the breeders listed on our website at www.redanguscarolinas.com
Ashley’s Beef Corner T
Plate to Pasture
By ASHLEY W. HERRING Director of Consumer Information N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council
This fall, the Animal Agriculture Alliance reached out to partner with us on a farm tour event. Joining us were foodservice professionals from the brands Applegate, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Chick-fil-A, Darden Restaurants, Dine Brands, Parkhurst Dining, and Restaurant Brands International on this jam packed, two day tour to see what happens on the farm.
Eleven representatives from seven unique CPG and restaurant brands traveled to eastern North Carolina to discuss and learn more about key issues such as broiler chicken welfare, sustainability in beef production, and sow housing.
We partnered with the N.C. Pork Council, N.C. Farm Bureau, Undeniably Dairy, N.C. State University, and more to bring the tour directly to farms. We had opportunities for conversations that revolved around sustainability and practices that cattle farmers use to take care of their herd while increasing efficiencies. Furthermore, we shared
environmental practices, Beef Quality Assurance programs, and learned what consumers who visit these foodservice establishments are asking.
We learned that foodservice consumers are asking questions about cattle care, the effect raising beef has on the environment, and how cattle farmers are meeting their changing preferences. We realized that we have a great partnership with the tour attendees because we both have goals of serving a great protein and answering consumer questions.
Tour attendees were happy to learn about the detailed care that farmers make a priority within all of agriculture.
It was a great deal of learning for everyone involved, and we all came away with a greater appreciation for the farm-to-fork concept. Building these key relationships helps us as beef producers when explaining specific practices. We welcome folks to the farm to see firsthand the variables that come into play. There were unexpected knowledge gains on both ends!
Carolina Cooking
Peppered Rib Roast with Roasted Garlic Sauce
Total Time — 3 hours, 15 minutes
1 beef boneless ribeye roast, small end (4–6 pounds)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons coarse grind black pepper
2 medium heads garlic
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup reduced sodium beef broth
2 tablespoons dry sherry
½ cup half-and-half ¼ teaspoon salt
Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine 1 tablespoon of parsley and pepper in a small bowl. Press evenly onto all surfaces of the beef roast.
Place the roast, fat side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Insert an ovenproof meat thermometer so the tip is centered in the thickest part of beef, not resting in fat. Do not add water or cover. Cut about ¼ inch off the top of each garlic head, exposing the cloves. Remove the outer papery skin, leaving the head intact. Place in the center of 12 inch square heavy duty aluminum foil; drizzle each with 1 teaspoon oil. Bring two opposite sides of foil over garlic; seal with a double fold. Fold in the open ends to seal. Place alongside the roast in the pan. Roast the beef in the 350°F oven for 1¾–2 hours for medium rare or 2–2¼ for medium doneness. Roast the garlic for 1¼–1½ hours, or until very soft and golden brown; set aside.
Remove the roast when the meat thermometer registers 135°F for medium rare or 145°F for medium. Transfer the roast to a carving board and tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let it stand for 15–20 minutes. (The temperature will continue to rise about 10°–15°F to reach 145°F for medium rare or 160°F for medium.)
Meanwhile, squeeze the garlic cloves from the skins into a small bowl; mash with the back of a spoon. Combine the garlic, broth, and sherry in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook for 10–11 minutes, or until reduced by half. Add the half-and-half; reduce the heat and bring to a gentle boil. Continue cooking for 4–6 minutes or until the sauce is reduced to 1 cup, stirring occasionally. Keep warm.
Carve the roast into slices, and serve with sauce. Garnish with additional parsley, as desired.
Makes 8 servings.
Peppered Rib Roast with Roasted Garlic Sauce
By DR. MATT POORE N.C. State University
Stockpiled Tall Fescue and Whole Cottonseed Go Together Well
The first supplementation study we did with stockpiled tall fescue has now been almost 25 years ago, but that work continues to impact how I manage on our home farm. We developed Angus cross heifers on stockpiled Kentucky-31 tall fescue with or without a supplement of 2 lbs of whole cottonseed. We had earlier done work with whole cottonseed in total mixed rations that suggested a limit of 15 percent of the diet or 0.33 percent of body weight, so that is what we used in this trial. The question was, “Can this limited amount of whole cottonseed improve performance enough to make it work the effort to supplement?”
The two year study was conducted in Raleigh at the current location of the E. Carroll Joyner Beef Education Unit. We ran 600 lb heifers for 84 days, starting in early December and finishing in early March. There was a considerable difference in the forage each year. The first year we had mostly tall fescue that remained very green throughout the winter. Crude protein ran between 15-20 percent, which seems high but is characteristic of what we see on old pastures that are mostly tall fescue.
During the second year we had a lot of early autumn rain, and that resulted in a lot of warm season grasses in the sward, both bermudagrass and crabgrass. As a result, crude protein was lower, about 12 percent, and energy was also considerably lower than the first year.
We learned a lot from this early experiment, including the observation later confirmed with additional research that despite the very high nutritive value, intake, and performance of heifers, frontal grazing tall fescue is less than usually considered necessary for good heifer development. The whole cottonseed gave us a boost in performance in each year, with a bigger increase in the second year. Based on the blood urea nitrogen levels in the heifers (an indicator of protein status), we attributed the modest 0.25 lb/day increase in year one as an energy response, which would be similar to what we would see with any energy source like corn or soybean hulls. In the second year, we saw more of a boost, closer to 0.5 lb/ day, which was more characteristic of a protein and energy supplement.
One thing about whole cottonseed is that it has both a high level of energy
and protein, making it an all purpose supplement that can help overcome deficiencies of either one or both. Another benefit of the whole cottonseed is that it is easy to feed in a frontal grazing system by placing it on sod under the temporary hot wire. Because of its consistency, the cottonseed piles up well on top of the sod, so that the animals eat nearly every seed. This is also beneficial because there is no mess around feeders, and the behavior of the cattle is that they meet you at the grazing front each day to get their supplement.
I continue to routinely use whole cottonseed as the primary supplement for developing heifers and grazing beef steers on stockpile 25 years later. We know that stockpiled fescue, whether it is toxic KY-31 or novel endophyte, will only give us about 1 lb/day average daily gain for growing cattle. Average daily gain needs to be a little higher than that for good reproduction and beef quality. We later showed with additional research that protein tubs or a byproduct based concentrate give a similar response,
but because of the price and handling characteristics, whole cottonseed is still my first choice at home. If you are in the south, have a tall fescue based system, and have access to whole cottonseed, consider giving it a try. If you are interested in the detailed report of our study, it is published in the 2007 Journal of Animal Science 84:1613-1625. Whole cottonseed is also a great supplement for cows, regardless of the forage base. Compared to whole cottonseed, most other cow supplements are very expensive. The recommended feeding rate is 3-5 lbs per day for lactating cows. Typically, our cows get about 3 lbs of cottonseed daily during January, February, and March. This year, expect cottonseed to be a great deal again everywhere in the Carolinas.
Some farmers and industry advisors fear the toxin gossypol that is found in cottonseed. After many research projects and decades of on-farm experience, there is no reason to be concerned about gossypol if feeding guidelines are followed.
FORAGE NEWS
By MATT POORE, N.C. State University
Forage Management Educational Programs Coming in December and January
The holidays are upon us, and that means that our winter educational meeting season is here. This winter, there are some key events that have been planned to complement your local programming.
On December 12, we will hold a Novel Endophyte Tall Fescue Workshop and Tour from 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at the Schley Grange Hall in Orange County, North Carolina. This program is a collaboration between the Alliance for Grassland Renewal, Amazing Grazing, the N.C. Forage and Grassland Council, and Orange, Person, and Granville County Extension. We will start the
morning with an educational session to make participants aware of Fescue Toxicosis and how to manage it. Then we will talk about methods of renovating pastures to non-toxic novel endophyte tall fescue and the economic implications of renovation. We will also hear testimonials from several local farmers about their experiences with novel endophyte tall fescue. After a great lunch, we will travel to two Orange County farms that have incorporated novel endophyte tall fescue as a large part of their overall forage program. Speakers will include Dr. Matt Poore, chairman of the Alliance for Grassland Renewal and Beef Specialist
at NCSU, Dr. John Andrae, member of the Alliance for Grassland Renewal from Clemson University, and Johnny Rogers from the Amazing Grazing Program. The registration fee is $20. To register, go to this QR Code or visit Orange County Extension.
On January 30, we will hold a Winter Feeding and Forage Management Field Day from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Butner Beef Cattle Field Laboratory. This program is a collaboration between the Amazing Grazing Program, the
NCSU Forage Program, and the N.C. Beef System. We will feature three important practices—grazing stockpiled tall fescue, dispersed hay feeding (including unrolling and bale grazing), and frost seeding clovers. We will visit ongoing research projects on bale grazing and frost seeding clover and observe demonstrations of stockpile tall fescue grazing, hay unrolling, and clover seeding using a drone. We will learn from an industry expert about recent advancements in drone technology for specialty applications in agriculture. This program is intended to bring you up-todate on the most recent practices in winter feeding beef cattle and other livestock and how to get the most out of your winter pastures. Look for registration information and more details about this event in the January issue of The Carolina Cattle Connection
There are many other events coming up this winter, including the N.C. Forage and Grassland Council Annual Winter Conference and the N.C. Cattle Conference, that are still coming together, so stay tuned and use the cold months to increase your knowledge about how to improve your farm.
the chaplain’s corral
By DAVE HARVEY Chaplain, Cowboys for Christ
A Thanksgiving Month Before Christmas Day
Cowboys and cowgirls, we need to have a whole month of thanksgiving for the blessings of Christmas Day. Now, I’m not trying to take anything away from Thanksgiving and the many things that we are to be thankful for, and I’m not just talking about a certain day. I’m talking about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Actually, I think it is very fitting that we have a whole month, give or take a few days, to give thanks to the Holy Father, who gave his only begotten Son to be born into this sinful world to save us sinners from eternal death. 2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
Now, I know that you think that I’m trying to take away from the Thanksgiving holiday, and I am very thankful and greatly enjoy the day of fellowship with loved ones and good eats. But, folks, I am talking about the birth of our Lord and Savior. I’m talking about the day that we recognize as the day that holy deity as a newborn child came to earth, the day that the ancient promise of a Savior from almighty God was fulfilled.
Matthew 26:28 – “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
I’m sure that the shepherds watching over their sheep in the Judean hills around Bethlehem hadn’t spent a month in thanksgiving leading up to that eventful night. They had probably just finished a campfire meal of beans and bacon. Oh, wait! That is cowboy grub, so they had just finished a hearty meal of kosher food, and they had settled down to a good nights’ sleep, only to be awakened when they were greatly surprised by a band of angels singing “glory to the highest.” Not only the singing, but the light from the brightest star they had ever seen was so brilliant that they thought it was probably noon the next day and that they had overslept.
I have spent many nights in stables waiting for a mare to foal or caring for a sick horse or cow, and I am sure that many reading this can say the same. I always tried to keep the stalls clean enough so that if I had to sleep there, I could. I wonder if the cowboy or cowgirl
that was responsible for cleaning the stalls before that eventful night had done a good job. Did my Savior have to be born in a stable that was dirty, nasty, and damp? I sure hope not, but I believe that if the Father sent a heavenly band of angels to announce his birth, and placed a giant star in the sky to reflect the brilliance of the Lord, that he would send a “top hand” to give that ole stables a super duper cleaning before Joseph showed up with Mary heavy with child riding on that little donkey.
I have certainly been surprised a few times over the years walking into the stables early in the morning, and I am sure a bunch of you folks have been, too. But can you just imagine the surprise of finding a strange donkey standing in one of the stalls and then seeing strange movements in one of the back stalls? Friends, can you visualize stepping into that back stall and seeing a newborn baby laying there in the hay rack with an adoring mother watching over him? Just maybe you had gotten up early enough to catch a glimpse of the angels disappearing into the heavenly realms and wondering why it was so light so early in the morning. Of course, before you even noticed the strange donkey in the stall, you were amazed at all the sandal footprints left by the worshiping shepherds in the center aisle, which you had left so cleanly raked the night before. The only evidence left by the shepherds were those footprints because they had already returned to the flocks in the fields before you had made your way down to the stables to feed that morning.
You see, cowboys and cowgirls, if the Father had not sent his Son to be born in
that stable, you would be just like me and everyone else who has ever walked on this earth, lost for eternity! Now, I’m sure that you have tried to be a good person most of your life, just like me. But I’m also sure that you may have committed a sin or two, just like me. Actually, I have to confess that I have committed a whole bunch of sins, of which I have absolutely no way of paying the penalty for those sins other than dying for eternity. I’m just an old cowboy; how could I ever do anything or accumulate enough to pay the price for all of those sins? Now, I’m not trying to be smart or anything like that, but I got a pretty good feeling that you are probably in the same shape, too. I’m talking about being a sinner because you may not be an old cowboy or even a cowboy; you may be a cowgirl, but you are still a sinner. Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Now wouldn’t it be nice if someone would pay my sin penalty for me and yours, too, so that we could go free? Well, that is why I’m suggesting that we have a whole month of thanksgiving going up to Christmas Day because we do have someone who “can” pay the penalty for all of our sins. In fact, we have someone who “has” paid the penalty for all of our sins, and we celebrate his birthday on Christmas Day, and his name is Jesus Christ. You are right, just a month of “thanksgiving.” We need more than a month; we need a whole lifetime of “thanksgiving” to our Lord. Psalm 118:28 – “You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.”
“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
So, this Thanksgiving, make it a whole thanksgiving month until Christmas Day to give “thanks” to the Holy Father, who loved us cowboys and cowgirls and all the rest of mankind so very much that he sent his only begotten Son to not only be born in a stable, but to die on the cross to pay our sin debt. John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” In fact, not only give thanks, but give a shout of praise and bow in worship as we enter this Christmas season and especially Christmas Day. Remember that this day is a holy day, not just a holiday, as the day our Lord and Savior was born to die for us. Thank you, Jesus. God bless you and yours during this wonderful time of thanksgiving and the celebration of his birth. Psalm 106:1 – “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.” Please tell someone about him today.
By E.B. HARRIS
Not Enough Cribs in the County to Hold All the Korn
On October 30, I was helping Shane get the bean crop in the bin. We were on one of the farms at Lickskillet, that’s known as the Major Rob Alston Farm. (A note about Major Rob Alston — I have been told he had more horses shot out
from under him than anyone else in the Civil War, and when the war was over, he had several horses from the north in his barn.) The land at this farm is good land with a chocolate colored soil.
The beans are probably some of the
N.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of OCTOBER 2024
best we have ever harvested. Shane works hard on trying to produce the best crop he knows how. To produce the crops, he goes in front of it and plants a cover crop with all kinds of seeds, like peas, beets, radishes, clover, and several different kinds of seed mix. Prior to planting time, he will go in there and spray to knock it down, then no-till plant his crop. This forms a lot of foreign matter — I say green cow manure — on the ground that really helps the new plant grow. If it turns off dry, it will let the roots go on down and get what moisture is there. The foreign matter on the ground acts as a mulch and holds the moisture in the soil.
This reminds me of the farm my brother Jimmy and I were farming in 1970. It is just a short distance east of where we were working the field on the
Major Rob Alston Farm and is known as the Walker Hill Farm. Both of these two farms border Little Shocco Creek.
Mr. Davis, a neighbor who was a prior advisor to the owners of the Walker Hill Farm, told me that the Walker Hill Farm was planted in fescue in 1955 and had been in fescue ever since. He called me Bro. He said, “Bro, if you go over to the back field on the back side of Walker Hill and plow it up and plant it in “korn,” there won’t be enough cribs in the county to hold it all.”
Mr. Davis was a wise man. He knew a lot about cattle and evidently knew more about farming than I did. What he said in 1970 still applies in the year 2024. If you have a lot of mulch on the land, it will help make your crop. It’s a proven fact, and cow manure helps.
CATTLE & CARBON
By ALAN FRANZLUEBBERS USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Soil Organic Carbon on North Carolina Farms
How much carbon is being stored under pastures on your farm? Last month’s article outlined the approach of where to sample, how to sample, how to process samples, and what calculations are needed to make this determination of soil carbon on your farm. This article now gives you some idea as to how much carbon is present under a diversity of forage and grazing lands throughout North Carolina.
A few years ago, Dr. Matt Poore and I were driving from one farm to another. Along the way, we got to talking about what the soil health condition of various pastures might be as we zoomed around the curves in the road. Some pastures had an abundance of tall dogfennel with short bermudagrass being voraciously consumed by hungry cattle. Other pastures had a good foot of mostly tall fescue canopy intermixed with various other forages that were waiting for the next stocking event. Dr. Poore commented that one of the pastures surely didn’t have good soil health condition, and the other looked like it probably had a lot of soil carbon and overall good health. I pondered the issue and wondered whether that seemingly obvious comment might really be true or not. I then replied, “How would we know if we didn’t measure it?” This conversation stuck with me for some months afterward. Eventually, an opportunity appeared that allowed me to start making measurements of soil carbon on private farms throughout
the southeastern United States. One of my goals was quickly formulated to know how much carbon might actually be stored under the diversity of pastures in North Carolina!
In the fall of 2021, I started taking notes about what the most important management variables might be that could influence how well pastures performed as far as forage growth and soil organic matter formation, as well as what might be the diversity of management choices made by producers in the state. By the fall of 2022, I was really interested in getting answers, and since I had just completed sampling soil from a series of farms in Virginia earlier in the year, I was ready to embark on one of the largest soil sampling efforts of my career. I had honed my sampling techniques in this earlier effort and just needed to find some farms. I wanted the decision of which farms to select to be both systematic and somewhat random to avoid my own biases. I sent out a query to almost all livestock and agricultural agents in the 100 counties of North Carolina to help me find a few farmers that would be willing to participate in this research project. The target number of farmers to be selected in any one county was scaled to the acreage of pasture reported in the U.S. Census of Agriculture for each county. The farm that was selected in a county was at the discretion of each county agent. With farms sampled in 70 counties across the state, my biases were left at the office,
and I felt good that I could get a fair representation of soil carbon under forage and grazing lands in North Carolina. Collecting soil from the state with the number and location of farms scaled to the acreage of pasture ensured the approach was systematic. The sampling approach of collecting five cores at depths of 0–4 inches, 4–12 inches, and 12–24 inches from two sampling zones in each field, doing this same thing on one or two fields per farm, and repeating this same approach on 206 farms from December 12-March 31 allowed me to work like a machine, but also to enjoy the scenery and conversations along the way. Unbiased and systematic—in my opinion, these goals were achieved.
stock in the top foot of soil.
Soil organic carbon stock was expected to be greater in the Blue Ridge region than in the Coastal Plain region because of differences in soil type and climatic conditions. Soils in the Coastal Plain are typically sandier than in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge. Sand particles are not as reactive with organic matter and, therefore, don’t hold on to and protect carbon like clay and silt particles do. Generally, cooler temperatures in the higher elevation of the Blue Ridge also tend to preserve carbon in soil by slowing soil microbial activity.
The stock of soil organic carbon in the top foot of soil was computed for each of the soil profiles separately, and
Soil organic carbon was measured on 1,944 samples in this study. The three depth increments sampled per soil profile were necessary to quantify the soil organic carbon stock (mass of carbon stored in the top foot of soil) using a non-linear regression approach. Carbon concentrations of the 648 profiles were also used to separate the influence of relatively recent management from that of long term pedogenesis. I’ll explore this separation more in an upcoming issue. For now, I’ll share with you the summarized results of soil organic carbon
average values for a county are shown in Table 1. Counties were grouped by the three physiographic regions of the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, and Blue Ridge.
A total of 50 fields were sampled in the Coastal Plain region, 173 fields were sampled in the Piedmont region, and 88 fields were sampled in the Blue Ridge region. As expected, the stocks of soil organic carbon were greatest in the Blue Ridge region (32.4 tons/acre), intermediate in the Piedmont region (26.7 tons/acre), and lowest in the Coastal Plain region (22.3 tons/acre). Averaged across
Distribution of sampling sites across North Carolina in 2022.
Winter pasture in Ashe County.
Hay field in Bladen County.
all forage and grazing lands, soil organic carbon stock was 27.4 tons/acre. From 29 woodland fields that were also sampled in this survey, soil organic carbon stock was 31.4 tons/acre. Therefore, soil organic carbon stock under forage and grazing lands was 13 percent lower than under undisturbed woodlands.
Some of the variations in soil organic carbon stocks within a region are likely due to how these forage and grazing lands were managed. Management influences will be discussed in a future article.
How do these soil organic carbon stocks under forage and grazing lands on private farms in North Carolina compare with other estimates in the region? Across 310 fields on 25 research stations in North Carolina, the average soil organic carbon stock was 26.4 tons/acre, varying from 20.4 tons/acre under cropland to 28.2 tons/acre under grassland to 33.2 tons/ acre under woodland. Across 120 cotton fields, mostly in the Coastal Plain region of North Carolina, soil organic carbon stock was 18.3 tons/acre. Across the
Table 1. Soil organic carbon stock (tons/acre) under forage and grazing lands in North Carolina.
conterminous United States, the average soil organic carbon stock has been reported as 19.6 tons/acre.1 For all U.S. cropland, the average soil organic carbon stock was 24.3 tons/acre.
Therefore, soil organic carbon stocks under forage and grazing lands in North Carolina are (1) nearly comparable with woodlands in the region depending on management, (2) greater than under
croplands in the region depending on management, and (3) greater than average land condition for the conterminous United States.
Reference 1Bliss et al. 2014. Distribution of soil organic carbon in the conterminous United States. Progress in Soil Science. Springer, doi.org/10.1007/978-3-31904084-4_9
Poultry and pasture in Caswell County.
By KAYLA NORRIS N.C. State University -- ANS 402 Beef Management
Trace Your Beef Cattle Operation’s Productivity with Trace Minerals
There are a variety of minerals that cattle consume in their diet to meet nutritional needs and to optimize their production. Beef cattle rely on various dietary mineral elements to support their bodily functions, growth, and reproductive processes. These minerals are grouped together based on the amount needed by the animal. Major or macro elements are those needed in larger quantities, while micro, minor, or trace minerals are required in smaller amounts.1 For beef cattle cow/calf operations, ensuring the herd has an adequate amount of trace minerals such as copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc will improve the operations productivity of the herd.2
Trace minerals, such as copper, manganese, selenium, and zinc, are essential for various biochemical functions and are vital for the health and productivity of ruminant animals. Increased levels of trace minerals are needed before breeding and calving season due to the increased biological demand on the female’s body during this time in production. While forage is the primary source of trace minerals for beef cattle, mineral supplementation is needed
due to geographical mineral deficiency that affects the level required for optimum function. 3 Minerals are imperative to reproductive success, which is why it is important for producers to monitor levels of minerals within their herd. This can be done by receiving a blood sample from each animal or by obtaining forage samples for analysis.
There are several options available to producers to combat mineral deficiencies, such as free choice loose mineral mixes or trace mineral salt blocks, as seen in Figure 1. Producers also have the option of using injectable trace mineral supplements. 3 Injectable trace mineral (ITM) options have multiple advantages compared to other mineral formulations. Some advantages include precise administration, rapid absorption, and improved storage within the body.3 Knowing if an individual animal received trace minerals, when they received it, and the amount they received are important pieces of information that can be utilized during the breeding and calving seasons. In connection to this advantage, producers can inject the mineral supplement as opposed to the animal being responsible for consuming minerals through free
choice mineral access. One of the more prevalent advantages includes the ITM option’s ability to rapidly be absorbed by the body and then stored away. 4 Research shows that usage of Multimin 90, an ITM product that contains the major trace minerals, will increase the amount of trace minerals found in the blood of cattle.5 These advantages, along with a few others, make the ITM option appealing to producers who are invested in the mineral status of their herd.
Multimin 90 is a supplement that provides zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese through an injection, as seen in Figure 2. Usage of this injectable supplement is a common practice to give cattle producers an optimal chance at successful breeding, healthy calving, and improved immunity. It is important
to keep in mind that Multimin 90 is a prescription product, which means in order to purchase and dispense this medication, a prescription is needed from a licensed veterinarian. 2 Zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese are minerals that are used by the body when responding to a vaccine and creating immunity toward different diseases.
During a research study, vaccine protocols that use Multimin 90 with vaccines are more successful in producing a greater number of antibodies and overall immunity.6 This is an improvement for overall herd health in the cattle industry due to the important role that antibodies play in all stages of production. Research conducted at the University of Georgia (2016) dives more into this as they tested the immunity found in dairy calves
S.C.
Figure 1. Option of trace mineral for producers in pressed form.
after usage of Multimin 90 alongside the vaccination protocol for Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV), Bovine alphaherpesvirus 1(BHV1), parainfluenza virus 3 (PI3V), and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). Results included elevated levels of antibodies against BVDV 1, along with heightened PBMC proliferation in response to both BVDV1 and BRSV. 7 Implementing a mineral product like Multimin 90 into a routine management practice on a beef cattle operation can be shown to reduce morbidity in cattle and lower expenses associated with treating ill animals, thereby enhancing the productivity of beef cattle operations.7
Investing in one main mineral product or multiple mineral products is a choice specific to each producer and their cattle. Factors such as geographical location, production objectives, herd health, forage type, and seasonality all play a role in determining the appropriate mineral package for a producer. Specializing the mineral program to individual farm needs ensures that ranchers can provide the right mineral package at the right time and in the right quantities.
References
1 Rensburg, L.V. (2023) “What to look for when choosing a mineral supplement.” www.agproud.com
2Your Best Shot at Strategic Trace
Mineral Supplementation. (n.d.) www. axiota.com
3 Palomares, Roberto A. (2022) “Trace minerals supplementation with great impact on beef cattle immunity and health.” https://doi.org/10.3390/ ani12202839
4Jackson, T.D., Carmichael, R.N., Deters, E.L., Messersmith, E.M., VanValin, K.R., Loy, D.D., & Hansen, S.L. (2020). “Comparison of multiple single use, pulse dose trace mineral products provided as injectable, oral drench, oral paste, or bolus on circulating and liver trace mineral concentrations of beef steers.” https://doi.org/10.15232/ aas.2019-01856
5 Arthington, J.D., Moriel, P., Martins, P.G., Lamb, G.C., & Havenga, L.J. (2014). “Effects of trace mineral injections on measures of performance and trace mineral status of pre- and post weaned beef calves.” https://doi. org/10.2527/jas.2013-7164
6 Pogge, D.J., Richter, E.L., Drewnoski, M.E., & Hansen, S.L. (2012). “Mineral concentrations of plasma and liver after injection with a trace mineral complex differ among Angus and Simmental cattle.” https://doi. org/10.2527/jas.2012-4482
C.E., Berger, M.L., Clark, M.J., & Fratto, M.A. (2016). “Effects of injectable trace minerals on humoral and cell mediated immune responses to BVDV, BHV1, and BRSV following administration of a modified live virus vaccine in dairy calves.” https://doi.org/10.1016/j. vetimm.2016.07.003
Have You Herd is written as part of the ANS 402 Beef Management course requirement at N.C. State University’s Department of Animal Science under the instruction of Dr. Carrie Pickworth. The opinions of Kayla Norris are not necessarily those of N.C. State University or Dr. Carrie Pickworth.
Senator James D. Speed Achievement Scholarship
The Senator James D. Speed Achievement Scholarship is presented to a deserving junior beef exhibitor, aged 14–18, in the junior market steer and/ or junior beef heifer competition. The scholarship continues the legacy that Senator Speed created as a 32 year member of the N.C. State Legislature and through his commitment and dedication to agricultural interests. One of his significant contributions to agriculture was his long term support of providing working agricultural lands with present use value. Farm land would not be able to be productive and owned today by many farm families across North Carolina without the Present Use Value Taxation program.
Thank you to the late Senator Speed for allowing us to farm in this great state of North Carolina.
To honor his memory, the Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association honored him by establishing and presenting an academic scholarship to an outstanding achiever in the Junior Beef Program. The scholarship is funded through an endowment in the N.C. Agricultural Foundation. Beginning this year, the scholarship committee has increased the scholarship awarded to $1,500. The achievement scholar selected for 2024 demonstrates strong leadership skills, integrity, good sportsmanship, achievement of goals, and is an advocate of today’s agricultural industry. The scholar was selected by a committee of Franklin County cattle producers and announced at the N.C. State Fair.
The Senator James D. Speed Achievement Scholarship is awarded during the scholar’s freshman year and made payable to the scholar’s selected institution of higher education on behalf of the named scholar.
Other financial support this year was given by Ingrid Volk of Hill & Dale Farms, the Leonard-Mobley Small Farm Fund with tremendous regional support for the annual local farm-to-fork fundraiser, Dinner in the Meadow, and the N.C. Small Farm Association, all based in Franklin County.
This year’s winner is Abigail Grace Shaeffer, the 17-year-old daughter of Greg and April Shaeffer, of Granville County. This young lady is to be congratulated as an outstanding young cattle showman who represents livestock agriculture well and for winning this prestigious statewide award.
Figure 2. Multimin 90, the injectable trace mineral option discussed in the article.
Pictured from left - Mark Speed, Abigail Shaeffer, and N.C. Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt at the N.C. State Fair.
You Decide!
By DR. MIKE WALDEN
William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus N.C. State University
You Decide: How Can Social Security Be Saved? My wife and I have been receiving monthly Social Security payments for several years. We also receive monthly payments from other retirement programs, so we are lucky not to depend only on Social Security for financial support. Still, Social Security is an important part of our monthly income.
This means that, like the other 68 million people who receive regular Social Security checks, we are worried. Why? Because on its current path, everyone’s Social Security check will be cut by almost 20 percent in ten years. Stated another way, by the mid-2030s, Social Security won’t have enough incoming revenue to pay what the system promised to recipients.
The reason is demographics. For decades, we have been moving toward a larger age-heavy population. The big “baby boomer” generation, of which my wife and I are members, has been increasing the number of Social Security recipients. Also, older people are living
longer. And to add to the problem, with all time low birth rates, at some point we could see an actual decline in workers who contribute to Social Security. This is important because Social Security payments to retirees depend both on what the retirees contributed as well as what current workers are paying.
We’ve been down this path before. Social Security faced shortfalls in the 1980s, also due to the same types of demographic changes. A commission was appointed to find a solution. They did, and Social Security has been running on that solution for over 40 years. Among the elements of the solution were an increase in Social Security tax rates and an increase in the age for receiving full Social Security benefits.
I predict we will follow the same process for dealing with today’s Social Security problem. I expect a broad based commission will be formed in the early 2030s, and it will agree on a fix for keeping Social Security financially solvent.
So what might the solution be? In my viewpoint, there are only four options: increase Social Security revenues, decrease Social Security benefits, both increase Social Security revenues and decrease benefits, or scrap the current Social Security system and install a totally new system.
Let me give some details on each of these possibilities. To increase revenues, there are two major options. One is to increase the Social Security tax rate on earnings, which is currently 6.2 percent paid both by the employee and employer on the first $168,000 of earnings. Why is there an income limit for the tax?
It’s because Social Security benefits to recipients stop rising at the limit. If taxes were paid on earnings above that limit, then the worker would be paying more but without receiving higher benefits.
The framers of Social Security in the 1930s wanted to avoid Social Security being viewed as a welfare program. Incidentally, the payment limit (now $168,000) is raised each year by the previous year’s inflation rate.
The second option is to scrap the earnings limit and apply the Social Security tax to all earnings, even while continuing to use the limit to stop increases in benefits for people with earnings above the limit. Of course, this would turn Social Security into a partial welfare program, meaning recipients with earnings above the limit would pay more but with no additional benefits.
Social Security can easily change payments by adjusting the formula used to calculate those payments. Currently, Social Security breaks a worker’s lifetime income into segments, applies a factor to each of those segments, and then does a calculation to determine the worker’s monthly payment from Social Security. Payments can easily be altered higher or lower by adjusting the segments and the factors for each segment. Also, Social Security can make different changes for different income groups. So, for example, if it wanted to, the Social Security system could reduce payments to recipients with higher earnings and raise payments to recipients with lower earnings. Indeed, under the current system, lower income earnings receive a higher percentage of their earnings in Social Security benefits than higher income earners.
Social Security uses past inflation rates in many of its calculations to make earnings in past years comparable to the purchasing power of earnings in more recent years. But since there are numerous measures of price inflation, Social Security can lower payments by choosing a less generous inflation measure. This is also a possibility.
Many would consider the changes discussed above as minor adjustments. These critics argue Social Security should go bold in its next set of changes. One long discussed option is the idea of investing some of Social Security’s revenues in the stock market. Currently, Social Security is legally limited to investing funds in U.S. Treasury securities. Although safe, these investments pay a relatively low rate of return.
While, over the long run, investors will earn a much better rate of return in the stock market, there’s always the possibility they won’t over a specific time period. The framers of Social Security also worried about the influence Social Security could have on the stock market with its large investments, and they wanted to avoid this.
My guess is the next commission on Social Security will choose the option of increasing some revenues while reducing some payments, mainly for higher income earners. This is the approach used by the 1980s commission.
With a few exceptions, virtually everyone in the country is already receiving Social Security benefits now or will when they retire. This means dealing with the looming shortfall in Social Security is very, very important. In a few years, there will be a commission to save Social Security. My advice is to listen to what is proposed and then decide what is best.
You Decide: Is the Economy Passing Its Annual Evaluation? Most of us, especially senior citizens like me, have a yearly medical evaluation. In fact, I just had mine, and my doctor was mostly pleased overall. Sure, I have some aches and pains, mainly in my knees, but most of my key metrics are in the normal range, especially for someone in their mid-70s.
In this column, I’ll switch roles. Rather than being the patient evaluated by a medical doctor, I’ll be the doctor analyzing a much bigger patient—the U.S. economy. What kind of evaluation will our economy receive? Like me, is the economy in fairly good shape, but with some aches and pains? Or are there some big problems that may need surgery? After my evaluation, I’ll let you decide.
Just as we check blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature in people, we can look at key health measurements for the economy. My list includes four measures: aggregate production, total employment, the unemployment rate, and “real” worker earnings. As with human health, economists like to look at both the current economic levels and any recent changes in the measures.
Aggregate production, where the output of all products and services in the economy is combined, is measured by a concept called real gross domestic product, often shortened to just GDP. GDP is currently at a record high of $23 trillion. However, GDP normally increases with population growth and improvements in worker productivity. Most economists track the annual growth rate of GDP, which is currently 2.8 percent. Ironically, exactly the same rate was recorded immediately before the pandemic hit in 2020. Still, economists note there has been a modest downward trend in the GDP’s growth rate in recent decades, and many attribute this trend to smaller gains in worker productivity over the same time period.
Employment both in the country and North Carolina is also at record levels. Both economies quickly recovered the jobs temporarily lost during the pandemic and then resumed the job growth that was occurring prior to the pandemic.
However, recently, there has been a slowdown in job growth, with the monthly increase falling short of the number needed to accommodate new individuals entering the workforce. Consequently, the jobless rate both nationally and in North Carolina has risen to the low 4 percent range in 2024 from the low 3 percent range in 2023. However, historically, 4 percent is a low jobless rate.
Household income is also a big part of our everyday economy. With numerous measures of household income, comparisons can be confusing. My favorite measure is the average real weekly earnings of workers. The measure compares over time what the average worker earns weekly. But instead of comparing the actual dollar values, the dollar values are first adjusted for what each dollar can buy. In other words, the comparisons are of the purchasing power of weekly earnings, meaning they account for price inflation.
Comparing today to four years ago, the purchasing power of workers’ average weekly earnings is 3 percent lower. This means workers are still behind in what they can purchase when confronted with higher prices. But this measure has improved. A year ago, the average worker’s purchasing power was 5.5 percent lower than in early 2021.
I would rate this diagnosis of the economy as “fairly good, but with room for improvement,” which is about what my doctor told me about my personal health. But just like my doctor did for me, there’s another evaluation that needs to be done to look at the long run. While my health may be good now, am I potentially
headed for something bad in the future, like diabetes or a heart attack? Let’s do the same kind of evaluation for the economy.
The first worry is the national debt, which has grown enormously in the last decade. Measured against the size of the economy, today’s national debt is the highest ever. Just as concerning is the fact that there appears to be no end in sight for increasing the national debt. Trillion dollar annual deficits, which add to the national debt, have become common in the federal budget. Also, during the recent presidential campaign, neither major candidate offered a plan for containing the national debt.
One of the observable impacts of the national debt is its effect on interest rates. Those involved in the financial markets know that an increasing national debt creates more borrowing by the federal government. Increased public borrowing competes with normal private borrowing, with the ultimate result being higher interest rates. Indeed, since the Federal Reserve’s recent interest rate cut, some interest rates have actually increased rather than decreased. And higher interest rates translate into reduced ability for businesses and households to borrow.
Another sleeping long run concern is regulations. In the last five decades, federal regulations more than doubled. While many regulations are well meaning, they do create additional costs for businesses. Economic research has found a link between more regulations and slower growth in worker productivity. Modest improvements in productivity cost businesses revenue and workers money in their paychecks.
The third potential long run problem I see is education and training for the future economy dominated by artificial intelligence (AI). While there is much discussion about where AI will take us and the capabilities it will provide, I don’t hear enough about how formal education and training will need to be revamped, so millions of workers are not left without a job. We need to have these discussions now, because AI is rapidly expanding and being applied in vast parts of the economy. Before we know it, AI will be a big part of our lives, especially our work, or non-work (!) lives.
I walked away from my recent medical evaluation with a smile on my face. All of my health systems are operating smoothly now. But my doctor warned me there are a couple of things I should consider changing now to avoid something really bad when I hit my 80s, or even if I’m lucky, my 90s. I listened and agreed. Should we apply the same advice to the economy? You decide.
Yon Fall Maternal Roots Sale Results
The two day on-farm auction at Yon Family Farms in Ridge Spring, S.C., was held the last weekend in October. The Maternal Roots Sale offering included both bulls and females, mainly registered Angus, with a select offering of SimAngus and Ultrablack genetics. The sale was broadcast live on DVAuctions.com. The auctioneers were Eddie Burks and Dave Mullins.
The top selling bull was Lot 206, Yon Top Cut L1148, selling for $29,000 to Frey Angus Ranch in Granville, North Dakota. His sire is Yon Top Cut G730. (Yons retained a ⅓ semen interest.)
The second high selling bull was Lot 408, Yon Strong, selling for $28,000 to Hoover Angus in Ellston, Iowa. His sire is S Armstrong. (Yons retained a ⅓ semen interest.)
The third high selling bull was Lot 409, Yon Armstrong M29, a full brother to Lot 408, that sold for $23,000 to Five Circle Farms in Belton, South Carolina.
The top open heifer was Lot 3, Yon Sarah M182, selling for $26,000 to Windy Pond Angus in Moultrie, Georgia. She is sired by Yon Saluda.
The second high open heifer was Lot 2, Yon Laura M13, selling for $25,000 to Sydenstricker Genetics in Mexico, Missouri. She is sired by Yon Top Cut G730.
The third high open heifer was Lot 7, Yon Sarah M455, selling for $23,000 to Four Sons Farm in Cynthiana, Kentucky. She is sired by GB Fireball 672.
The top fall pair was Lot 18/18A, Yon Witch H55, selling for $30,000 to NextGen Cattle Company in Paxico, Kansas. The cow is sired by Deer Valley Growth Fund, and the bull calf is sired by Yon Southern Comfort.
The top spring split pair was Lot 37/37A, Yon Sarah H1269 and Yon Sarah M938, selling for $14,500 total to NextGen Cattle Company (Lot 37) and White Fox Ranch in Abbeville, S.C., (Lot 37A).
Yon Family Farms will be offering both long yearling bulls and females at their annual spring sale on February 15 in Ridge Spring.
The results of the sale, totaling 389 head, are as follows:
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!
Top selling fall pair - Lot 18/18A - Yon Witch H55
Top selling bull - Lot 206 - Yon Top Cut L1148
Top selling open heifer - Lot 3 - Yon Sarah M182
Scenes from the Yon Maternal Roots Sale
ANGUS NEWS
American Angus Association fiscal year results show continued leadership in beef industry. Signals in 2024 show strong demand for Angus cattle, beef products to continue. The American Angus Association concluded a successful fiscal year, expanding the breed’s market share. The 2024 fiscal year marked the 10th consecutive year of more than 300,000 registrations. In addition, the Association surpassed 21 million total registrations. Regular and junior memberships totaled 21,443.
“Despite record low inventory in the beef industry, the Association continues to see strong registration numbers and year-over-year growth,” said Mark McCully, chief executive officer of the Association. “It illustrates The Business Breed’s prominent position in the market; more than 80 percent of the U.S. cow herd is now Angus influenced.” This was one of many takeaways garnered from the Industry Insights Survey, which was released in the first quarter and conducted by Angus Media and CattleFax.
The breed also celebrated a historic industry milestone with the announcement from National Beef Packing Co., LLC (NPB) to pay grid premiums for genetic merit. As of August 5, NPB pays a $5 per head premium for cattle on their U.S. Premium Beef, LLC grid with an AngusLink Genetic Merit Scorecard (GMS) beef score of 100 or greater. Beginning December 1, cattle with a beef score of at least 150
will receive a $10 premium. This is in addition to the nearly $17/cwt. average premium paid on feeder cattle enrolled in AngusLink value added programs during the past year, even as annual enrollments grew by 76 percent.
AngusLink is one of many programs and tools the Association and its subsidiaries continue to expand to better support Angus breeders and drive demand for their products. During the fiscal year, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) processed 218,497 genomic samples — a 5.6 percent increase from the year prior. In partnership with the Association’s Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR), AGI also released research expected progeny differences (rEPDs) for both teat size and udder suspension. More than 148,000 phenotypic records for each trait were collected from 87,000 cows to contribute to the dataset for the rEPDs.
Angus Media welcomed Benjie Lemon as its new president in June 2024. His team ended the year having created 573 custom sale books and sold 3,170 advertising pages. The Angus Journal produced more than 3,500 pages of breeder news and articles, while the Angus Beef Bulletin provided commercial readers with 960 pages of industry news and insights.
In a joint effort to better serve readers, members, and commercial producers, Angus Media and the Association launched a new, redesigned website. The retooled homepage of
www.Angus.org allows visitors a choice of three actions: to learn about Angus advantages, go to the commercial cattlemen’s corner, or visit the member center. Each section has resources, news, and links specifically curated for different types of Angus producers.
The Angus Foundation continues to expand its reach and support of youth, education, and research, having awarded more than $388,000 in scholarship dollars and raising nearly $800,000 in donations in the fiscal year. Under the Foundation’s guidance and with additional funds from Ingram Angus and the Association, BEEF Academy launched in July 2024. The new youth focused online learning platform is a go-to resource for beef industry education for National Junior Angus Association members. In the future, the platform will be available to schools and other organizations to utilize.
Driving growing demand for Angus genetics, Certified Angus Beef sold 1.236 billion pounds of branded beef with 18,000 licensed partners worldwide. Engaging producers across the industry, Certified Angus Beef concluded the first year of its Raised with Respect campaign, having facilitated the Beef Quality Assurance certification of more than 1,500 ranchers.
“Today’s consumers have greater interest in how their beef is raised and the practices behind it,” said John Stika, president of Certified Angus Beef. “Programs like BQA help bring our customers and beef community closer together in that understanding, building trust to ensure a sustainable future for our industry.” The program, which is funded in partnership by Sysco, has been greenlighted for another year.
To view the 2024 Angus Annual Report and to view the Association’s complete financial report, visit https://bit. ly/AAA_AnnualReport24
Nearly 1,500 gather in Texas for Angus Convention. Angus enthusiasts attend the 2024 Angus Convention in Fort Worth, Tex., for organization business, awards, tours, educational sessions, and networking. The American Angus Association welcomed nearly 1,500 registrants to Fort Worth, Tex., on November 1-4 for its annual Angus Convention. The event showcased innovation in production practices, technology, and Association programs, and it celebrated tradition and the people who have helped make the Angus breed what it is today.
“It encourages me to see people investing time to be at Angus Convention and stay connected,” said Mark McCully, CEO of the Association. “With everything we have going in this business, I’m still
most optimistic about what is yet to come.”
Learning together — Educational tours and presentations continue to be a highlight for many attendees. The 2024 National Angus Tour and Beef Blitz Tour included stops at the Cox Ranch in Peaster, Tex., Vytelle’s corporate laboratory in Fort Worth, and Certified Angus Beef’s (CAB’s) Texas based, licensed partner Buc-ee’s, among others.
“Farmers and ranchers take care of the cattle and land; that’s their world,” said Mike McReynolds, CAB’s executive account manager for the south central region who helped organize the 2024 Beef Blitz. “From gate to plate, there are several segments in the supply chain. We host the Beef Blitz to help connect the dots, sharing more about how it all works after cattle leave the ranch.”
On the main stage, Scott Stratten of UnMarketing Inc. spoke about the value of storytelling and the value of making things right when they go wrong, related to seedstock providers’ customer experience. His keynote was sponsored by IMI Global, a division of Where Food Comes From.
The genetics symposium during Angus Convention featured presentations and discussion on the intersection of genetics and cattle health. Sponsored by Neogen, the symposium speakers discussed the use of new technologies, like gene editing in the pork industry and data collection methods for cattle, to improve animal health and productivity.
Angus University sessions offered attendees even more education. One learning track on Sunday featured succession planning expert and Oklahoma State University professor Shannon Ferrell, who brought energy and humor to a challenging subject for many ranching families. Producers were introduced to the basics: ways to start a conversation with their family and a variety of tools that can help them make the most of the transition. In another track, speakers shared about the economics of herd rebuilding and selection and marketing tools for commercial cattlemen like GeneMax Advantage and AngusLink.
“Begin with the end in mind,” said Nevil Speer, an industry consultant. “Ultimately, consumers are our business.”
Producers considering new ways to drive revenue for their operation sat in on sessions exploring direct-to-consumer sales through the Certified Angus Beef Ranch-to-Table program, as well as opportunities to leverage carbon credits and cost sharing sustainability programs.
Offered for a second year in a row, the Angus Media Marketing Summit offered breeders information to better
understand how to refresh or evolve their brand. This included presentations about the use of videos, Angus Media’s Pasture-to-Publish portal, and ideas for how to make the most of sale day with marketing.
Taking care of business — During the 141st Annual Convention of Delegates on November 4, the Association recognized Dr. Barry Pollard for his service as the outgoing president of the Board of Directors. The 263 delegates in attendance re-elected Paul Bennett of Red House, Va., and John Dickinson of Auburn, Calif., to the Board for a second term. Elected for a first term were Ron Hinrichsen of Westmoreland, Kan.; Mark Johnson of Orlando, Okla.; and Danny Poss of Scotia, Nebraska.
Jonathan Perry of Fayetteville, Tenn., was elected as president for the Board’s 2024-2025 year, and Jim Brinkley of Milan, Mo., was elected as vice president. Darrell Stevenson of White Sulphur Springs, Mont., will serve as treasurer.
The Association also took time during the convention to collectively reflect on the progress the breed has made.
“We talk a lot about quality, but something lately that I’ve been thinking more about is the impact of the Angus breed on consistency,” said McCully during the opening general session. “We’ve improved the consistency of the product, and that has a tremendous amount of value. It brings value to how we market the cattle, how we manage the cattle, and sure has a lot of value to the folks that are selling our product and the consumers at the end of that supply chain.”
Celebrating in style — The largest celebration at Angus Convention was once more, the Association’s awards dinner and reception on November 3. During it, the Angus Heritage Foundation inducted Bill and Sally Bowman of Saint Joseph, Mo.; Dave and Yvonne Hinman of Malta, Mont.; Harlan Ritchie (posthumously) of East Lansing, Mich.;
North Carolina Angus Association
ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS
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Registered Angus genetics deliver better calving ease, more growth, and superior marbling.
4K FARMS
Richard D. Kirkman, DVM Siler City 919-742-5500 rdkirkman@spectrum.net
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and Bob and Jim Sitz of Harrison and Dillon, Montana. Sitz Angus was recognized for passing the 100 year mark for continuously raising Angus cattle.
Other winners recognized during the awards dinner and reception are as follows:
• The Roll of Victory (ROV) Breeder of the Year — Express Ranches in Yukon, Okla.
• ROV Bull of the Year — BNWZ Executive Decision 2219, owned by Hunter Angus of Fair Grove, Mo., and Kayden Nowatzke of Michigan City, Ind.
• ROV Show Heifer of the Year — EXAR Princess 2717, owned by Jake Allison of Yukon, Okla.
• 2024 Sire of the Year — Conneally Craftsman (Registration No. 20132505) bred by Conneally Angus in Whitman, Neb., and owned by Select Sires Inc. in Plain City, Ohio, and STgenetics in Navasota, Tex.
• Angus Ambassador of the Year — Mike McGuire in Waverly, Ala.
• Young Breeder of the Year — Cody Quam in Lodi, Wis.
The reception concluded with the crowning of the 2025 Miss American Angus. Rosalind Kidwell of Gentryville, Ind., will serve as a spokesperson for the Angus breed at shows and events across the country in the coming year.
Another source of excitement came from drawing the grand prize giveaways. Steve Knoll of Hereford, Tex., won a complete cattle handling system from Priefert and Datamars. Debbie Denowh of Sidney, Mont., was drawn for a John Deere XUV835M Gator; and Lori Thomas of Baker City, Ore., took home a Trans Ova genetics service voucher, which helps cover one genetic preservation, an IVF cycle, and up to five fresh implants into Trans Ova or client recipients.
Throughout the long weekend,
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HILL ANGUS FARM
Dr. Gary M. Hill Hendersonville 229-848-3695 gmhill@uga.edu
Joe & Robin Hampton Mt. Ulla 704-880-2488 (Joe); 704-880-3572 (Robin) robinbackcreek@att.net
JACK KNOB FARMS Karl, Janet & Logan Gillespie Franklin 828-371-2220 karl@jackknobfarms.com www.jackknobfarms.com
LANE ANGUS
Roger & Bundy Lane Bundy Lane - Manager Gates 252-398-7705 (Bundy); 252-398-7719 (Miranda) 252-357-1279 (Office) bundylane@gmail.com laneangusbeef@gmail.com www.laneangusbeef.com
N.C. State University - E. Carroll Joyner Beef Unit Matt Morrison - Manager Raleigh 716-720-0227 mdmorri8@ncsu.edu
SMITH ANGUS FARM
Randall Smith Snow Camp 336-516-4558 smithangusfarm@yahoo.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
UWHARRIE RIDGE FARMS Mark Wilburn Asheboro 336-465-2417 uwharrieridgefarms@gmail.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
Angus News continued from the previous page
the director of culinary arts for the Certified Angus Beef brand, Chef Tony Biggs, along with convention staff, kept attendees satisfied with beef dishes and hors d’oeuvres. The brand also hosted a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Bash on November 2 as part of its “Raised with Respect” campaign. It was preceded earlier in the day by a BQA training, which was attended by 115 ranchers.
Radale Tiner, Association regional manager for Texas and New Mexico, reflected on Angus Convention as a whole. “It was great. It was well attended. I thought everyone had fun, starting with the National Angus Tour—people talking about how good the stops were—all the way through to the awards dinner. I’m glad we could host the Angus family back in Texas this year.”
Top sire honored at the 2024 Angus Convention. Connealy Craftsman records over 4,000 progenies. For over 150 years, the popularity of Angus cattle has grown, making over 80 percent of America’s cowherd influenced by Angus genetics. Influential sires have made their
mark, and during the 2024 American Angus Association Awards Dinner and Reception, the Association recognized the sire registering the most progeny.
Connealy Craftsman, owned by Select Sires Inc. and Sexing Technologies, sired 4,014 calves registered into the Angus herd book, the most in fiscal year 2024.
“We were interested in this bull for a variety of reasons, but it was phenotype that set him apart for us. His $M index and foot scores were excellent, and his pedigree was something different for us,”
Brian House of Select Sires Inc. said.
“When our team set their eyes on him, they very quickly selected him as the ‘special bull,’ in that sale.”
Recognizing these sires highlights the breeders dedicated to providing top quality Angus bulls.
“Our members enjoy wide diversity in genetics to achieve whatever their breeding goals are,” said Mark McCully, chief executive officer of the Association.
“We’re thankful for these cattlemen committed to breed improvement.”
The top 10 sires are recorded from October 1 through September 30.
Angus Foundation works to support their mission at the 2024 Angus Convention. Fundraising efforts from the 21 Millionth Registration and Foundation Raffle help to support education, youth, and research. As the final gavel fell, “STgenetics, Novasota, Texas,” rang out throughout the ballroom, as regional manager, Will Harsh, announced the lucky, new owner of the 21 Millionth Registration number.
This summer, the American Angus Association Herd Book surpassed 21 million registrations. The coveted number was reserved and auctioned off at the annual Angus Convention, selling for $19,000, with all funds going to help support the Angus Foundation’s mission of education, youth, and research.
“The Angus community has been very good to STgenetics since we entered the market,” said Aaron Arnett, Ph.D., Director of Beef Genetics at STgenetics. “We are so appreciative of the leadership and expertise of the American Angus Association, especially in the program areas of research, genetic evaluation, and youth development. We saw buying the 21 Millionth Registration as an opportunity to give back to a breed that has been a tremendous partner to STgenetics.”
The 21 Millionth Registration had been reserved for the buyer to use on an animal already registered in the American Angus Association Herd Book or to be used on a future progeny.
“We are hoping to name ST Wizard 1585 the 21 Millionth Registration,” Arnett said. “He is a very unique young sire bred by STgenetics that exemplifies many of the Association traits we value, combined with an impressive physical build.”
ST Wizard 1585 is available in sexed female, sexed male, and conventional semen from STgenetics.
“We are all so appreciative of STgenetics and their generosity in purchasing the 21 Millionth Registration from the Herd Book,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “Their donation helped us to surpass our goal at Angus Convention and will help us to continue to support our mission.”
Also at Angus Convention, the Angus Foundation held a raffle with donation items from Zoetis, Merck Animal Health, SenseHub, Select Sires, and the Angus Foundation.
“We are excited to share that the convention raffle was a fantastic new
initiative, offering a fun opportunity to donate while supporting the Angus Foundation,” said Jimmy Stickley, Angus Foundation donor coordinator. “A big thank you to our generous sponsors — Merck Animal Health, Select Sires, SenseHub Vence, and Zoetis — for their continued commitment to the breed and its future.”
Enthusiastic Foundation supporters helped to gather $6,000, which will go into the Angus Fund, a fund of unrestricted dollars, supporting events like Beef Leaders Institute, LEAD, and Raising the Bar Conferences.
Mike Frey of Oklahoma was the winner of the Merck Animal Health Prime Vac Cooler and 2 All Flex 50MR2 Syringes; Howard Franklin of Arizona, took home the 10 units of Angus semen from Select Sires; Theresa Miller of Illinois is now the owner of the Yeti 45 Tundra Cooler from SenseHub Vence; Ruth Grove of Virginia will now be able to capitalize on their genetics with 50 GeneMAX Advantage Tests from Zoetis; and Jim Williams of Texas got to take home the CAB Knife Set, Wine Glasses, Cutting Board, and Angus Swag.
“Each raffle ticket sold will go on to help every junior’s experience while in the NJAA,” said Mary Wood, Chairman, National Junior Angus Association Board. “We cannot thank breeders enough for the support we received throughout the weekend.”
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 $4.9 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.4 million in beef cattle research in the past decade. For more information, contact the Angus Foundation at 816383-5100.
Angus Means Business. The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 21,000 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
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MERCK
Animal Health News
Merck Animal Health Unveils ALLFLEX APR Series Handheld Readers. A new family of handheld readers saves time and provides producers with more capabilities for advanced animal management. Merck Animal Health, recently announced the wide availability of a new series of ALLFLEX APR handheld RFID readers, which are designed to enhance efficiency and productivity for livestock producers.
The new family of handheld readers offers expanded storage in a compact, rugged format, which is useful for livestock producers to manage record collection with speed, convenience, and accuracy.
The new APR650 is the top-of-theline unit. This reader scans Electronic Identification tag numbers and barcodes, opening new avenues for producers to link an animal to any information that has a barcode.
“Scanning barcodes provides a seamless flow of information about a specific animal—ranging from its breeding records to its wellness information to its production potential—right into the office of the livestock producer,” said Brandt Kreuscher, business development manager for Merck Animal Health. “This technology gives them immediate access to private, accurate, reliable information about their animals.”
“You can use or create a barcode to represent any key piece of information—
genetic records, pedigree, health input, DNA sample, or even a barcode that the producer assigns to a specific protocol or location based task,” Kreuscher said.
The APR650 has a useful keypad for entering information, stores up to one million records, and can be connected remotely to a producer’s office.
Another option is the Allflex APR250, a more basic reader that stores up to 100,000 electronic ID numbers and offers advanced remote connectivity for modern mobile information management.
“We are excited to see producers and veterinarians utilizing these new handheld readers to identify, track, store, and analyze data—making it a real game changer in delivering advanced animal management,” Kreuscher added.
Each APR product is ergonomically designed in rugged casing and verifies reads with flashing lights, vibrations, and sounds. The free Allflex CONNECT smartphone application facilitates information transfer from APR to office.
For more information about the comprehensive Allflex line of products from Merck Animal Health, visit www. allflexusa.com
About Merck Animal Health. At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading edge science to save and improve
lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines, and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases.
Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., is the global animal health business of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners, and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability, and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well being, and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive
R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www. merck-animal-health.com
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NEWS
Premier Select Sires Scholarship Opportunities Total $20,000 in 2025. Premier Select Sires will award up to $20,000 to students within the Premier territory through the 2025 Premier Future Ag Leaders Scholarship Program. Two exemplary students will receive $2,500 scholarships through either the Johnny Daniel Memorial Scholarship or the Wayne Dudley Scholarship. Several other students will receive scholarships of $750-$1,000 in value.
Scholarship application forms are available under the “News” tab of www. premierselectsires.com , by calling 570-836-3168, or by emailing office@ premierselect.com. Completed scholarship applications are due January 31, 2025.
Eligible students include high school seniors through college seniors presently enrolled or planning to enroll in an undergraduate agriculture related major. The student or his/her parent or guardian must reside in the Premier membership area and must be an active Premier customer in good standing. Previous scholarship winners remain eligible during subsequent award years; however, a student can only receive a $2,500 scholarship once in his/her school career.
The Premier Future Ag Leaders Scholarship Program provides financial
support to eligible college undergraduates in agricultural majors. The program provides additional return to the cooperative’s member-owners by supporting the next generation of young people desiring to study and work in the agriculture industry.
The Premier Select Sires, Inc. board of directors has made a commitment to providing money to support this scholarship program on an ongoing, annual basis.
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 two sister cooperatives across the United States, Premier owns and controls Select Sires Inc., the world’s most recognized name in bovine genetics.
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
828-320-7317 - Kim jodystandley@gmail.com
HEREFORD HILLS
Greensboro, NC
Bill Kirkman III 336-382-9635 ST Genetics Representative
McCOY CATTLE FARM
Cove City, NC
Myron & Charlie McCoy 252-229-4602 mccoycattlefarms@gmail.com
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 336-399-9884 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 terracefarms@gmail.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
2024 NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Winners Recognized in Kansas City. The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) Fed Steer Shootout teaches young people about the cattle feeding industry. HRC Feed Yards LLC, Scott City, Kan., hosts the annual event. This year, the Fed Steer Shootout attracted 72 junior participants in 20 states — from California to Pennsylvania — which entered 211 head of Hereford and Hereford influenced steers. The 2024 winners received more than $15,000 in cash prizes and awards from the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) on October 25 during the American Hereford Association (AHA) Annual Membership
News
Meeting and Conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Each year, the feedout’s cattle performance awards are recognized alongside the top three junior members, in both the junior and senior age divisions, for their efforts and knowledge of the cattle feeding industry. Those top three participants in each age division gave a speech and were interviewed by a panel of judges to determine the final placing.
This year, Jarrett Worrell of Mason, Tex., was named the contestant of the year in the junior division, and Jordan Mitchem of Vale, N.C., earned the contestant of the year title in the senior division.
Perry Lee Teeter Passes
February 1, 1935 – November 19, 2024
Perry Lee Teeter, 89, of Cleveland, N.C., passed away on November 19.
He was born on February 1, 1935, in Iredell County to the late Willis Lee Teeter and Sylvia Correll Teeter.
Perry was a member of Prospect Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Deacon and Elder. He was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Air National Guard.
He was a rodeo cowboy, where he won bull riding championships in his younger years, and a lifelong cattleman. Perry and his late wife, Doris, were very involved in the Beef Leadership Youth Institute and were both involved with helping those in agriculture.
Perry was a director of the American Polled Hereford Association and worked at Harris Teeter for 25 years. He loved his family and was actively involved in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives. He will be greatly missed.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Doris Jane Teeter.
Those left to cherish his loving memory are his children, William “Lee” Teeter (Lura), Walter Franklin Teeter (Ruth Lee); brother, Charles Lavette Teeter (Brenda); grandchildren, Garrett, Justin, Austin, Rhett, and Keanen. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com Memorials may be made to:
Prospect Presbyterian Church 9425 NC 152 Mooresville, NC 28115
About the contest — Contestants collected feedyard performance and carcass data on their pen of three and individual entries of Hereford and commercial Hereford-influenced steers, while gaining comprehensive industry knowledge on topics such as animal health, nutrition, and marketing. All steers were fed at HRC Feed Yards, Scott City, Kan., and were hauled to and harvested at National Beef Packing Co. in Dodge City, Kan., as candidates for the Certified Hereford Beef brand. Industry partners such as Merck Animal Health, Allflex Livestock Intelligence, and NEOGEN played a vital role in the success of the program, as well as involvement from Cargill Inc. in the educational portion of the program and generous sponsors such as Texas Stardance Cattle and Bar One Ranch.
Furthermore, contestants entered performance portfolios, responding to questions regarding the data reports they received throughout the feeding period and summarizing what they learned while participating in the program. The top three contestants, in both the junior and senior divisions, were selected from the submitted portfolios. These finalists had the opportunity to compete for the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Contestant of the Year title.
The NJHA Fed Steer Shootout holds enormous potential to grow your knowledge and understanding of the beef industry through real world situations. Regardless of participation in the feedout program, all juniors and their families are encouraged to attend the annual NJHA Fed Steer Shootout Field Day on April 11-12, 2025.
Mitchem Receives Merry Family/ MGM Memorial Scholarship from Hereford Youth Foundation of America. Each year, the Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) and
National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) work together to provide opportunities for our breed’s future leaders so they may excel in their college and career paths, strengthening this industry and the breed. Scholarships were HYFA’s first mission in the fall of 2004, when the first $750 Gary Bishop Scholarship was awarded. In 2005, it was followed by $4,750 with the addition of the Bob and Dolores Call Scholarship and the unveiling of the $5 million capital endowment campaign. Thanks to the late Bill and Jo Ellard, the EE Ranches, Inc., $200,000 endowment led to $18,250 in scholarships being awarded in the fall of 2006. This endowment was the beginning of great things to come for HYFA, and now each year, HYFA proudly awards close to $200,000 to support Hereford youth.
This year, Regan Mitchem of Vale, N.C., was awarded the Merry Family/ MGM Memorial Scholarship during the 2024 American Hereford Association Annual Meeting and Conference. During the awards ceremony, the HYFA and its donors awarded $165,500 in scholarships to 27 NJHA members to help support their higher education goals.
Mitchem is currently attending the N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine in the doctor of veterinary medicine, food animal scholar program. She is inspired by her background with generational family farms and has a passion for large, food animals.
“There is a nationwide shortage of food animal veterinarians, with very few veterinary students planning to work with food animals,” stated Mitchem. “In undergrad, I set and achieved my goal to be accepted into the N.C. State University Food Animal Scholar Program. As intended by this program, I am studying food animal medicine so that I can give back to the industry that I love by promoting animal health.”
The Merry Family/MGM Memorial Scholarship of $2,500 is sponsored by HYFA and dedicated to students pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine, carrying on the legacy of Gordon and Marian Merry from Wisconsin. MGM Polled Herefords believes the future of agriculture lies in the hands of the industry’s hard working youth. The Merry family recognizes the dedication required from young people to raise and exhibit livestock and rewards juniors who are passionate about Hereford cattle with this scholarship.
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The selection committee continues to be impressed by the high caliber of applicants. “It’s a true pleasure to review the HYFA scholarship applications. So many of the applicants have stellar records and have interesting and creative career ambitions that reviewers can’t help but be certain the future of the industry is in good hands,” said George Sprague,
HYFA scholarship committee member. The scholarship fund serves as the bedrock of HYFA, and countless youth benefit from its mission. Since its inception, HYFA has awarded scholarships, fueling educational opportunities. For years, these scholarships have been lighting the way for youth in the Hereford breed. Recently,
the foundation celebrated awarding more than $2 million in scholarships to assist Hereford youth further their education since its founding in 2000.
About the Hereford Youth Foundation of America. HYFA was established in 1989 as a not-forprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated exclusively to scholarship and educational support of youth in the business of raising Hereford cattle. The Foundation is governed by a board of directors who are heavily involved in the Hereford industry and who have a vested interest in educating youth, developing leadership, and encouraging young people to return to production agriculture.
About the National Junior Hereford Association. NJHA is one of the largest, strongest, and most active junior cattle programs in the country. Over the years, members of this association have gone on to earn international and domestic respect as models for youth
organizational success. The NJHA, through its extensive educational programs, continues to lay the foundation for the beef industry’s future leaders. The traditions of the past, coupled with the energy of today’s board of directors, have created a progressive approach to further develop a meaningful and educational association focus.
Jill Bielema,Bill King, and Steve Merry present Regan Mitchem with the award.
Is Anyone Keeping Heifers?
By JAMES MITCHELL University of Arkansas
Is anyone keeping heifers? It’s a question I’ve been asked at every cattlemen’s meeting I’ve been to this fall—and one I’ve been asking myself. The answer appears to be a definitive “no” from all the information I’ve gathered. Every data source I can think of points to the same conclusion. Of course, some producers will retain a few heifers this fall; several do so every year. But in aggregate, there’s no sign of herd rebuilding.
heifers. I included data from 2012 to 2014 to illustrate what these figures looked like leading up to the last rebuilding phase at the start of the current cattle cycle. We have yet to reach a comparable point in the data. In 2024, heifers are averaging 42 percent of total receipts, similar to 2023 but noticeably higher than the 39 percent average in 2012–2014. This difference might seem small, but when applied
The first graph shows total feeder and stocker cattle receipts, including auctions, direct sales, and video auctions. This year, auction receipts are down 4.4 percent compared to 2023, with fall receipts (September–November) down 2.8 percent year-over-year. The data on auction receipts also separates calves from feeder cattle and distinguishes steers from heifers. This provides another data point to indicate whether heifer retention is occurring.
The second graph shows the share of feeder and stocker cattle receipts that are
to total auction receipts, it can mean 400,000-500,000 fewer heifers are sold.
What we don’t know is how many producers would have kept heifers if it weren’t for this fall’s drought. I don’t think the overall conclusions about herd rebuilding would have changed, but the drought has further delayed any rebuilding from occurring. Most believe it could begin as early as next year. For now, however, most producers are pleased with high calf prices and are well aware of the opportunity cost of retaining heifers as replacements.
Ranch2Retail Set to Revolutionize the Beef Supply Chain. Industry Innovator Lamar Steiger to Launch New Venture Prioritizing the Meat Consumer. Rapid changes in the way the beef industry supply operates are occurring at a historic pace. These changes almost always happen at the expense of one segment or another, as new challenges appear almost monthly. Ranch2Retail (R2R) reimagines the beef supply through a unique approach, representing the perspectives of the rancher, retailer, and consumer to ensure knowledge, value, and transparency are built into each segment. “The existing model presents a wealth of opportunity for improvement. Today’s consumers demand to know more about where their food comes from, how animals are treated, and that they can count on their grocer to provide high quality products at a value. One segment of the beef supply chain can’t solve it all,” said Lamar Steiger, founding partner and president of Ranch2Retail. “Our vision for Ranch2Retail is to create a well designed, organized, collaborative supply chain. When that happens, the customer wins, and we’re creating repeat business, so we can all be profitable together.”
The R2R model leverages technology, cooperation, and its deep rooted relationships in every industry segment, from seedstock to feedlot and packers to retailers, to make the consumer the hero. As the final link in the value chain, supermarket grocers need beef supply partners that can build resilience and consistency.
Making the pivot from disorganized, segmented supply to an organized supply chain approach, R2R establishes digital
cooperation to help facilitate knowledge sharing, identify efficiencies, ensure the supply of high quality products, and reduce price volatility. This presents a level of confidence in the availability of beef products for their shoppers and stability for long term growth.
A Robust Team with Generations of Value Chain Experience — As a seasoned beef supply chain consultant and third generation rancher, Steiger is well positioned to bring forward a vision for a revolutionized ranch-to-retail beef supply. He’s successfully expanded his lifelong dream to own a cattle operation with his wife, building The 808 Ranch. He works with domestic and international clients, including Walmart Inc., to demonstrate the impact dramatic and innovative change can bring to supplying beef for everyday consumers at an affordable price.
In addition to Steiger and his executive team, R2R is supported with capital and strategic expertise from Fulcrum Collective. Doug Batie, chief executive officer of Fulcrum Collective, and his team bring more than 25 years of experience across the supply chain and consumer packaged goods industries.
Partners interested in building a better beef supply chain together are encouraged to reach out at www.ranch2retail.com/contact
About Ranch2Retail. Ranch2Retail (R2R) is a beef industry consulting partner set to revolutionize the beef supply chain. Its experienced consulting team brings years of both ranch and retail expertise to implement vertically cooperative programs in various agricultural arenas successfully. Learn more at www.ranch2retail.com
Carolina Classic Fair Show
Results. The Carolina Classic Fair was held in Winston-Salem, N.C., on October 4–13. The open Simmental show was held on October 11, with Lynn Davis from Georgia judging the show. Davis selected
By JENNIE RUCKER Executive Secretary N.C. Simmental Association
TX Jemberly, shown by Charlie Thomas of Winston-Salem, as the grand champion Simmental heifer. Jemberly was also the senior champion heifer and is a daughter of CDI Innovator 325D. The reserve
champion Simmental heifer was the calf champion, TX Rumors, also shown by Charlie Thomas. Rumors is sired by LLSF Redstone J89. The reserve calf champion was TX Whiskey Girl M853, another Charlie Thomas heifer, sired by JSUL Something About Mary 8421. The reserve senior champion was PSCS Daisy 1015K, shown by Eleanor Smothers of Walnut Cove, North Carolina. This heifer is a daughter of TJSC King of Diamonds.
Charlie Thomas also had the grand champion Simmental bull with TX Atticus M509. This calf champion is
sired by W/C Bank On It 273H. The grand champion Simmental heifer, TX Jemberly, went on to win the supreme overall champion female. The reserve Simmental, TX Rumors, went on to be selected as the reserve supreme overall female.
In the junior show, held on October 13, Lynn Davis also served as the judge. Davis selected PSCS Daisy 1015K as her grand champion Simmental heifer. This heifer was shown by Eleanor Smothers. The reserve champion Simmental heifer was TX Jade, shown by Carter Slate of King, North Carolina. This heifer is a daughter of W/C Bank On It 273H. Congratulations to all these exhibitors.
Grand champion Simmental heifer and supreme overall female.
Junior show grand champion Simmental heifer.
Junior show reserve champion Simmental heifer.
Reserve champion Simmental heifer and reserve supreme overall female.
Extra Effort Sale. The Fred Smith Company Ranch held their 8th Annual Extra Effort Sale on October 19 at the ranch in Clayton, North Carolina. It was a great day to buy cattle and was a tremendous sale for the ranch. The top selling lot was the Lot 1 bull, FSCR L018 Optimum, a son of Deer Valley Optimum 9246. This bull sold for $17,500. The age advantaged bulls averaged $7,250, and the yearling bulls averaged just under $5,000. The females also sold well, with the fall breds and pairs averaging $3,925, while the spring pairs averaged just over $3,000. The open heifers averaged $2,250.
Taking Applications for Executive Secretary Position. The N.C. Simmental Association is now accepting resumes for anyone interested in the executive secretary position. The job description
involves being responsible for maintaining membership, advertising, preparing for the annual Fall Harvest Sale, and many other duties regarding the promotion of Simmental cattle in North Carolina. This is a part time position with many different aspects to the job. The candidate must be able to relate to many different types of people and have good communication and organization skills. Preference will be given to someone knowledgeable in the cattle industry and with good computer skills. They will work closely with the board of directors on events, planning, and goals. They are also responsible for helping with the N.C. Junior Simmental Association.
Anyone interested in applying should email their resume to our president, Anna English, at anna_munday@yahoo.com by December 31.
Some of the bulls offered at the Extra Effort Sale at Fred Smith Company Ranch.
National Breeding Herd Expansion Situation and Resources Of Note
By GLYNN TONSOR
Kansas State University
Except for perhaps fed cattle marketing weights, arguably nothing has received more inner industry, supply side interest in 2024 than current and future national breeding herd size. Given clear implications for subsequent calf crops and capacity utilization throughout the industry, this is understandable. The purpose of this short piece is to summarize my current take on herd expansion and to highlight associated resources of note.
The most recent data point around the nation’s beef cowherd and expansion plans was provided on October 25 in USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed Report This report included a gender breakdown indicating that on both October 1, 2023, and October 1, 2024, 40 percent of feedlot inventories were heifers. This clearly signals that national herd expansion has not begun. The next USDA national data point is expected to come from the January Cattle Inventory Report , scheduled to be released on January 31, 2025. I expect that report will indicate small, additional declines in the national breeding herd, thereby reaffirming expansion has not been initiated.
Ultimately, I do anticipate the herd will be rebuilt in part and currently anticipate the summer of 2026 to be when we observe market relevant expansion efforts. While each producer has a unique situation and various factors to consider,
broadly speaking, the lack of national expansion so far is not surprising and can be defended as “rational.” Inflation adjusted cow/calf returns are strong, but not what they were in the historical and perhaps expectation setting year of 2014. Furthermore, elevated production costs leading to increased capital requirements result in reduced rates of return even when dollars per cow per year measures appear strong.
As producers evaluate their situation, I encourage them to:
• Know their production costs, implied breakeven sales prices, and implications for the expected financial value of adding females to an operation
• Consider the distinction between national herd size and beef production
• Properly identify (and ideally leverage) their comparative advantage
To assist in knowing one’s costs, www.agmanager.info contains farm management guides or starting point budgets under the Farm Budgets tab and links to the Kansas Farm Management Association’s Enterprise Reports under the KFMA tab. Having a firm grasp on one’s own production costs and future sales price expectations is helpful in using the “KSU Beef Replacement” decision aide, which is found by clicking on Livestock & Meat, then Production Economics. This tool provides data driven estimates on the net present value of
TJB Gelbvieh
Maternal Magic Bull Sale XIII Sale Report
TJB Gelbvieh Maternal Magic XIII was hosted at the farm on November 2. It was another beautiful, sunny day with fall color changes and Southern hospitality at its best. It was a stellar day for the TJB crew, as it was the highest averaging sale by over $800 per bull. The 47 bulls sold for an average of $6,062. The 14 red bulls averaged $7,482.
Friday viewing was followed by the traditional roast and hot potatoes that have become tradition with calf fry appetizers. It is a great time to visit with new and old friends alike.
The high selling bull was Lot 23, TJB 308L, selling for $10,000 to Green Hills Gelbvieh. He is another son of 579C that has topped our bull sales. He is also closely related to Rebel Yell, an all time ranch favorite. The second high seller was Lot 6, TJB 360L, a red Finnegan sired bull, going to Joe Rogers for $9,500. Selling for $9,000 was Lot 17, a red 410B son, going to Jeremy Myatt, as well as Lot 17, a red 149X, selling to Richard Hudson.
The bidding was active both on the seats and via the Internet. Many thanks to everyone who made this special event a reality. We hope to see you in Chickamauga next year on November 1. It’s not just a sale; it is a social event!
adding a replacement heifer or younger cow to an operation.
While I do expect some national herd rebuilding, the next cattle cycle peak I anticipate will be below the 2019 herd size of 31.7 million beef cows. Narrowly, the extensive list of efficiency gains made in recent decades implies fewer cows are needed to hit any given beef production target. This, coupled with elevated costs per cow, suggests we will increase beyond current levels of about 28 million beef cows, barring substantial U.S. beef demand enhancement, but not exceed the recent peak of 31.7 million. Those interested in related details from past cattle cycles and cow vs. beef volume points are encouraged to go to the Ag Manager website and click on Livestock & Meat, then Production Economics, and, finally, An Updated Evaluation of the U.S. Cattle
Cycle, which last was updated by myself, Jaime Luke, and Andrew Anderson. Finally, most national herd size discussions reflect a commodity mindset, treating all cows equal and all beef equal. In reality, today’s cattle/beef supply chain has many points of differentiation and specialization, primarily reflecting the proliferation of requests from customers and consumers. I end with this reminder, as readers need to follow not only aggregate, national herd aspects, but also consider factors closer and more specific to their own operations. In this spirit, honest assessment of one’s operation and what comparative advantages are present is strongly encouraged. This likely will lead to improved decisions and, ultimately, expansion, status quo, or perhaps even a reduction in operational size.
Precision Livestock Technology Elevates CALS Research
By CHAD SALESKA N.C. State University
N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) leads the pack in driving innovative animal research. With funding from the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS), CALS has committed to precision livestock technology and animal research with the purchase of three state-of-the-art Vytelle SENSE systems for research stations in Waynesville, Butner, and Laurel Springs. CALS first began using Vytelle (formerly known as GrowSafe) units at the Upper Piedmont Research Station in Reidsville.
“With farmland declining, efficiency is now the name of the game,” says Kyle Miller, superintendent of the Mountain Research Station in Waynesville. “We have to produce more with less by increasing yields and reducing inputs.”
How Vytelle Units Work - In the simplest terms, the Vytelle system weighs individual grazing animals and measures their feed and water intake from their stalls.
The Vytelle system identifies an individual animal using Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology read with a transponder. The system records intake values and transmits them to
computers in the research stations. Researchers use the data to help make selection decisions to increase efficiency of feed and water use.
“It’s a way to identify variations in the genetics of an animal,” says Loren Fisher, director of NCSU Research Stations and Field Labs. “It helps us decide which animals to keep for breeding and to provide valuable data to accurately evaluate the impact of our research on water consumption and growth.”
Efficiency, Health, and Environmental Benefits - Feed expenses are the greatest direct cost of livestock production. Feed efficiency varies widely among individual animals. For example, some animals convert 3 pounds of feed into a pound of weight gain, while other animals convert 6 pounds of feed into a pound of gain. Gathering that data and determining the efficiency of a specific diet add to the value of the Vytelle units.
“You can evaluate nutritional supplements and feed additives to see how they affect performance,” says Fisher, who was involved with the first Vytelle system in Reidsville three years ago. “We can vary diets and then measure
the rate of gain to determine which diet is most efficient. It allows us to say this is a superior diet over this diet. Or this supplement helps with this but not with that.”
The usefulness of the Vytelle system also includes improved health monitoring of individual animals.
“The system will notify you if there is a change in the feed consumption of an animal,” Fisher says. “It’s an opportunity to identify when that happens before an animal shows illness symptoms, enabling you to treat the animal much earlier.”
Reducing environmental impact is another benefit of the Vytelle system.
“Previous research also indicates that improved feed efficiency is related to decreased greenhouse gas emissions,” says Andrew Weaver, assistant professor of animal science and Extension specialist. “Therefore, selecting livestock that are more feed efficient will allow livestock producers to decrease costs and improve environmental sustainability.”
On the Forefront of Livestock Research and Production - Researchers work to meet livestock farmers’
production needs. Dan Poole, a researcher in the NCSU Department of Animal Science, says the added Vytelle units will help.
“Our team’s long term goal is to improve productivity and profitability of cattle in semitropical environments to ensure the sustainability of the U.S. beef industry,” Poole says. “We are now well positioned to establish a statewide system to collect, summarize, and compare information on the growth and reproductive performance of beef cattle.”
Once system installation is complete, NCSU equipment will be at the level of livestock facilities at some of the country’s top land grant universities, thanks in large part to funding and shared goals from the NCDA&CS.
“It’s a great opportunity for NCSU to showcase its commitment to animal research,” Fisher says.
“We have a mutual relationship with NCDA, with some research stations owned by NCSU and some by NCDA, but the ultimate goal of all the stations is to support research by NCSU faculty. It’s all about investment.”
Data from the Vytelle units is transmitted back to computers at the research stations.
The Upper Piedmont Research Station was among the first of NCSU’s research stations to use state-of-the-art feed units that measure feed and water intake using data sensors.
Unlock cattle performance—Why feeding rumen microbes matters. Better rumen function means more available energy, helping improve cattle productivity.
Nutrition is a necessary expense that all cattle producers handle to keep their cattle in optimal condition. Forage can be the cheapest and most efficient way to feed cattle, but they must have well functioning rumen microbes to utilize feedstuffs fully.
“Rumen microbes allow cattle to digest forage by fermenting it in the rumen to create volatile fatty acids, which are then converted into energy,” says Ted Perry, cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition.
Additionally, rumen microbes are an excellent protein source, containing more than 50 percent protein. As rumen microbes multiply inside the rumen, they increase fermentation and digest more forage, which creates additional available protein and energy.
Forage alone typically can’t sustain cattle and feed rumen microbes, so you’ll need to provide some supplementation.
Performance matters — Maintaining the rumen microbes with a balanced diet helps keep cows in good body condition.
“Body condition drives reproduction because if cows don’t have the proper body condition, they often won’t cycle, settle, or breed,” says Perry. “When cows stay in optimal body condition, they can remain healthier and productive for longer.”
If the microbes aren’t properly fed, they can’t do their job of fermenting feed, which may result in lower forage intake and potentially impact cow performance.
“You can supplement cows without forage or with very limited forage, but it’s often a costly way to maintain them, and this feeding strategy should only be utilized in drought situations with low forage availability,” says Perry.
Variety is key — The rumen is a complex environment home to billions of different microbes that have a variety of functions in the fermentation process.
“Some microbes only digest complex carbohydrates, like forage,” says Perry. “On the other hand, some microbes only digest simple sugars and starches, like grain.”
What you feed your cows helps determine which type of microbes grow. An all-forage diet will primarily develop the forage digesting microbes. However,
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if you feed a mixed diet of forage and supplements, a variety of microbe types can thrive and grow.
“Having a diversity of rumen microbes allows for more feedstuffs to be fully utilized and helps optimize cattle performance,” says Perry.
Feed the rumen — Like most producers, you likely feed some hay throughout the winter. It is important to ensure the rumen microbes are fed appropriately during this time with supplementation of protein, fat, and mineral.
“Rumen microbes require phosphorus to function correctly and increase their fermentation,” says Perry.
It doesn’t matter how much supplemental protein and energy you offer; if the diet is low on minerals, or you’re not feeding mineral at all, then rumen microbes may not perform at a level to optimize those resources. Purina Wind and Rain mineral is formulated for consistent intake and is balanced for the phosphorus needs of cattle based on the area in which it is sold.
“After establishing mineral consumption, determine what supplementation type makes sense for your herd to provide enough energy to rumen microbes,” says Perry. “Tubs, blocks, or liquid supplements are free choice options that may help, depending on your environment.”
These supplements contain a balance of protein and energy sources designed to feed rumen microbes to help maximize forage utilization. Purina RangeLand protein tubs and Purina Accuration (available in all three forms) are great options to help you optimize your forages by feeding the rumen microbes.
“When hand feeding a supplement like cubes or a grain mix, it is crucial to stay consistent with the amount of nutrition you provide daily to help keep the rumen microbes functioning,” says Perry. “If you feed one day and nothing the next, it can negatively impact the rumen because the microbes are bouncing from digesting a lot of starch to forage and back and forth.”
Keeping your feeding schedule as consistent as possible will help maintain a healthy balance of microbes and support digestion.
“By caring for rumen microbes, you’re helping ensure the herd stays in optimal health and supporting
productivity,” says Perry. About Purina Animal Nutrition. Purina is a national organization serving producers, animal owners, and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers, and other large retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company
is an industry leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients, and specialty technologies for the livestock and lifestyle animal markets. Purina Animal Nutrition is headquartered in Arden Hills, Minn., and a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc. For more information, visit www.purinamills.com
S.C. CharolaiS NewS
By GEORGEANNE WEBB S.C. Charolais Association
You have probably figured out that I can’t stand stupid, and I’m gonna fuss when I run across it. I am on my soapbox again. I have attached a picture of what I found in my pasture—eight balloons that I found attached to the barbwire. I will be bugging my representatives and the governor to do as Governor Ron DeSantis did in Florida and ban these things. It should be illegal to send up balloons for any reason. I hate to inform people, but these things do not get to heaven. They land in pastures and forests and kill livestock and wild animals. Those eight balloons could have killed eight of my calves, chocking them to death, had I not found them before the calves. Blow bubbles—send bubbles into the air to celebrate or mourn the loss of a loved one. Governor DeSantis signed a bill to make sending balloons into the air illegal because they kill wildlife and livestock. Come on Governor McMaster, step up and do the same.
I hope everybody is doing better after
the hurricane. I don’t think I will live to see all the trees removed from our farm. Every time I think we have the fences patched up, the calves prove me wrong. The weaned heifers found a spot at 10:30 p.m. on election night, so we had to spend that time in the rain getting them out of the road and back into the pasture. I got them locked under the barn until the next day, when we spent 3.5 hours repairing that fence.
As I am writing this, we have survived a hurricane, the election is over, and now we have 40 monkeys loose in South Carolina. What a year! Luckily, the monkeys are in the lower part of the state. I can just see me chasing monkeys out of the pasture with them riding on the backs of my cows and bull. Somehow, I just know that would happen here with my luck.
Check on your friends and neighbors and help any way you can. Sometimes, just a platter of cookies will make someone’s day.
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U.S. animal agriculture contributing to all 17 U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. New report highlights contributions with examples. Recently, the Animal Agriculture Alliance released a new report detailing U.S. animal agriculture’s contributions to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the report, U.S. animal agriculture is actively contributing toward all 17 of the SDGs, including Zero Hunger, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Climate Action. The SDGs were a central focus of the U.N.’s annual climate change conference, COP29, which took place in November.
The U.S. animal agriculture community is a world leader in sustainability efforts and has a proven track record of continued progress in environmental stewardship, food security, and more. Meat, dairy, poultry, eggs, and seafood are at the heart of healthy, sustainable diets, playing a vital role in meeting nutritional demands and closing gaps in nutrient deficiencies. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
has concluded that “Livestock serves as a crucial source of high quality protein and essential micronutrients and is vital for normal development and good health.”
This new report, U.S. Animal Agriculture and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, highlights examples of contributions being made toward each goal, including:
• No Poverty (SDG 1) — U.S. food and agriculture is an economic driver, providing 22.1 million jobs supporting local families and communities.
• Zero Hunger (SDG 2) — Meat, dairy, poultry, eggs, and seafood play a pivotal role in healthy, balanced diets. The U.S. dairy community alone is supplying enough protein for 169 million people, calcium for 254 million people, and energy for 71.2 million people.
• Good Health and Well Being (SDG 3) — Animal based foods are great sources of many essential nutrients, some of which are best and sometimes only found in meat, dairy, poultry, eggs, and
seafood. These foods can also support weight management, satiety, physical fitness, and overall health.
• Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7) — The U.S. animal agriculture community is always looking for new ways to innovate, including projects to recycle manure from the farm and convert it into renewable energy.
• Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8) — The agriculture and food sector provides employment to 10.4 percent of the working population in the U.S., equating to roughly 22 million jobs for Americans. Agriculture, food, and related industries contributed approximately $1.53 trillion to U.S. gross domestic product in 2023, making up 6.5 percent of the share.
• Climate Action (SDG 13) — Although incredible progress towards climate change efforts has already been made, the U.S. animal agriculture community remains committed to furthering that progress, including several pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Alliance received a badge to participate in COP29 discussions, which has been shared with the Protein PACT to engage on behalf of animal agriculture.
To view the full report or to learn more about U.S. animal agriculture’s work to advance sustainability efforts, visit https:// animalagalliance.org/issues/sustainability/ About the Animal Agriculture Alliance. Founded in 1987, the Alliance brings together farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, animal feed companies, animal health companies, processors, allied associations, and others involved in getting food from farm to fork. 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.
Beefmaster Breeders United Announces Executive Vice President. Dr. Lance Bauer has been announced as the new Executive Vice President of the Beefmaster Breeders United (BBU). Dr. Bauer previously served as the Director of Breed Improvement at BBU, tasked with overseeing genetic evaluations and promoting the genetic advancement of the breed. His background working on his family’s commercial cattle and sheep operation, along with his previous role at BBU as Western States Field Representative, has equipped him with extensive knowledge about the Beefmaster breed and the needs of its membership.
Trey Scherer, BBU President, stated, “Dr. Bauer has come up through the ranks at BBU and has proven to be an invaluable asset through his vast industry knowledge and proven dedication to the Beefmaster breed and loyalty to its members.”
Furthering his commitment to improving Beefmaster genetics, Dr. Bauer has bridged the connection between the industry and the academic and private sectors in his first months in his new role. Scherer added, “With the continued leadership of Dr. Lance Bauer, the future
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of the Beefmaster breed appears brighter than ever, and we anxiously await the journey ahead.”
Derek Thompson, BBU ExOfficio, commented, “Dr. Lance Bauer’s leadership and vision will undoubtedly drive the organization to new heights. I’m incredibly excited to see the positive impact he will make, and I look forward to all the great things ahead under his guidance!”
Dr. Bauer has dedicated over eight years to the BBU organization. He expressed, “I am excited and honored to serve BBU in this capacity. I look forward to the continued growth and improvement of the Beefmaster breed. We are in a great position to keep the breed on an upward trajectory, and as long as we all work together, the best is yet to come for BBU.”
About Beefmaster Breeders United. Beefmaster Breeders United, located in Boerne, Tex., is a not-for-profit breed registration organization that provides programs and services for its members. Beefmaster, Beefmaster Advancer, and E6 cattle are selected on the “Six Essentials” of disposition, fertility, weight, conformation, milk production, and hardiness. For more information, visit www.beefmasters.org
Global Roundtable Brings Beef Chain Face to Face, Reports on Progress. The Global Conference on Sustainable Beef: Proving Progress had impressive metrics. After three days of sessions, which included a full day for face-to-face meetings for the national and regional Roundtable members, working groups for animal health and welfare and nature positive production, and the constituency group for allied services and industries, and two full days of presentations and panel discussions, there were also three tour opportunities for beef production, processing, and research organizations.
Presentations of innovation and sustainability progress by organizations around the globe were presented in English and Spanish with simultaneous translation smoothing communications between speakers and the audience in real time.
Welcomed to Uruguay by Fernando Mattos, the Uruguay Minister of
Livestock and Agriculture, the participants of the Global Conference enjoyed the beautiful setting of coastal Punta del Este, the exquisitely modernistic Grand Hotel, and the superb cuisine and culture of Uruguayan hospitality.
The premiere of the new documentary World Without Cows was introduced by Alltech President and CEO Dr. Mark Lyons. The film was produced under his company’s care. Dr. Lyons joined a panel discussion after the film and gave the Global Conference opening keynote address the next morning.
After the sessions featuring 53 prestigious and dynamic speakers garnered from across the world’s beef value chain, academia, policymakers, and environmental and research organizations, the 268 attendees were treated to a closing dinner address reviewing the beef industry’s challenges and opportunities from the 1970s to the present by JBS Board of Directors Chair Jerry O’Callaghan,
along with his optimism for the future.
Reporting Progress on Continued Efforts - The GRSB Sustainability Progress Report 2024 got a first look by the Global Conference attendees. The report, now available online in English and Spanish, tracks how the GRSB Roundtable members’ efforts measure progress against the GRSB Global Goals.
“When GRSB developed our Global Goals and released them in 2021, we realized that the challenge was just beginning. While building consensus for the goals was a lengthy process, delivering on them was much more complicated and involved many more people and their organizations, from farm or ranch through to retailers,” says Petre.
“The goals on climate, animal health and welfare, and nature positive production were chosen as the priorities for beef sustainability in 2021. In addition, over the course of 2023 and 2024, we have been working on developing a goal for social well being, which will be added to future reporting.”
As a foundational step to support goal progress, national and regional roundtables have leveraged multiple approaches for sustainability assessment
included in the report.
Ongoing Reporting and Continuous Improvement - The goals reporting summary included in the Sustainability Report is considered a starting point and baseline, with a key objective of providing a common framework to support collaboration and innovation by the national and regional roundtables. This baseline provides a first step for measuring progress.
Moving forward, global sustainability goal reporting by roundtable members is planned to be conducted every two years, allowing GRSB to comprehensively evaluate collective sustainability initiatives and make informed adjustments with a focus on continuous improvement.
About the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. GRSB is a global, multi-stakeholder initiative developed to advance continuous improvement in sustainability of the global beef value chain through leadership, science, and multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration. The GRSB envisions a world in which all aspects of the beef value chain are environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable.
N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame Inductees
By ELLERSLIE McCUE N.C. Mountain State Fair
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted dairy farmers Ralph and Barbara Ross and longtime Western North Carolina advocate L.T. Ward into the N.C. Mountain State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame during the fair’s opening weekend. These individuals were inducted for their longtime support to the fair and the livestock industry in Western North Carolina.
“We are fortunate to have many agricultural families that put their heart and soul into the livestock programs and the Mountain State Fair,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Ralph and Barbara Ross and L.T. Ward are a big part of what makes these programs a success. I am honored to present them with this award and thank them for their support.”
Ralph and Barbara Ross of Ross Dairy of Waynesville have been supporting the livestock community in Western N.C. for more than half a century. “Over the years, hundreds of young people from 4-H camps, young
farmers and ranchers, FFA groups, and school groups have benefited from Ralph and Barbara and their dairy cattle,” said Troxler. “Many young people may not have been able to show dairy cattle had it not been for their generosity in sharing time and resources. They have been a part of the Mountain State Fair livestock
shows as well as their own Haywood County Fair for decades.”
said Troxler. “They are always willing to help with anything that needs to be done. Whether it is providing animals or hauling sawdust, they are there to support the livestock programs and youth.”
L.T. Ward, is a longtime board member of WNC Communities. “All of us in North Carolina, and especially western North Carolina, owe a debt of gratitude to the lifelong work of L.T. in improving and growing agriculture in our state,” said Troxler. One of his biggest accomplishments has been his leadership in developing a plan for meeting the needs of livestock producers in Western North Carolina with the creation of the WNC Regional Livestock Center in Canton. Opened in 2011, sales have reached over $130 million, with an economic impact to the region totaling over $150 million. With thousands of buyers and sellers using this facility, this center has an incredibly positive impact for livestock producers and family farms.
For more than 60 years, Ralph and Barbara have managed Ross Dairy. Ralph as a dairy farmer and Barbara as the bookkeeper and homemaker. They have three children, Deana, Ferguson, and Hank, six grandchildren, and six great grandchildren plus another one due in January. The Ross children and grandchildren all grew up showing dairy cattle.
Ralph has served on the Haywood County Fair Board and Haywood County Planning Board. He also served on the Haywood County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. As a director, he has represented Haywood County and the North Carolina State Dairy Advisory Committees. Both Ralph and Barbara have also served on many committees for Haywood County Farm Bureau. In 2001, they were named the Area 1 Soil and Water Conservation Family of the Year. In 2015, the Ross’ were honored with a tribute of service award for excellence in agriculture and service to agriculture in Haywood County.
“The Ross family has an attitude of service towards their community,’
WNC Communities, with L.T.’s leadership, are custodians for the WNC Beef Cattle Commission and WNC Dairy Commission. For decades, these programs have supported the junior beef and junior dairy shows at the Mountain State Fair. It is with his continued support that the programs at the fair continue to grow and benefit countless youth.
“Anyone who knows L.T. will tell you that his driving mission in life has been to improve the quality of life in rural western North Carolina,” said Troxler. “He does this by making connections between nonprofits, government agencies, funding groups, and businesses. So many organizations, including the WNC Ag Center and Mountain State Fair, have benefited from his efforts. I have had the honor to work with L.T. on many projects over the years and admire his leadership and make-it-happen attitude.”
Three Inducted Into N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame
By JAMEY CROSS N.C. State Fair
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted three new members into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame on October 27, at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.
“Agriculture has always been and will forever remain the heart of the N.C. State Fair,” Troxler said. “These inductees have helped make the livestock shows at our fair some of the best in the nation. This is a considerable honor and one that is well deserved.”
Following is the list of this year’s inductees:
Bryan Blinson of Harnett County was inducted into the Commissioner’s Meritorious category. Blinson has dedicated his life to the success of North Carolina agriculture. He purchased his first cow when he was just six years old and went on to serve at the helm of the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association. Bryan began showing cattle at the N.C. State Fair in 1974. He is dedicated to supporting North Carolina farmers and
families and passionate about fostering youth agriculture programs across the state.
Mike Sauls of Wayne County was inducted into the Swine category. Sauls has been a fixture in the Kelley Building for over 30 years and has played a key role in ensuring the success of the N.C. State Fair Swine Show each year. He has dedicated countless amounts of time and energy to supporting exhibitors from the time they step onto the fairgrounds to the time they leave. Sauls is passionate about supporting youth exhibitors and ensuring their experience at the fair is a positive one.
Libby Gorman Williams of Durham County was inducted into the Horses category. Williams began showing horses at the N.C. State Fair as a teenager and went on to become a professional trainer, nurturing a love of horses and passion for the N.C. State Fair among countless young students. Her promotion of the N.C. State Fair and the horse community
in the state has contributed to their continued success. Williams continues to attend and exhibit at the N.C. State Fair, bringing new generations of students with her each year.
Since 1980, the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame has served to recognize outstanding supporters of the fair’s livestock shows. Candidates for
induction can be producers of livestock that have exhibited and promoted livestock shows at the fair, or a person who has served as a fair employee, representative of a business, extension worker, or others from agricultural organizations.
Including this year’s honorees, 185 individuals have been inducted into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame.
1 MILE OF PASTURE MANAGEMENT FENCING SUPPLIES AWARDED TO THE NCCA COUNTY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
RECRUITING THE MOST NEW MEMBERS IN 2024
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MACON COUNTY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
2023 MILE OF FENCE WINNER
MILE OF FENCE PROGRAM
NEWS
Heartfelt Responses Pour In from Pneu-Dart’s International Animal Husbandry Contest. Pneu-Dart recently hosted its annual essay contest, with a focus this year on animal husbandry.
“We were overwhelmed by the incredible volume and heartfelt essays submitted to our essay competition this year,” said Ray Liddick, Director of Media at Pneu-Dart. “At Pneu-Dart, we’re not just a company—we’re a community of animal lovers dedicated to supporting the welfare of animals, so we understand the passion behind these stories.”
Liddick noted that the response netted submissions from 18 different states and 7 different countries.
The following is a breakdown of
the top animal groups that inspired their caretakers to share their unique stories:
Below are quotes from several of the essays, capturing the dedication and passion of our customers:
“I am devoted to reducing humanbear conflicts and keeping these animals safe amidst urban expansion. Remote delivery systems provide a way to manage bears safely and without harm.”
“Relocating wild animals is crucial for managing populations and protecting habitats. It’s also essential for reintroducing species into their natural habitats to increase population numbers and genetic diversity.”
“As a veterinary student, sedating a tiger highlights our commitment to animal care, requiring precision, compassion, and an understanding of each animal’s unique needs. Proper sedation minimizes stress and ensures both animal and human safety during procedures.”
“Remote delivery systems demonstrate
a profound dedication to animal welfare by enhancing accessibility and efficiency in essential veterinary services, allowing for timely and effective treatments.”
“The submissions, as well as the others received, reveal a deep commitment shared across the Pneu-Dart community in the enhancement of animal health and safety worldwide,” Liddick noted. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who shared their stories and to those who continue striving toward a brighter future in animal care and conservation.”
About Pneu-Dart. Founded in 1967, Pneu-Dart, Inc. has demonstrated a commitment to providing remote drug delivery solutions to a diverse client base globally. While focusing on enhanced remote drug delivery devices, Pneu-Dart has emerged as a leader in manufacturing life altering products for the customer and the animals they serve. For more information about Pneu-Dart, Inc., please visit www.pneudart.com
New NCCA Members for 2024
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:
Anson County
Willie Keith Crawford
Avery County
Brandon Townsend – Townsend Family Farm
Brunswick County
Chuck Clemmons – Harris Swamp Cattle
Buncombe County
Chris Dunbar – Big Ivy Cattle Company
Cabarrus County
Gradin Bost – Bost Farm
Anisa Kuhl – Bost Farms
Abel Montillo-Rosas
Matthew Simpson – Bost Farm
Catawba County
Seth Harrell – River Run Farms
Emma Hicks – LH Farms
Hank Houston – Houston Cattle Company
Jonas Lipe J.T. Morton
Kingsley Stone
Chatham County
Aaron Brown – Brown Brothers Livestock
Davidson County
Elin Lassen – Harrington Farms
Duplin County
Evan King – K&K Farms
Gaston County
Jacob Bonnin – MP Enterprise
Granville County
Carson Hilton – A&H Farming
Jones County
Allen Howard – A&S Farms
Rodney D. Smith – Rodney D. Smith Farms
Lincoln County
William L. Clark
Surry County
Mike Gillispie – Mike Gillispie Farm Inc.
Phillip Osborne – Blue View Farm
Tony Gray Peele – River Rock Farms
Food Animal Scholars Find Their Way
By AMY BURCH N.C. State University
Undergraduate students desiring a veterinary career in food animal agriculture can access a signature program at N.C. State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
For almost 20 years, CALS Food Animal Scholars (FAS) program has worked in conjunction with NCSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) to fill an ongoing need for food animal veterinarians.
The program’s goal is to create pools of Food Animal Scholars composed of excellent undergraduate students with a sincere interest in animal agriculture and offer them the flexibility to explore their career options in food animal care through academic work, handson experiences, and mentorship as they prepare to enter veterinary school.
Four FAS members, from an undergraduate CALS senior to a fourth year DVM student, shared their FAS experiences.
Love of Animals Starts Young - Bailey Jones developed her love of animals as a child on her grandparents’ North Carolina farm, a cow/calf operation that raised a small crop of black Angus calves. That love further developed with her participation in Future Farmers of America (FFA) in high school.
But it was her internship with a large animal veterinarian that led her to FAS. Brent and Becky Scarlett of Scarlett Mobile Large Animal Services introduced Jones to the program. She still works with the practice today.
Just inducted in January, Jones, a senior majoring in animal science, already touts the future benefits she sees from her involvement. “My faculty mentor will play a heavy role in clinical opportunities. They are well connected in the food animal industry.
“I also look forward to the comradery
in my FAS pool as well as among other pools,” she says. “Fellow peers will also serve as good mentors, as they have similar interests and can relate to your challenges.”
Jones participated in a FAS internship this summer with Jorgensen Land & Cattle in Ideal, South Dakota, the largest U.S. seed stock operation for black Angus cattle.
“It was a cool operation because it was so diverse, covering everything within the cattle industry,” says Jones. “Plus, it was my first experience working on a feedlot setting.”
She ultimately sees herself as a food animal focused private practitioner, skilled with the clinical experience driven by her time in the FAS program
A Surprising Love of Swine - Bella Black earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from CALS in May 2024, and her first year as a CVM student is well underway. Black credits William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Billy Flowers and his Introduction to Animal Science (ANS 150) course with piquing and sustaining her interest in the field. Flowers also introduced her to FAS.
“There’s so much more to think about with a production animal—you do things keeping in mind both animal welfare and producing a good product for consumption,” says Black, who worked at NCSU’s Swine Educational Unit during her undergraduate studies.
As part of her FAS journey, Black participated in several “mini externships.” She helped immunize bison on a Mount Airy farm, and she gained hands-on farming experience at a Mt. Pleasant gilt multiplier, where she also processed beef cows. Black then worked on a Vermont
sheep farm, her first time servicing small ruminants, and shadowed a mixed practitioner.
When reflecting on FAS benefits, Black labels Flowers and CVM Professor Glen Almond as helpful mentors.
“Dr. Almond helped establish my summer internship on Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2), a project studying the best timing to administer piglet vaccinations.” She will present this research at the Annual American Association of Swine Veterinarians meeting in March 2025.
She also sees benefit in the FAS community. “All members of the FAS community are friendly with one another, and I appreciate the program for this bond.”
Having grown up in High Point, N.C., nowhere near a farm, Black’s focus on swine keeps her family scratching their heads, but she sees her future as a mixed practitioner in rural Nebraska.
“I would love to one day be able to host Food Animal Scholars and help them as much as this program has helped me,” she says.
A Leg Up on Her Career - Another first year veterinary student, Kylie Karabinos, always knew she wanted a career in veterinary medicine with large animals. She’s making that goal a reality as she pursues mixed animal medicine at CVM.
Karabinos, who earned her undergraduate degree in animal science, applied to the FAS program because it aligned with her goals and would support her future career.
“I highly recommend this program as it provides invaluable experience and mentorship,” says Karabinos. “You work with mentors who oversee your progress and engage with a community of veterinary professionals and colleagues who want to see you succeed.”
Her internship experiences have also been a major FAS benefit. Like Black, she participated in multiple internships— one working on a bison farm, where she learned about agritourism, herd vaccinations, deworming protocols, and husbandry. She also worked on a Vermont sheep farm and at Piedmont Farm Animal Refuge, a vegan farm animal sanctuary, tending a range of animals, from long horned cattle and small ruminants to chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and guinea fowl.
“This program has encouraged me to seek out experiences in many different food animal medicine avenues, which even led me to work on a dairy goat farm in Italy this summer,” says Karabinos. “FAS mentors have also been helpful in advising me on food animal medicine internships, which benefit me as a growing professional.”
With hopes of one day being a mixed animal veterinarian, Karabinos credits the program with helping her be an adaptable and empathetic professional who will soon serve her community.
From Animal Science Club to FASNick Collier is going through his clinicals now and plans to graduate from CVM in April 2025, with a focus on working with cattle in the future.
For almost 20 years, Collier lived among cow pastures, and his family started a small commercial cow/calf operation in 2010. He not only worked with beef cattle on the farm, but also participated in FFA and his high school’s strong agricultural program, which helped
Bailey Jones
Bella Black
Kylie Karabinos
Nick Collier
develop his food animal interests.
Inspired by CALS seniors in the Animal Science Club, Collier decided to pursue food animal agriculture and medicine as a career and was accepted in the FAS program in 2019.
His 2019 summer internship occurred at JWM Dairy, a North Carolina commercial 300 head Holstein dairy, at which he learned new skills, like husbandry and dairy management.
As for benefits from his FAS involvement, the CVM student points to the essential networking and relationship building the program offers.
“The biggest benefit is developing contacts,” says Collier. “This is critical in food animal agriculture because when you go to a farm as a vet, the farmer places his or her livelihood in your hands.”
Following graduation, he wants to stay in North Carolina and do as much food animal care as possible, with the ultimate goal of being in private practice as a mobile farm veterinarian.
Food Animal Scholars. We encourage outstanding undergraduate students desiring a veterinary career in food animal agriculture to apply to become a Food Animal Scholar. Applications for students entering NCSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Fall 2026 are due by 4:30 p.m. on January 10, 2025. Apply at https://forms. gle/oQbxPmfKGHrSiuuNA
Program Objectives:
• Provide a clear academic pathway for students desiring a veterinary career in food animal agriculture.
• Provide admission to the NCSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine for a maximum of eight Food Animal Scholars each year, provided they meet minimum standards for acceptance (as established by the admissions committee).
• Devise a plan of academic work, experience, and mentoring for Food Animal Scholars that encompasses undergraduate and veterinary medical education and meets the specific needs of animal agriculture.
• Provide a continuous supply of new veterinary graduates with skills, experience, and expertise with food animal species comparable to a DVM with one year of clinical experience. These recent graduates will immediately be able to provide valuable service to modern animal agriculture and will be mentally prepared to grow and improve as scientific health professionals continually.
• Continually increase the visibility of the Food Animal Scholars and the program.
Examples of Professional Veterinary Service to Animal Agriculture:
• Private food animal practitioners
• Mixed animal private practitioners (with at least half of the practice being with food animals/animal agriculture)
• Veterinarians working in corporate agribusiness
• Technical service veterinarians working with animal health industries
• Pathologists working in diagnostic laboratories
• Food animal veterinarians on university faculties
• Veterinarians in public practice, such as veterinary medical officers employed by state or federal governments
Definitions - The “Food Animal Scholars Pool” refers to the undergraduates admitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine after completing their undergraduate degree (if they have met the criteria outlined below and have remained in the pool). Two pools will exist during the spring semester:
1. Students entering the CVM that the calendar year.
2. Students entering the CVM the next calendar year (which is the pool of students selected from the January applications immediately preceding the spring semester).
“CVM Food Animal Scholars” refers to the students admitted to the College of Veterinary Medicine from the Food Animal Scholars pool.
Process - The committee selects up to eight students and two alternates each year for the Food Animal Scholars pool. Eligible students are those majoring in animal science or poultry science who will complete their B.S. degree two or three full semesters following the time of application (summer school does not count). These students are typically considered first-semester juniors; however, double majors or transfer students who still have two or three full semesters remaining and are classified as upper level students are also eligible. Students in an accelerated undergraduate program can apply in the fall when they have two or three full semesters remaining. Students should meet the minimum academic standards for entry to the College of Veterinary Medicine for coursework completed to-date at the time of application. Applications will be reviewed after the completion of the fall semester, and applicants will be evaluated relative to meeting the minimum academic standards for entry to the CVM at this time.
Each year, we give preference to at least one swine focused scholar and at least one poultry focused scholar. Beyond this, there is no overall species or departmental quota for Food Animal Scholars membership.
The goal is to create Food Animal Scholars pools composed of excellent students with a sincere interest in animal agriculture, while offering them the flexibility to explore their career options. After completing all requirements and standards, up to eight students from the Food Animal Scholars pool will be admitted to the appropriate class entering the CVM. We will admit fewer students if the pool does not contain eight qualified students. Once accepted, a student will be designated as a “CVM Food Animal Scholar” for their year of graduation from the CVM.
The steering and mentoring committee is composed of faculty members from N.C. State University’s Department of Animal Science (CALS), Prestage Department of Poultry Science (CALS), and the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology (CVM), and one faculty member from North Carolina A&T State University and the University of Mount Olive. They will review and select the members of each year’s pool.
Each student selected to join the Food Animal Scholars Pool will be assigned two faculty mentors: a food animal focused undergraduate mentor from the student’s respective institution, and one mentor from the Department of Population Health and Pathobiology within the NCSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The faculty mentors will advise the students, monitor their progress and commitment, and facilitate additional training opportunities, such as summer jobs. Faculty mentors may be (but are not required to be) members of the steering and mentoring committee. The mentor from the student’s undergraduate department may or may not be the same person as the student’s undergraduate advisor. The undergraduate faculty cochair of the steering and mentoring committee assigns the undergraduate mentor, and the committee co-chair from the CVM assigns the CVM mentor. This happens early in the spring semester during the academic year the student is admitted to the Food Animal Scholars Pool.
Each student should demonstrate a clear interest in animal agriculture during their education. Undergraduate students will complete at least one food animal management/production course in their curriculum. Students will also complete a summer internship working in a food animal production or research setting as approved by the student’s mentor. The internship (or a combination of two or more internships) must be at least 240 hours to fulfill the Food Animal Scholar internship requirement.
Members of the existing pool will be re-evaluated at the end of each semester, and the steering committee will make membership changes if necessary. In addition, students in each Scholars Pool who do not meet minimum academic standards for entry to the College of Veterinary Medicine (for N.C. residents, this is currently 3.3 GPA last 45 semester hours, 3.0 GPA overall, and 3.3 GPA in the required courses with a C-minus or better in each required course; for nonresidents, it is 3.4 in all three categories with a C-minus or better in each required course), are not making progress toward completion of a degree, or who do not continue to demonstrate a sincere interest in supporting animal agriculture may be replaced with alternates or other suitable students (by application) who are at the same stage of their training.
Completing the degree the student is pursuing is required for entry into the College of Veterinary Medicine under the Food Animal Scholars Program. Students are expected to have an approved plan of study showing how this will be accomplished. In some cases, it may be necessary to have one or two courses from the College of Veterinary Medicine transfer back to complete an undergraduate degree, which is acceptable if it is part of the approved Plan of Study. Students in the pool must apply to the College of Veterinary Medicine and meet the minimum admission criteria.
Each CVM Food Animal Scholar beginning the DVM curriculum will be required to enroll in a Food Animal Focus Area and to submit a formal plan of study for their four year DVM curriculum under the supervision of their faculty mentors. This plan will specify selectives, electives, summer work experiences, externships, special projects, and senior rotations.
CVM Food Animal Scholars (who are in the DVM curriculum) will lose the Food Animal Scholars designation if, in the judgment of the steering committee, they do not demonstrate a sincere interest in professional service to animal agriculture. In such a case, students should repay any student loans made based on CVM Food Animal Scholar status.
Students who complete their DVM degree as Food Animal Scholars will have received the benefits of years of mentoring, opportunities, and experiences provided by the Food Animal Scholars Program.
A MessAge froM the Ceo
By COLIN WOODALL National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Put the Shotgun Down
Did you know there are cattle producers in this country who use birdshot to move cattle? I can’t believe we have to have this discussion, but it is critical that we do. More importantly, it must stop. Peppering the backside of an ornery bull or cow in hopes of flushing them out of the brush is unacceptable, and it violates everything we stand for in caring for our cattle. I expect many of you reading this are surprised to learn that some producers are pulling the trigger and blasting away. However, we have feedback and data showing it is a significant industry problem.
As a contractor to the national Beef Checkoff, NCBA conducts the National Beef Quality Audit. The 2022 audit results determined that foreign objects found in beef are making it through the beef supply chain and, ultimately, being found
by some customers. Imagine the joy of a beautiful cut of beef only to have that excitement dashed when you find birdshot pellets. All packing plants that participated in the audit reported finding foreign objects during the harvest and fabrication of market cows and bulls. A majority of the plants reported that their customers found foreign objects in the beef products they received. We have also had foreign customers complain about foreign objects being found in the beef we have exported to them. This kind of feedback tells us this is not a random problem. In fact, it has been an issue reported in previous National Beef Quality Audits. Unlike other beef quality issues identified in the audits, this one has yet to get better. Foreign objects include more than just birdshot. Other foreign objects discovered include buckshot, bullets, wire, needles, darts, and other objects. Every packing plant reported finding birdshot, though. Every single one. For comparison, only 18 percent of the packing plants reported finding needles. One might think hunters are responsible for the birdshot. Knowing a few hunters myself, I do believe that could be a small part of our problem. However, there is no way hunters with poor aim or a lack of respect for livestock account for every cow and bull processing plant finding birdshot in the carcasses they process.
There is a state Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) coordinator who I love to watch give presentations about this issue. She is firm with the audience and not afraid to tackle this issue headon. After calling out the problem, she explains why peppering cattle with birdshot is unacceptable and publicly challenges them to stop. I usually watch the crowd when she gets to that part of her presentation because the reactions are priceless. Most of those in the audience are appalled, but you always see a few who start to look down at their boots. This is not a hunter issue; this is our issue.
Just look at the increasing percentage of beef grading Choice or Prime. It is amazing to see what we have done, and our consumers are responding by keeping demand high for our product. The Checkoff- funded research team works on beef product quality projects every day. The product quality research program is one of the foundational research programs funded by the Checkoff and includes the study of beef quality, muscle traits and characterization, carcass traits, muscle tenderness and yield, flavor and palatability, and new technologies. The product quality research program utilized Checkoff funding to help discover and fabricate the now popular and ubiquitous flat iron steak.
The research team utilizes the results of the National Beef Quality Audit to determine the next challenges
Clemson Corner
By TINA HORN, Clemson University
Why Dairy Producers are Utilizing Beef on Dairy Crossbreeding
By utilizing tools like sexed semen and genomic testing, today’s dairy industry can produce the most productive and profitable dairy animals through intense genetic selection. With the use of sexed semen, dairymen can produce optimal replacement heifers from their genetically superior cows. This has resulted in a reduction of the number of dairy heifers needed to maintain a herd and has increased options for revenue streams for the farm. For decades, the additional heifers were sold as replacement heifers, and the bull calves were sold or raised and sold as steers. However, there has been a shift to using beef sires on those bottom end cows to increase the value of those steers.
they need to tackle. In the November edition of National Cattlemen, you will find the first of three articles that detail work the research team is leading on yield grading. This is exciting research that probes improving the yield grading equation, which hasn’t been updated since the original work was done in the ‘50s and ‘60s. This team never stops in their quest to improve beef products and improve producers’ opportunities to reap the rewards, but we must help them. If you use a shotgun loaded with birdshot shells to move cattle, then I am asking you to stop. If you know somebody who is doing this, please speak up and ask them to stop. We have more than enough challenges coming our way these days. Let’s not do things that make it even harder on ourselves. I’ll end where the title started… put the shotgun down. Have you forgotten something? Make sure your cattlemen friends are members of your state association!
We have spent so much time and effort on beef quality over the years.
Based on semen sales, NAAB is estimating the beef on dairy calf crop to double from 1.66 million in 2020 to 3.22 million head in 2024. The increase is not just attributed to the efficiency of dairy farms in maintaining their milking herd and, therefore, having less need for replacements. These numbers are also due to increased acceptance of feedlots.
The driving factor being a shrinking cow herd and the need to fill empty pens. However, with increased attention paid to the genetics on the paternal side, carcass data and feedlot performance are greatly improving. Early on, not much attention was paid to the sire, but we’re now seeing several very successful composite sires designed specifically for beef on dairy.
With current beef prices, beef on dairy breeding in the dairy industry is showing no signs of slowing. With the ever volatile milk price, shifting to raising beef on dairy steers for beef sale has become an attractive option for dairy farmers and has shown to provide a financial advantage over straight dairy steers. A Hoards Dairyman Intel article reported on a study Michigan State University conducted to evaluate performance and feeder calf value between dairy-beef crossbred steers and Holstein steers. The findings at the end of the study showed an 83¢ per pound advantage at market, a 5 percent Average Daily Gain advantage, and a 4 percent feed efficiency advantage for the dairy-beef crossbred.
PresideNt’s rePort
By MARK EISELE National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
How the Death Tax Almost Killed
My Ranch
My path in the cattle industry looks different from many. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a rancher. My family had a ranch in Wyoming, but there was limited opportunity to take on that operation, and I knew that if I truly wanted this life, I would need to build a ranch of my own.
As a teenager, I baled hay and worked on local ranches, and eventually, I became a hired hand at the historic King Ranch in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The King Ranch in Cheyenne was established in 1911 as a sheep operation but transitioned to cattle in the 1960s. I loved the ranch, I loved working with the cattle, and I could think of no better way to make a living than by being a rancher.
As an employee, I grew close with the owners, Ann and Jerry King. The Kings had no heir to pass the ranch on to, and I think they appreciated how excited I was to make a living in the cattle business. Eventually, I became a partner in the King Ranch, with the ultimate goal of owning the ranch outright.
But my dream of ranching in Wyoming with my family was almost shattered by one thing—the Death Tax. Just seven days into 2011, Mrs. King passed away. Once the funeral arrangements were finished, I heard from lawyers that if I wanted to keep the ranch going, I had to cut a check to the federal government to pay the Death Tax. The Death Tax, also known as the federal estate tax, is the government taxing your possessions that pass on to another person. It’s a cold, cruel tax that hits at a moment of immense family tragedy.
At the time, we were operating under what I describe as a siege mentality. The King Ranch had survived so many challenges. We survived even as the “cattle free by ‘93” campaign raged across the West to end livestock grazing on public lands by the year 1993. We survived wildfires, harsh winters, droughts, and everything else nature threw at us. We worked through numerous
threats from the Endangered Species Act. I did not want the ranch to close up under my watch in order to pay a tax bill or because of other government regulations.
I knew I needed to be proactive, so, in the early ‘90s, I started contacting experts in a variety of areas to make sure the ranch was in as good of a position as possible.
After Mrs. Kings’ passing because I was a non-blood heir, the Death Tax burden I was facing was potentially 50 percent. Think about that for a moment, and imagine a tax bill for half of the value of your farm or ranch. That should be terrifying, and it certainly was for me. Thankfully, because of the estate planning work I did ten years prior with tax professionals, accountants, and even former IRS agents, I was able to find ways to reduce my tax burden. Their work cost us more than $30,000 at the time, and that bill cut deep into our bottom line, but it was so much cheaper than paying more than half of the ranch. When all was said and done, the Death Tax we ended up paying was around 15 percent.
As I travel the country, I hear similar stories from other cattle producers about how their farming and ranching dreams were almost cut short by tax bills from the IRS. My personal experience with the Death Tax is exactly why I am so fired up to fight against tax increases in every form. I am proud of the ranching legacy I built with my family, and I never want to see another producer forced to sell off cattle, turn their land over to developers, or exit the cattle industry for good because of a tax bill.
NCBA is fighting to defend our farming and ranching legacy. The current Death Tax exemptions sunset at the end of 2025, but a solution is needed sooner rather than later. I often ask, “How many times does a family have to pay for a farm or ranch before they actually own it?”
That’s why we’ll keep the fight going on our end so you can keep doing what you love: running your farm or ranch, caring for your family, and producing a high quality protein that consumers demand.
American and British Beef Cookoff Advances International Trade Opportunities
In September, NCBA’s office in Washington, D.C., hosted the ultimate protein showdown: an American versus British “Battle of the Beef” cookoff. Hosted in partnership with the British Embassy in Washington, NCBA staff grilled American ribeyes and New York strip steaks, serving them up head-to-head against British ribeyes.
While this was a friendly event, its purpose ran deeper than simply tasting steaks from two countries. For years, NCBA has been pushing for expanded market access in the United Kingdom (U.K.), and this event, which featured top British Embassy officials, British agriculture leaders, and U.S. policymakers, served as a forum to share how American beef is raised and why a trade relationship with the U.S. would be beneficial.
NCBA’s focus on the U.K. started after the country withdrew from the European Union, following a 2016 referendum that would come to be called “Brexit.”
“As part of the European Union, British consumers had very limited exposure to U.S. beef and had been fed misinformation about our production practices and the safety of our beef,” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs Kent Bacus. “When Brexit happened, that created an opportunity for us to engage with the U.K. and hopefully open a new market for American beef with a key ally and trading partner.”
The U.S. and U.K. have always enjoyed a special political relationship, and the U.K. has qualities that will make it a good trading partner. Like American consumers, the British have an affinity for beef, and it is deeply ingrained in their culture and traditions. While American beef has a distinctly “sweeter” flavor profile, British beef is also well marbled with a touch of earthiness that varies across the countryside. These differences give consumers a variety of choices that will complement each other in the marketplace. Currently, American beef is mainly limited to a handful of high end London steakhouses, and American beef is frequently unavailable due to strong demand and a very restrictive trade quota limiting the volume of U.S. beef that can be imported annually. The process of opening a new market takes significant time, and NCBA has spent years meeting with both American and British officials to share information about U.S. beef.
“In many international negotiations, we are educating policymakers who may not understand the science based production practices of the U.S. cattle industry,” Bacus said. “British officials have been very pleased to hear about how American beef is raised by family farmers and ranchers and that more than 85 percent of U.S. beef is Beef Quality Assurance certified—a program similar to the British Red Tractor program.”
The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program is particularly important for showing foreign markets that U.S. cattle producers raise their cattle the right way. BQA demonstrates a high level of care for cattle, helps avoid livestock illness, and ensures a high quality, wholesome product for consumers.
The BQA program shares certain similarities with the British Red Tractor program. By showing the similarities between the BQA and Red Tractor animal care practices, NCBA has been able to build greater trust with our British counterparts as they gain confidence in American cattle producers and U.S. beef.
The “Battle of the Beef” served as the perfect forum for NCBA to reinforce these messages while policymakers gathered around the grill.
“Many of our meetings occur in conference rooms where we are sitting across the table from one another, and it feels like the battle lines have been drawn,” Bacus said. “Conversations around the grill are much more relaxed, and it gives us an opportunity to go beyond the political talking points and have real conversations about trade issues.”
NCBA prioritizes international trade because opening new markets creates more customers for American cattle producers. This strengthens demand for U.S. beef and increases profitability for U.S. farmers and ranchers. Today, beef exports account for more than $400 of carcass value.
“NCBA is focusing on new ways to increase producer profitability and build opportunities for American cattle producers. We will continue working to open new markets and connect global consumers with high quality American beef,” Bacus said.
NCBA News
Track Cattle Records With 2025 NCBA Redbook. For more than 30 years, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has offered the annual Redbook to help cattle producers effectively and efficiently record their daily production efforts. The pocket sized booklet simplifies record keeping, which can enhance profitability and reduce stress levels. The 2025 edition of the Redbook is now available.
In addition to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) practices and proper injection technique information, the 2025 Redbook includes current information about the judicious use of antibiotics in cattle, fitness for transport, and how to build a biosecurity plan. There are more than
100 pages to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inventory, body condition, cattle treatment, A.I. breeding records, and more. It also contains a calendar and notes section.
Cattle Producers Congratulate Trump for His Decisive Victory. Recently, NCBA congratulated PresidentElect Donald Trump on his decisive victory in the 2024 presidential election and reiterated its enthusiasm for working with him once again.
“Congratulations to President-Elect Trump for his historic victory last night and for running such a hard-fought campaign. NCBA is excited to work with the President-Elect to undo the harm which cattle producers have endured
IRM Red Books Are Here
We would like to thank Performance Livestock & Feed Company and Carolina Stockyards for again sponsoring this book.
The 2025 version is now available to help cattle producers effectively & efficiently record daily production efforts, which can help enhance profitablity and reduce stress levels. In addition to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) best practices and proper injection technique information, it has more than 100 pages to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inventory, body condition, cattle treatment, A.I. breeding records, and more. It also contains a calendar and notes section.
Simply return the order form below, along with $7.00 for each book to: N.C. Cattlemen’s Association 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
You can now order them through our website at www.nccattle.com/resources/merchandise/red-book-order-form. You can also call our office at 919-552-9111 or email us at kim@nccattle.com.
under four years of “Bidenomics” and restore the free market principles which have made U.S. cattle and beef the finest and safest in the world.” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “Despite cattle prices soaring to record highs over the previous years, producers have been squeezed by exceptionally high input costs, record inflation, and the Biden Administration’s so-called competition agenda. This is the perfect opportunity to execute a hard reset on all of these failed policies.”
Cattle Producers Congratulate Thune for Being Selected Majority Leader. Recently, NCBA congratulated Senator John Thune (South Dakota) for being selected as the next Senate Majority Leader:
“Senator Thune has long been a strong ally for cattle producers and is an excellent choice to secure meaningful relief for cattle producers as he leads the Senate,” said Ethan Lane. “Throughout his career, Senator Thune has led the effort to repeal the federal estate tax and fought to ensure family farms and ranches are able to be passed down to future generations. With crucial tax provisions set to expire at the end of 2025, NCBA looks forward to continuing to work with the new Majority Leader to deliver critical tax relief to producers in the 119th Congress.”
NCBA and PLC Welcome Nomination of Burgum as Interior Secretary. Recently, NCBA and PLC congratulated Governor Doug Burgum on his nomination to lead the Department of the Interior:
“Governor Burgum’s experience navigating natural resources issues in North Dakota, coupled with his business acumen and extensive agriculture background, make him uniquely qualified to be Interior Secretary,” said Kaitlynn Glover, NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director. “Ranchers across the country congratulate Governor Burgum on his nomination and are excited to see a return of common sense and science based analysis to Interior’s rulemaking process. The Governor understands that grazing is a key tool and economic driver to prevent catastrophic wildfires, boost wildlife conservation, and support rural communities. Burdensome Endangered Species Act and NEPA rulemakings have led to the increased prevalence of wildfires, degradation of rangeland, and reduced wildlife conservation efforts. NCBA and PLC support the governor’s nomination and look forward to a swift confirmation process.”
NCBA and PLC Members Testify in Support of Grazing Bills to Prevent Wildfires. Recently, members of NCBA and PLC testified before the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands in support of legislation to expand the use of livestock grazing as a tool to reduce wildfire risk, make grazing permits more responsive to range conditions, and remove regulatory barriers to the maintenance of critical infrastructure. Each of these bills works together to protect beautiful landscapes across the West and support the ranchers who drive the economic success of rural
2024-2025 Clemson Bull Test Update
The Clemson University Bull Test has been moving along nicely and wrapped up on November 12. On October 14, we had our second weigh day and ultrasound on our senior bulls. On November 12, we did our final weigh-in and ultrasound on our junior bulls. All ultrasound data is sent in to the respective breed associations and included in our sale catalog for the bulls that make it to the sale. Bulls that complete the test and sort themselves to the top of the ratio will be moved to pasture to continue to grow and develop until our February 1, 2025, bull sale. Bulls will be available for viewing prior to the sale by contacting Lindsey Craig at lcraig@clemson.edu or 864-934-6443.
Our bull test advisory committee met on November 6 at Clemson to view some improvements made to the bull test facility and walk through the bulls. Our committee discussed many topics, including improvements to our sale catalogs. We look forward to including many of these improvements in this year’s catalog.
We are still seeking heifer nominations for our February sale. Only 19 pens of heifers will be accepted, so please get your nominations in early. Nominations are due December 1. All nomination paperwork can be found on the Clemson Bull Test website at www.clemson.edu/extension/livestock/programs/cattle/ clemson-bull-test.html. Please feel free to contact Lindsey Craig at lcraig@ clemson.edu if you have any questions about the Clemson Bull Test Program or heifer nomination process.
communities.
“I see such a clear need for the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Act. This bill provides much needed flexibility to ensure land managers like me can be responsive to what the land needs while also maintaining compliance with our grazing permit,” testified NCBA member and Utah Cattlemen’s Association President Jeff Young. “Resource management shouldn’t be static; it should be responsive and collaborative. This bill represents an updated, modernized way to manage the land, understanding that you need flexibility to make things work from year to year.”
California rancher and Public Lands Council member Sherri Brennan shared her personal experience from the 2013 Rim Fire that burned over 257,000 acres in Tuolumne County, Calif., and the need to prevent recurrent resource damage.
“The combination of reduced grazing and timber harvest, and the lack of meaningful fuel breaks, has made many parts of the West one long stretch of high fuel loads. Eight million acres have burned so far this year. What’s worse is that every year, the percentage of total acres that experience the worst kind of fire—high intensity burns—continues to grow,” Brennan testified. “There’s a way to fix this. Targeted grazing with the intention of fuels reduction can remove up to 1,000 pounds of fine fuels per acre. This means that if the area burns, the fire is likely to be shorter—flames under 4 feet tall—which means it’s safer for first responders. Less fuel, cooler flames,
and safer firefighters should be common objectives.”
Together, Young and Brennan discussed NCBA’s and PLC’s support for the Operational Flexibility Grazing Management Program Act (H.R. 9062) introduced by Representative John Curtis (R-Utah), the Ranching Without Red Tape Act (H.R. 6441) introduced by Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-New Mexico), and legislation to increase livestock grazing to reduce wildfire risk (H.R. 7666) introduced by Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-California).
“Livestock grazing is a valuable tool for protecting our scenic Western landscapes from the ever present threat of catastrophic wildfire, habitat conversion, and damage from a wide variety of sources,” said Kaitlynn Glover. “NCBA and PLC are proud to support legislation that supports and expands the use of livestock grazing as a tool to reduce wildfire risk, and we are grateful for leaders like Representatives Curtis, Vasquez, and LaMalfa for addressing the needs of Western ranchers.”
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
PUBLIC LANDS COUNCIL NEWS
Federal Lands Ranchers Congratulate President-Elect Trump. Recently, the Public Lands Council (PLC) issued the following statement on the results of the 2024 election:
“We congratulate President Donald Trump on his victory and stand ready to renew our work with him to cut government red tape and unleash the full potential of our nation’s natural resources. It is no secret that livestock production on public lands has long been targeted by an overly involved bureaucracy that has hindered ranchers’ work to conserve lands while raising the best food and fiber in the world,” said PLC President and Colorado rancher Tim Canterbury.
“Moving forward, it’s critical President Trump restores transparency to the federal rulemaking process so that input from real cattle and sheep producers is actually heard and not ignored. Ranchers are in dire need of regulatory relief, and PLC is excited to work with the Trump Administration to streamline the federal permitting process to improve the health of America’s vast rangeland.”
New PLC Website is Now Live. The Public Lands Council has released a new version of their website at www. publiclandscouncil.org to further promote public lands ranchers and the issues they face every day as they effectively manage millions of acres of grazing land in the West.
“Our newly updated website is the clearinghouse for everything related to federal lands ranching. From the popular series “Real Ranchers. Real Stories.” to coverage of the latest news on what is happening in the federal government as it pertains to ranching—PLC’s new website has all of that and more in a user friendly design,” said PLC Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover. “Over the past few years, there has been monumental growth in the body of research that recognizes and quantifies the environmental benefits of livestock grazing, soundly debunking some of the most egregious myths about ranchers’ conservation work. The new PLC website is designed to be a modern, streamlined hub for information so ranchers, supporters, and politicians can find what they need to know about the conservationists of the American West: public lands ranchers.”
Ranchers Hail Selection of Senator Thune as Majority Leader. Recently, the PLC congratulated Senator John Thune
on being selected as Majority Leader for the 119th Congress:
“Ranchers across the West have something to celebrate with Senator Thune, a champion of livestock production and rural communities, being selected by his peers to be Senate Majority Leader,” said Kaitlynn Glover. “His work protecting grazing rights on public lands and streamlining the federal permitting process is in lockstep with the needs of livestock producers, who are in dire need of regulatory relief. Ranchers stand ready to work with the soon-to-be Majority Leader to finally reduce the prevalence of catastrophic wildfires by unleashing the benefits of grazing and voluntary conservation work.”
PLC Congratulates Representative LaMalfa on Selection as Western Caucus Chair. Recently, PLC congratulated Representative Doug LaMalfa of California on his election to lead the Congressional Western Caucus. As the next chairman, LaMalfa will lead the powerful caucus that was founded out of the need to unite Members of Congress from the West to fight undue federal interference with rural, agricultural, timber, water, energy, and hunting values that are the foundation of the domestic economy and American heritage.
“We are thrilled to congratulate Chairman-elect LaMalfa as he continues his long history of fighting for the western way of life. He is a strong advocate for livestock producers and has been instrumental in improving grazing flexibility on public lands and bringing much needed common sense to conversations about fighting wildfires and other multiple use issues,” said Kaitlynn Glover. “As a western agriculture producer with decades of on-the-ground policy experience, he is perfectly suited to take on this role leading the Congressional Western Caucus. Ranchers congratulate Chairmanelect LaMalfa on his successful leadership election and look forward to continue working with him in the 119th Congress.”
About the Public Lands Council. PLC represents public lands ranchers in Washington, D.C. Since 1968, PLC has worked with Congress and the federal land management agencies to maintain a stable business environment in which livestock producers can conserve the West and feed the nation and world. Visit www. publiclandscouncil.org to learn more.
UPDATES!
Future Agricultural Leaders Encouraged to Attend CattleCon 2025. CattleCon 2025 invites future agricultural leaders to San Antonio, Tex., to experience the largest cattle industry event of the year on February 4-6. Courtesy of Culver’s and Nationwide Insurance, FFA and 4-H members can receive free trade show admission on February 6, which includes access to a variety of educational events.
The first 250 FFA members and 250 4-H members to register will receive complimentary Thursday NCBA Trade Show admission. FFA members and alumni are also invited to the Culver’s Blue Jacket Social, a special gathering designed for networking, sharing experiences, and building lasting relationships.
NCBA Trade Show attendees can explore more than nine acres of displays and exhibitors offering the latest advancements, from equipment and technology to pharmaceuticals and feed supplements. In addition to finding the right product or service to solve any problem, there are a variety of educational opportunities within the show.
Attendees can stop in the Learning Lounge to enjoy informal, faceto-face talks in an intimate setting right on the trade show floor. The popular Stockmanship & Stewardship Demonstration Arena also returns with stockmanship experts providing low stress cattle handling demonstrations,
Beef Quality Assurance educational sessions, industry updates, and facility design sessions. Cattle Chats will feature beef industry educational sessions, and the Chutes and Scales Showdown will offer a side-by-side comparison of equipment where producers can watch cattle run through chutes then get hands-on experience.
To receive free Thursday NCBA Trade Show registration, FFA members must use the code FFACULVERS, and 4-H members, 4HNW. In addition, children 12 and under receive free trade show admission with a paying adult.
Kansas Singer Wins Annual NCBA National Anthem Contest. Anah Higbie to Perform During CattleCon 2025 in San Antonio. Anah Higbie of Quenemo, Kan., is the winner of the 12th Annual NCBA National Anthem Contest, sponsored by Norbrook. Higbie will sing the “Star Spangled Banner” at CattleCon 2025.
“Cattle have been a defining part of who I am from a very early age,” said Higbie. “My heart is, and always will be, deeply passionate about the cattle industry.”
Higbie’s family owns a commercial Simmental cow/calf operation in eastern Kansas. Besides thriving on the dayto-day operations of running cattle, she enjoys showing cattle and considers being an animal agriculture advocate one of the biggest passions of her life.
As the winner of the contest, Higbie will receive roundtrip airfare to San
Antonio, hotel room for three nights, convention registration, plus a pair of boots, jeans, and a shirt from Roper or Stetson. Online voting by the public determined the winner.
Fighter Pilot and Professional Golfer to Open CattleCon 2025. Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney Announced as Opening General Session Speaker. Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney will be the opening general session speaker at CattleCon 2025. A decorated F-16 fighter pilot, professional golfer, philanthropist, and bestselling author, Rooney is called to “inspire people to help people.”
Rooney is best known for founding the Folds of Honor, a leading non-profit organization that provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. Since its inception in 2007, the foundation has provided nearly 44,000 life changing scholarships totaling approximately $200 million. Rooney is also a Class A member of the PGA and has founded two nationally ranked golf clubs in collaboration with Jack Nicklaus.
CattleCon 2025 attendees will begin the week with inspirational speakers and will end on a high note with an unforgettable evening at Cowboys’ Night at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. This bucket list worthy event perfectly blends the thrill of rodeo action with the best of country music.
Kick off the evening with heart pounding performances featuring top rodeo athletes, then stay tuned for a special country music performance by Scotty McCreery to end the night. A North Carolina native, McCreery won season 10 of American Idol, which kick started his country music career. He was recently inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Getting to San Antonio is made easier with discounted flights on United, a registration payment plan, and free Thursday trade show registration for FFA and 4-H members. Cattle producers attending CattleCon 2025 are also eligible to apply for the Rancher Resilience Grant, which provides reimbursement for registration and up to three nights hotel. For more information and to apply, visit www.ncba.org/producers/rancherresilience-grant
A variety of registration options are available, including super saver rates for those who register early. For more information and to register and reserve housing, visit www.convention.ncba.org
By BRYAN BERHARD, Ph.D., Zoetis Beef Strategic Technical Services
Understanding the FDA Guidelines for the Dry Lot Production Phase
The Center for Veterinary Medicine at the Food and Drug Administration first issued Guidance For Industry (GFI) #191 in 2009. Over the last few years, the CVM asked animal health manufacturers to update growth implant labels in accordance with the production phases outlined in GFI #191. This created some confusion around how growth implants could be used in the beef industry.
The defined production phases for beef cattle left some lingering questions for many in the beef industry, especially with the production phase of dry lot and how it differs from growing on pasture and the confinement for slaughter production phase. GFI #191 and associated documents from the FDA have helped define the dry lot production phase.
A summary of the FDA documentation defines dry lot by four criteria:
• Diet – majority being harvested forage/roughage
• Environment – dormant or completely grazed pastures OR dirt floor pens
• Growth expectations – similar to cattle on pasture
• Subsequent phase – cattle move to the next production phases to continue growing, whether pasture or confinement for slaughter
These four criteria are key to understanding how the FDA considers
a dry lot different from a pasture phase and a grow yard or backgrounding operation that are a subset of cattle fed in the confinement for slaughter production phase as defined by the FDA.
While cattle in a dry lot and cattle in a grow yard (a subset of cattle fed in confinement for slaughter) can both be on a dirt floor pen, the FDA has outlined differences in physiological state, diet, movement from one production phase to the next, and, potentially, rates of growth between the two production phases.
Table 1 summarizes the differences between a dry lot and a grow yard.
The dry lot phase is an opportunity for beef producers to add value to the cattle in their care. At this stage, cattle can come in from several sources and may not be consistent in size or health programs. A dry lot allows producers to get cattle healthy, add weight, and sort cattle into uniform groups. By leveraging an implant with trenbolone acetate (TBA) in the dry lot phase, cattle can add lean muscle and hit their target weight sooner before moving to the next phase.
Earlier this year, Zoetis received an additional label indication for its Synovex Choice implant in the dry lot production phase, as well as gained approval for a new implant product for the dry lot, Synovex Primer.
These are the first TBA containing
implants approved for the dry lot production phase, and it gives producers in the dry lot phase more options. Research has demonstrated that TBA containing implants help extend the growth curve and keep cattle leaner longer as cattle get heavier.1
In dry lot research comparing Synovex Choice and Synovex Primer with a sham implant, cattle receiving Synovex Choice gained 2.50 lbs/head/day (p = 0.0016) and cattle receiving Synovex Primer gained 2.47 lbs/head/day (p = 0.0016) when compared with the sham implanted group at 2.21 lbs/head/day over the course of the 90 day study.2
Talk with your nutritionist or veterinarian about the value of including an implant in your dry lot program. For more information on the complete line of implants from Zoetis, go to www. Synovex.com
Refer to individual labels for complete directions for use, precautions, and warnings. Reimplant only if and as directed in labeling.
References
2Synovex Choice and Synovex Primer Freedom of Information (FOI) Summary, NADA 141-043.
About Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide –from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock farmers and ranchers. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Zoetis generated revenue of $8.5 billion in 2023 with approximately 14,100 employees. For more information, visit www.zoetis.com
1Smerchek D.T., Smith Z.K. Effects of increasing doses of trenbolone acetate and estradiol on finishing phase growth performance, carcass trait responses, and serum metabolites in beef steers following implantation. Transl Anim Sci. 2020;4(3):1-8.
Vitro Fertilization (IVF) & Embryo Transfer (ET)
* On-farm aspiration of oocytes via Ultrasound Guided Ovum Pick-Up (OPU).
* Embyos come back in 8 days for placement or direct thaw freezing on-farm.
* Can do on donors aged 8 months and older, up to 120-150 days pregnant Doesn’t interfere with pregnancy.
* Pregnant cows work really well, so the cow doesn’t get out of her production group. * Can do a donor every 2 weeks.
Table 1. Dry Lot and Grow Yard Differences
The CeO’s COrner
By GREGG DOUD National Milk Producers Federation
Dairy Has Persevered Through a Successful Year
In reflecting on where we were a year ago in this industry, it wasn’t very pretty in terms of prices. There wasn’t a lot of optimism. We have experienced several stressful headlines and considerable market risk in the last year, but look at where we are now. The situation has greatly improved, but there is still work to be done.
Let’s start with the long overdue update of USDA’s Federal Milk Marketing Orders. Then there is the ongoing revamp of the Cooperatives Working Together program (yes, we need to come up with a new name) to make our dairy exports more competitive. We didn’t sign up for H5N1, but it’s here, and we have to deal with it. The Farm Bill, the Dietary Guidelines, and ongoing efforts regarding trade issues—they have all been big challenges this year, and we cannot let our guard down for a minute in the months ahead. Importantly, we have a tremendous team in Washington. They are rock solid and up for the task.
And that’s critical in areas such as Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization. As I was just coming on board, I went to a couple of the hearings in Carmel, Indiana. And although I’m
an ag economist, it gave me a headache. What a challenging conversation. But what I also saw was the unbelievable expertise and leadership of numerous NMPF members. Our unanimous message made all the difference. It forced the government to listen.
We’ve seen similar impressive accomplishments on Capitol Hill as well. Late last year, we had one of the most interesting votes I’ve seen in 32 years in Washington, when the House of Representatives voted 330 to 99 to put whole milk back in schools. This was a situation where some good old fashioned, shoe leather lobbying, where you sit down with a member of Congress and say, ‘This is the science. This is the better product. We need to put whole milk back in schools.’ The result was that a majority of both Democrats and Republicans in the House, 330 to 99, agreed. Unfortunately, we have yet to be successful in the Senate on this important issue—but the year isn’t over.
I’m not sure when we’re going to pass the Farm Bill. It could be in the lame duck. It could be next year. It could be the year after. Regardless of who is in the White House or Congress next year, the
2025 congressional agenda complicates the Farm Bill legislative process. The next Congress will likely start by navigating issues such as the debt ceiling, budget reconciliation, and executive branch nominations. However, the huge issue will be the five year expiration of our tax code. The “delta,” or difference in terms of the Farm Bill and what we’re debating over, is about $10 billion when it comes to reference prices. My understanding is that if Congress does nothing in 2025 on taxes, on January 1, 2026, the tax bill for everyone in this country goes up by $5 trillion. This will be the first big debate of the next Congress, and, for the farm economy, it dwarfs any other issue. A reasonable expectation is that this discussion will consume the first half of next year, leaving the Farm Bill debate for the last half of the year, squeezed between the process of approving appropriations bills.
We also have to continue to pay close attention to H5N1. Sometimes when we make investments in animal disease preparedness, we’re not sure if the event will ever actually occur. One of those investments, via the checkoff, we made a while back was in terms of foot and mouth disease, and people said, ‘We haven’t had that in nearly a hundred years; why are we investing in that?’
In reality, this little bit of foresight paid huge dividends this year. When H5N1 hit, we pulled these biosecurity plans off the shelf, we adapted them to this virus, and we plugged them in for a webinar for 1,300 people in this industry in three days—an unbelievable accomplishment. When we look back to the lessons learned on H5N1, this initial investment and the subsequent on-farm biosecurity implementation efforts that were a result made a big difference. We must continue to look around the corner
2024 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts
to determine what new investments must be made to ensure we’re ready for the next event, whatever that might be.
On the regulatory side, we’ve been investing in the fight against plant based beverage mislabeling, and we’ve been proactive on the Dietary Guidelines and other nutrition issues. The team effort with incredible dairy nutrition research coming from the checkoff side, along with numerous industry partnerships along the way, has been terrific. We’re going to continue to make our case respectfully, but we are not going to give an inch.
We continue to lead and innovate with improvements in our FARM Program, and the ongoing work with the U.S. Dairy Export Council on these always thorny trade issues, must be a priority to improve the demand environment for U.S. dairy, domestically and internationally.
This industry has a tremendously bright future. There’s never been a year like this year in terms of headline risk in the agricultural commodity business. My contemporaries talk about this all the time with wars, inflation, viruses, et cetera. Yet, despite all of this, dairy farmers have persevered and had a tremendously successful year. Our future success will also come from the roughly $7 billion in new processing investments now being made in this industry. This is an investment in you, the dairy farmers of this great nation, and for good reason!
It has been an honor to be a part of the NMPF team in Washington this past year, and I look forward to working with you, and fighting for you in Washington, going forward.
Note: These remarks are adapted from remarks at NMPF’s annual meeting in Phoenix on October 22, 2024.
Q3 Report: CWT Assists With 17.1 Million Pounds of Dairy Product Export Sales. Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) member cooperatives accepted 161 offers of export assistance from CWT in the third quarter of 2024, helping them capture sales contracts for 13.6 million pounds of American type cheese, 220,000 pounds of butter, 95,000 pounds of anhydrous milkfat, 730,000 pounds of whole milk powder, and 2.4 million pounds of cream cheese. The product is going to customers in Asia, Central America, the Caribbean, the Middle East-North Africa, Oceania, and South America and will be delivered from August 2024 through March 2025.
CWT assisted member cooperative year-to-date export sales total 59.6 million pounds of American type cheeses, 529,000 pounds of butter (82 percent milkfat), 864,000 pounds of anhydrous milkfat, 18.7 million pounds of whole milk powder, and 8.2 million pounds of cream cheese. The products are going to 28 countries in five regions. These sales are the equivalent of 786 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers and cooperatives by fostering the competitiveness of U.S. dairy products in the global marketplace and helping member cooperatives gain and maintain world market share for U.S. dairy products. As a result, the program has helped significantly expand the total demand for U.S. dairy products and the demand for U.S. farm milk that produces those products. The amounts of dairy products and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes.
The Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) Export Assistance program is funded by voluntary contributions from dairy cooperatives and individual dairy farmers. The money raised by their investment is being used to strengthen and stabilize the dairy farmers’ milk prices and margins.
NMPF Annual Meeting Spotlights Dairy Vigilance on H5N1, FMMO Progress. United States dairy farmers are remaining resilient in the face of H5N1 influenza outbreaks while advancing in policy areas including nutrition and milk pricing, said NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney at the organization’s annual meeting held in Phoenix on October 21-23.
Dairy persists in its best practices in biosecurity and works with government
NEWS
officials, veterinarians, and scientists to understand, contain and prevent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in dairy cattle, Mooney said in remarks at the meeting held jointly by NMPF, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, and the United Dairy Industry Association.
“Everything we do, the future, is going to take a level of cooperation and coordination from all of us. And we’ve had that, but it’s going to take more than we’ve ever had,” said Mooney, a Dairy Farmers of America member-owner who farms near Rogersville, Missouri. “I continue to be inspired by all of you and the work that you’re doing. Amid great change and preparation for the future, we are still part of the greatest industry that there is.”
Dairy producers in the past year have grappled with HPAI and delays on a farm bill that expired in September, even as milk prices have risen, and consumer demand has remained strong. Meanwhile, farm level margins have remained at a record high for months, well above levels that trigger payments under the federal Dairy Margin Coverage program, the main producer safety net, even as dairy is poised for growth with upcoming dairy manufacturing plant expansions.
Underpinning the entire industry is USDA’s plan for Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization, which is likely to resemble a proposal released in July that incorporated key NMPF principles and would be voted on by dairy farmers early next year.
Also at the meeting, NMPF’s Board of Directors approved the organization’s policy positions and elected new members. New board members approved by NMPF delegates include:
• Darrin Monteiro, California Dairies Inc.
• Dan Kullot, Dairy Farmers of America
• Kimberly Parks, Dairy Farmers of America
• Deric Lindstrom, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery
• Joel Eigenbrood, Foremost Farms
• Jon Cowell, Maola (formerly Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association)
Cowell and Eigenbrood were also elected to NMPF’s Executive Committee. The board also elected Craig Caballero of United Dairymen of Arizona to serve as its secretary. In addition, Jacob Larson of Southeast Milk, Inc. was elected chairman of the Small Cooperative Caucus and, in
turn, to NMPF’s Executive Committee.
The members awarded Honorary Directors for Life recognition to John Wilson and Kent Herman, both of Dairy Farmers of America, and Jay Bryant of Maola, NMPF’s outgoing secretary.
The meeting drew roughly 750 attendees and featured breakout sessions on industry topics ranging from an economic outlook to the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program’s Environmental Stewardship updates, released on October 31.
FARM Executive Director Emily Yeiser Stepp said in a breakout session on biosecurity that many practices already established have been serving dairy farms under H5N1.
“Dairy farmers and their cooperatives have developed and embraced a robust biosecurity program through the National Dairy FARM Program,” NMPF’s Emily Yeiser Stepp said. “This program has been adapted and adopted by dairy farms across the U.S. to prevent the spread of H5N1.”
Featured panelists at the meeting’s general session included Doud, who appeared with fellow dairy CEOs Barb O’Brien of Dairy Management Inc. and Krysta Harden of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, along with a session on innovative dairy revenue streams that included Brent Lilienthal, president and CEO of LF Bioenergy; Katie Cook, vice president of livestock sustainability and U.S. farm animal marketing for Elanco; and Chris Cook, head of sustainable business solutions for Syngenta.
The annual meeting is also held in conjunction with NMPF’s Young Cooperators annual meeting for younger dairy leaders, as well as NMPF’s annual
cheese contest. This year’s Chairman’s Award winner was a Garden Vegetable with Sweet Basil Rub cheese from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery in Menomonie, Wis., while the Chairman’s Reserve went to Upstate Niagara Cooperative Inc. of Batavia, N.Y., for its salted butter; in the first year, butter was added to the competition.
About the National Milk Producer’s Federation. NMPF was organized in 1916 to provide a forum for dairy producers and the cooperatives they own to participate in public policy discussions. NMPF advocates policies to Congress, U.S. and foreign government agencies, industry organizations, the news media, and the public.
We use our unique resources to harness the ever changing climate in the politics and marketing of milk and dairy products from farm to table to promote the economic well being of dairy producers and their cooperatives through coordinated industry efforts.
NMPF addresses policies concerning milk pricing, domestic and international market development, agriculture credit and taxation, environmental issues, food safety and health, animal welfare, product standards and labeling, and research and biotechnology.
Our mission is to foster an economic and political climate in which dairy producers and the cooperatives they own can thrive and prosper. Achieving such success assures consumers of adequate supplies of wholesome and nutritious dairy products at affordable prices.
This helps improve the bottom line of the associate members who provide services to dairy producers and cooperatives that they represent. For more information, visit www.nmpf.org
New Website Launches to Strengthen Checkoff Value Communications. Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) has launched www.dairycheckoff. com to more effectively communicate the full national and local impact of the dairy checkoff to farmers and importers.
Content focused toward these audiences previously was housed at www.USDairy.com, which will continue to serve as a go-to resource to reach consumer and thought leader audiences with information and research backed information on dairy and its benefits on health and wellness and the environment.
The new site is designed in a way to focus on checkoff areas that are important to farmers, including:
• Growing Demand for Dairy
• Research and Innovation
• Youth Wellness
• Exports
• Sustainability
• Partnerships
• Health & Nutrition
• Farmer Image
“When we spoke with farmers, we could see there was some confusion when we had just one website for the entirety of the checkoff, and they didn’t know how to get more information on programs that are delivering results for them,” said Joanna Hunter, group executive vice president and head of farmer relations and outreach for DMI. “DairyCheckoff.com is developed with a farmer-first mindset and is categorized around how farmers think about the work that the checkoff does nationally and locally.
NEWS
“I really believe there is something that every farmer cares about that the checkoff touches, and this is a place where they can find deeper information and resources.”
In addition to information on each of the key checkoff pillars, visitors will find episodes of the Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast, the latest checkoff news updates, DMI Board of Directors information, annual reports, budget and financial information, and more.
“The new website is an awesome one stop shop for all things dairy checkoff,” said Minnesota dairy farmer Charles Krause, who serves on the DMI board. “You can learn about the wide variety of ways that checkoff is working on farmers’ behalf in a very easy to navigate format.”
O’Brien Outlines ‘Now, Next, Future’ Checkoff Strategies at Annual Meeting. Dairy Management Inc. CEO identifies ‘renaissance’ moment for industry. DMI President and CEO Barbara O’Brien outlined “now, next, and future” checkoff strategies to more than 800 dairy farmers and industry representatives at the 2024 joint annual meeting of the United Dairy Industry Association, National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, and National Milk Producers Federation held in Phoenix on October 21-23.
O’Brien began by sharing that consumer retail dollar spending and volume sales for dairy are increasing, up 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively, year to date, and all categories are experiencing volume growth compared to last year.
“Make no mistake, we are experiencing what I call a dairy renaissance,” O’Brien said. “You’ve seen the headlines and heard the discussions on social media; it is clear the narrative is shifting, and this is our time.”
O’Brien noted that data indicates the millennial generation (ages 28–43) is primarily driving dollar and volume growth based on newfound positive perceptions of dairy.
“Consumers have found their truth; they want real food, and they are voting with their dollars,” O’Brien said. “People are recognizing the true value of the nutritious products farmers produce.”
The now, next, and future strategies are occurring simultaneously through the checkoff, which O’Brien described as allowing the organization to maintain its long-term vision while responding quickly to immediate needs. “It’s about being strategically patient but tactically urgent, ensuring that farmers’ investments are working harder,” she said.
O’Brien provided updates and successes in each area.
Now – Sales Environment, Market Demands, Consumer Trends — O’Brien mentioned that science-backed dairy research is making strides with thought leaders from organizations such as the National Medical Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, who hold credibility with patients.
Partnerships with social media influencers are also driving the dairy conversation; O’Brien cited 10 million dairy centric social media posts year to date and 99,000 recipes featuring dairy.
The checkoff’s longstanding partnership model of working with and through leaders, including those at foodservice, continues to deliver results. Domino’s CEO Russell Weiner addressed meeting attendees and outlined successes that have led to the chain’s increased use of cheese across menu items. Recent innovations, supported by the checkoff, include the New York Style Pizza and five cheese mac and cheese offerings.
Domino’s also continues to find success with its Smart Slice school lunch program, which is increasing school lunch cheese use, and the chain is launching delicious cheesy menu items internationally, including its Domino’s Volcano pizza, featuring mozzarella cheese on top and a cheddar cheese sauce in the middle, finding enthusiastic consumer interest in Japan.
Weiner said the company has doubled its cheese use since the partnership began in 2008.
“It’s not just a Domino’s success story; it’s a success story of our
partnership with dairy farmers,” Weiner said. “When DMI came to us, it coincided with Domino’s turnaround. There was a commitment to improve the food and grow the category, and we have achieved just that.”
Additionally, an e-commerce strategy conducted by DMI with 14 state and regional checkoff organizations included campaigns with Instacart, Walmart, and Dollar General. The content highlighted dairy’s affordability, versatility, and nutritional benefits, with every dollar invested by the checkoff yielding a return of $15.60 in dairy sales.
And a partnership with General Mills resulted in the introduction of Yoplait Protein, which has brought new buyers to the category and increased purchases in the first half of the year, which is a testament to yogurt’s strong positioning as people seek more health and wellness solutions.
Next – Laying Groundwork for 2025, Examining Evolving Strategies — O’Brien said the strategies and programs of the 2025 Unified Plan will be built on a foundation of science and innovation to foster future growth.
“As you’ve seen over the past couple of years, we’ll continue to deepen our investment in science,” O’Brien said. “It’s critical for our category, and if the checkoff doesn’t invest, no one will.”
The checkoff will engage in discovery research in areas of interest to consumers, including women’s health, mental health, weight management, bioactives, and next generation fermentation technologies.
O’Brien emphasized the checkoff will serve as a pre-competitive consultant, providing scientific knowledge and consumer insights to inspire a broader range of supply chain partners.
DMI is also refining its reputation strategy, with O’Brien saying the checkoff will focus on fewer, larger in-market executions aimed at thought leaders, customers, and consumers centered around content priorities, such as:
• Growth, performance, and endurance
• Gut health
• First 1,000 days of life (from conception to a child’s second birthday)
• Environmental progress with dairy farmers of varying sizes and geographies
O’Brien added the checkoff has broadened its youth strategy, recognizing the need for sustained engagement in the dairy category. This begins with the first 1,000 days and continues through various stages of a child’s next 18 years.
“We’re focusing on touchpoints in schools and at home, in-store and online, including learning and social platforms like YouTube and TikTok, gaming, and
more,” O’Brien said. “These ‘next’ initiatives are designed to build on our successes and position us for an even stronger future.”
Future – Preparing the Checkoff for Generations to Come — As she considers the future of dairy and the checkoff program, O’Brien is driven by a single thought: if U.S. dairy were a company, what are the most important actions for DMI and the checkoff enterprise? She identified three key elements:
• Have a vision for dairy’s future
• Build a foundation with world class science
• Cultivate relationships and credibility across the supply chain to drive change
O’Brien said this begins with enhancing the checkoff’s foundation of science. DMI created a ten year roadmap that aligns with an analysis of consumer health and wellness needs.
“People are increasingly viewing food as medicine, and we see a growing percentage acting on healthier eating behaviors,” O’Brien said. “Dairy is well positioned to capture a significant share of the billions in sales opportunities with the right products, forms, formats, and packaging, delivering the right benefits. This is our opportunity to win, and we’re building the pipeline to redefine dairy’s role as a health and wellness solution in people’s lives.”
O’Brien concluded her remarks by calling dairy farmers the “drivers of this change” for the checkoff’s strategy.
“Your innovation on the farm, commitment to stewardship, and passion for feeding the world make our checkoff initiatives possible,” she said. “The challenges we face are significant, but so are our opportunities. With your continued support and the power of our unified approach, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”
Dairy Checkoff Annual Report Offers 2023 Highlights, Financials. Dairy Management Inc. has posted its 2023 annual report at https:// dairycheckoff.com/about-us/annualreport
The report provides checkoff funders and other members of the dairy community an audited financial report and highlights from 2023, including:
• Boosting domestic and international dairy sales.
• Building trust with consumers, including younger generations.
• Promoting dairy as a sustainable and essential food source.
• Engaging farmers and the broader dairy community.
The report features insights from farmer leadership, including DMI Chair Marilyn Hershey, United Dairy Industry
Association Chair Alex Peterson, and National Dairy Promotion and Research Board Chair Joanna Shipp. Additionally, Barbara O’Brien shares thoughts on checkoff strategies designed to build sales and trust of dairy.
“The 2023 annual report delivers insights in a transparent way of the dairy checkoff’s mission, including highlights and a financial summary of how our dollars are being invested,” Hershey said. “This is a powerful tool that shows the workings of our organization and how the checkoff is delivering results for us.”
The checkoff’s 2024 program budget summary and audited financial statements are also available at https://dairycheckoff. com/about-us/budget-financials
Those interested in learning more about the checkoff can visit www. DairyCheckoff.com and the Dairy Checkoff Facebook Page, listen to the Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast, or subscribe to the Dairy Checkoff Newsletter
Supporting Sustainable Dairy: New Checkoff Conservation Resource Goes Live. Dairy Conservation Navigator simplifies conservation, sustainability for farms. The dairy checkoff has launched the Dairy Conservation Navigator, an online resource hub designed to provide farm advisors, stakeholders, and conservation professionals with science based information on sustainable farming practices and technologies.
The Navigator aggregates science based information from more than 70 experts, helping users make informed decisions that enhance farm profitability and sustainability efforts.
Dairy checkoff scientists and others developed a list of over 80 practices that have a positive environmental benefit in areas including nutrient management, methane reduction, soil health, manure handling, and more. The tool can be accessed at www.dairyconservation.org
“Sustainability is one of those topics where there’s so much information, but it’s scattered across countless websites, and it’s often difficult to know what’s credible and applicable to dairy farming,” said Bridgett Hilshey, senior director of sustainability projects at DMI. “Our goal is to simplify the process of accessing that information, offering a single, trusted platform where industry professionals can find scientifically backed information about practices that can help improve farm sustainability.”
The tool features a filterable database, allowing users to find solutions tailored to their specific needs. Each practice includes a summary outlining its purpose, conditions for use, implementation considerations, funding options, and environmental benefits.
The Navigator also includes
information on emerging sustainability practices and technologies that could transform the industry. Additionally, the checkoff partnered with experts nationwide to create free short courses covering topics like environmental modeling, carbon markets, and water conservation.
“We strive to make sure the information on the site is comprehensive,” Hilshey said. “We worked with experts to cover a wide range of topics that interest dairy industry stakeholders, and to ensure that the Navigator content is grounded in real world experience. Our goal is for farm advisors and other stakeholders to understand these practices, including the benefits and limitations, so they can identify new opportunities and set realistic expectations.”
The tool is designed for the wide range of professionals who support farm decisions, including veterinarians, nutritionists, agronomists, equipment suppliers, conservationists, and financial advisors, as well as those associated with cooperatives, processors, university extension, and others.
Jacqi Coleman, senior vice president of sustainability partnerships for DMI, emphasized the Navigator’s role in bridging the gap between the increasing demand for sustainability in dairy farming and the need for easily accessible, reliable information.
“What we hear most often is that sustainability is confusing, with new terms and evolving expectations,”
Coleman said. “This site provides science based information and educational tools that help users navigate sustainability through education.
“The checkoff has always been backed by science, and we want to make sure the resource provides trusted, science based information.”
The Navigator will be frequently updated to reflect the latest research, field trials, and emerging technologies.
“Sustainability is an evolving field, and we’re committed to ensuring the Navigator can meet that pace,” Hilshey said. “The goal is to make this a living, breathing resource that grows alongside the industry.”
DMI will introduce the tool at industry events and conferences with partners like The Nature Conservancy and the Conservation Technology Information Center.
About Dairy Management Inc. DMI is funded by America’s more than 26,000 dairy farmers, as well as dairy importers. Created to help increase sales and demand for dairy products, DMI and its related organizations work to increase demand for dairy through research, education, and innovation, and to maintain confidence in dairy foods, farms, and businesses. DMI manages the National Dairy Council and the American Dairy Association, and founded the U.S. Dairy Export Council, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. For more information about the dairy checkoff, visit www.dairycheckoff.com
NEWS
The Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability was signed at the IDF Dairy Leaders Forum. As the recognized global voice of dairy and the leading source of expertise and scientific knowledge, IDF has taken the initiative in developing a declaration to reiterate and reinforce the dairy sector’s commitment to a sustainable transformation of the whole value chain. This document was presented at the end of the IDF World Dairy Summit 2024 in Paris, France, on October 18.
IDF subscribes to FAO’s definition of sustainability, meaning to meet the needs of present and future generations, while ensuring profitability, environmental health, and social and economic equity. Therefore, sustainable food and agriculture (SFA) should contribute to all four pillars of food security—availability, access, utilization, and stability— and the dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social, and economic). This involves all actors of the dairy value chain, from farm to fork, including all farmers and processors, whether small, medium, or large, cooperatives, dairy workers and leaders, scientists and experts, traders, dairy unions, and anyone engaged in the process of producing dairy in the widest sense of the term, whom IDF represents all over the world.
We understand that this implies global challenges but local solutions.
Building on the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam of 2016, in which the global dairy sector unitedly declared its engagement to the United Nations 2030 Agenda, this initiative continues the journey by showcasing the actions undertaken by the dairy actors, acknowledging that even if much has been done it’s still not enough and as we are only six years away of 2030 time is running out, and we should accelerate our efforts. Agriculture in general and dairy in particular have specific challenges as they are directly involved in SDG2: Zero Hunger.
In this regard, IDF Director General, Laure Rycken says: “The global dairy sector must continue the journey to answer the call of the 2030 agenda in less than six years, to showcase how it has taken its responsibility on and acted upon the challenges.”
The IDF Paris Declaration on Sustainability will bring to light the tangible commitments undertaken by dairy operators toward the various pillars of sustainability (climate change, nutrition, health, economic security, natural resources stewardship, etc.) and sends a clear message to governments, decision makers, and the public on
the dynamism of the dairy sector. This resonated during the IDF Dairy Leaders Forum, where actors across the dairy value chain shared their work/initiative.
However, the dairy sector cannot undertake this on its own and needs enabling environments to leverage and scale up the actions in order to reach the set goals. It should be recognized as one of the most important sources of basic nutrients for quality nutrition, which builds up to its unequalled capacity to nourish six billion people worldwide, as well as the fact that it generates livelihoods for one billion people around the globe.
“This enormous service to humanity cannot be compromised and should be considered as a priority within any conversation involving the global dairy sector”, says IDF President, Piercristiano Brazzale, “and certainly a public-private dialogue on the role of dairy to tackle global challenges is necessary at this point in time”, he adds, and sends a strong call to action: “We, the global dairy sector need the support of IGOs, governments and other stakeholders to continue unfolding the boundless potential that we have to help cope with the UN SDGs on a timely manner”.
By signing this declaration together with FAO, like we did in 2016, IDF partners with the world’s highest authority in food and agriculture. IDF wishes to call all member country delegations, dairy leaders, and stakeholders to endorse this document but, above all, to commit themselves to engage in every effort to live up to the challenge of achieving the goals on time, by leveraging the vast potential of the dairy sector in every
corner of the globe.
To read the full Paris Dairy Declaration, visit https://fil-idf.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/10/The_Paris_ Dairy_Declaration_FINAL_.pdf
Joint Statement by the International Dairy Federation (IDF) and Global Dairy Platform (GDP) for COP 29: Dairy’s Commitment to Sustainable Transformation and Climate Action. The global dairy sector reaffirms its unwavering commitment to sustainability in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a vital source of nutrition, economic support, and environmental stewardship, dairy provides essential nutrition to 6 billion people around the world and supports the livelihoods of nearly one billion people across approximately 130 million dairy farms worldwide. This joint statement underscores our dedication to transforming dairy systems sustainably and responsibly, benefiting both people and the planet.
Achievements and Ongoing Initiatives — Our sector has long recognized the importance of proactive engagement in sustainability. Key initiatives such as the Global Dairy Agenda for Action (2009), the Dairy Sustainability Framework (2013), the Dairy Declaration of Rotterdam (2016), Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (P2DNZ) (2021), the Global Methane Pledge (2022), and the Paris Dairy Declaration on Sustainability (2024) reflect our commitment. These programs have successfully integrated sustainability across environmental, social, and economic domains within dairy systems, paving the way for further progress.
Through continuous advancements in production and process efficiency, the dairy sector has reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity, protected critical carbon sinks, and improved management practices across the board. Notably, from 2005-2015, the GHG emissions intensity per liter of milk decreased by nearly 11 percent, even as global dairy production increased by 30 percent.
Methane and GHG Emission Reductions — Reducing methane emissions is crucial for climate change mitigation, as methane is a potent yet short lived greenhouse gas that significantly impacts global warming. Reducing methane emissions from dairy has an immediate impact on warming. Dairy production is responsible for just 2 percent of total human caused GHG emissions, with methane emissions constituting approximately 12 percent of global anthropogenic methane. Furthermore, methane emissions in the sector are biogenic and part of natural
cycles, unlike fossil based methane, which adds long stored carbon to the atmosphere. Dairy has made significant strides in adopting methane reduction techniques, including feed additives, improved manure management, and biogas production, contributing to immediate climate benefits.
In this regard, methane reduction advancements were discussed during three COP29 side events:
• GDP Executive Director Donald Moore spoke on a panel about strategies for the rice, dairy, and beef sectors to reduce methane emissions and the dairy sector’s commitment to environmental progress, as exemplified in P2DNZ.
• IDF President Gilles Froment addressed the mitigation process at an official side event on animal health, mitigation, and adaptation: Innovative financing for sustainable livestock development in conjunction with ILRI, BAIF Development Research Foundation, and the European Dairy Association.
• GDP hosted an official side event, “Sustainable Strategies for Dairy, Beef, and Rice Sectors: Efforts to Cut Methane Emissions,” in conjunction with the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) and the Republic of Uruguay. The event explored sustainable strategies for the dairy, beef, and rice sectors to cut methane emissions while highlighting innovative practices and collaborative efforts.
Life Cycle Assessment — The dairy sector continues to develop and apply accurate measurement methods, such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), to track emissions. IDF has led in establishing global guidelines for carbon footprint calculation in dairy, supporting transparency and consistency in emissions reporting. Given dairy’s essential role in nutrition, we advocate for including nutritional factors in LCA assessments to capture the full impact of dairy on human health and well-being.
Ecosystem Services and Nature
Positive Contributions — Dairy farming provides significant ecosystem services, enhancing biodiversity, supporting soil health, and contributing to renewable energy through manure based biogas. Dairy animals convert human inedible feed into nutritious food and improve soil carbon storage by recycling manure. Approximately 70 percent of global agricultural land, classified as marginal, becomes productive through responsible grazing, providing high quality nutrition while fostering ecological health.
Policy and Partnerships for Effective Climate Action — Achieving meaningful climate action in dairy requires supportive political frameworks.
We call for policies that incentivize farmers, promote adoption of innovative technologies, and fund research to accelerate sustainable practices. Through cross sectoral collaboration, we aim to strengthen food systems, ensuring a healthy, sustainable future for all.
Looking Forward — The dairy sector is committed to furthering these initiatives, adapting to the evolving demands of climate and social responsibility. With dairy’s intrinsic role in resilient, sustainable food systems, we will continue to foster practices that balance environmental stewardship with
economic and social needs.
Together, IDF and GDP reaffirm our dedication to a sustainable future, highlighting dairy’s unique role in delivering nutritious food and essential services to communities worldwide.
About the International Dairy Federation. IDF is the leading source of scientific and technical expertise for all stakeholders of the dairy chain. Since 1903, IDF’s network of dairy experts has provided a mechanism for the dairy sector to reach global consensus on how to help feed the world with safe and sustainable dairy products. A recognized
international authority in the development of science based standards for the dairy sector, IDF has an important role to play in ensuring the right policies, standards, practices, and regulations are in place to ensure the world’s dairy products are safe and sustainable.
With over 1,200 highly qualified dairy experts in 39 member countries around the world, IDF represents 74 percent of global milk production and provides a permanent source of authoritative scientific and technical information relevant to the dairy sector. For more information, visit https://fil-idf.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: ____________________________
Address:
City: ________________ State: ____ Zip:
Seller’s Signature: _________________________
Buyer’s Name: ____________________________
Address:
City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: ______
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 = $
* 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.
What does a La Niña winter mean for pasture managers? As drought reemerged and expanded late this summer and into fall, the forecast for a La Niña event has the attention of cattle producers. Many will welcome predictions for good winter moisture across the northern tier of states. The tone is different in the southern United States, where a warmer, drier outlook threatens valuable grazing land at a time when many producers are gearing up to rebuild or expand their herd.
Sam Ingram, Ph.D., Range & Pasture field scientist with Corteva Agriscience, offers three tips that can help producers prepare for and manage through the winter ahead.
1. Be proactive – Feeding hay is expensive but pales in comparison with the long term harm overgrazing drought
stressed pastures can cause. Difficult decisions today will pay off down the road.
2. Be patient – Come spring, resist the temptation to turn cattle out too quickly. Cool season grasses green up quickly. Grazing too early will inhibit roots from reestablishing, ultimately leading to weaker, thinner plant stands.
3. Be observant – t’s important to scout pastures early and eliminate opportunistic weeds before they outcompete recovering grasses. Give grasses as much time as possible to rebuild root structure and help speed recovery.
New NovaGraz Herbicide Controls Pasture Weeds, Preserves Valuable White Clover and More. New Pasture Herbicide From Corteva Agriscience Meets Long Standing Need for Producers.
Corteva Agriscience announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered NovaGraz herbicide.1 As the only pasture herbicide to give cattle producers broadvspectrum weed control while still preserving white clover and annual lespedeza2, NovaGraz meets a long standing need.
“Many producers rely on white clover and annual lespedeza in their pastures to improve forage quality for grazing and haying and for the legumes’ nitrogen fixing capability to enhance soil fertility and health,” said Morgan Bohlander, portfolio marketing lead, U.S. Range & Pasture, Corteva Agriscience. “Without effective broadleaf weed control, the harm that weeds cause to forage production and quality can outweigh the benefits of these legumes.”
Eliminating weeds in white clover pastures can increase the amount of forage produced and improves utilization. In research trials where NovaGraz herbicide controlled broadleaf weeds and preserved white clover, pastures produced 21 percent more total forage compared with untreated sites.3
“NovaGraz herbicide allows producers to eliminate undesirable, low value weeds without also removing white clover,” said Sam Ingram, Ph.D., field scientist, Corteva Agriscience. Extensive research shows that by preserving white clover and annual lespedeza in tall fescue pastures, producers can mitigate fescue toxicosis, which can increase stocker cattle average gains by up to 50 percent.
“Anytime those gains come from grazed forages, it benefits the livestock producer’s bottom line,” Ingram said.
Multiple years of testing show NovaGraz herbicide, powered by Rinskor active, provides broad spectrum control of important broadleaf species, including ironweed, cocklebur, wild carrot, buttercup, biennial thistles, ragweeds, plantain, woolly croton, poison hemlock, and many others.
In addition, NovaGraz herbicide:
• Controls a broad spectrum of weeds in pastures, rangeland, hayfields, and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres.
• Carries no grazing restrictions for beef cattle and only minimal haying and manure restrictions after application.
• Provides effective, broad spectrum weed control where a non-residual option is desired for maximum flexibility in hay marketing and crop rotation.
• Provides high quality, diverse grazing, which can increase per acre beef production.
NovaGraz herbicide will be available for the 2025 application season, pending state registrations. NovaGraz herbicide complements the industry’s most complete portfolio of pasture and rangeland management products and services from
Corteva Agriscience, including DuraCor herbicide, GrazonPD3 herbicide, Remedy herbicides, and UltiGraz Pasture Weed & Feed. For more information, visit www. RangeandPasture.com
References
1NovaGraz herbicide was previously referred to in technical communications as ProClova herbicide.
2White clover and annual lespedeza exhibit some initial injury (such as lodging and loss of vigor) but will recover.
3Sleugh, B., Corteva, et al. Can I Keep My Clover? Rinskor Active: A New Herbicide Enabling Selective Broadleaf Weed Control in White Clover-Grass Pastures. Weed Science Society of America-Western Society of Weed Science Joint Meeting, March 2-4, 2020, Maui, Hi. About Corteva. Corteva, Inc. is a global pure play agriculture company that combines industry leading innovation, high touch customer engagement, and operational execution to profitably deliver solutions for the world’s most pressing agriculture challenges. Corteva generates advantaged market preference through its unique distribution strategy, together with its balanced and globally diverse mix of seed, crop protection, and digital products and services. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and a technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to maximizing productivity for farmers while working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. More information can be found at www.corteva.com
Don’t put your cart before your horse...advertise that sale ahead of time! You’ll see positive results.
Federation oF State BeeF CounCilS update
Beef Brings People Together. When family and friends gather together, beef is often at the center of the plate, and the conversation. Whether enjoying meatballs, tacos, or skirt steak with an Asian flare, beef elevates the feeling of togetherness.
To share how beef is part of memorable moments, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, created the “Real People. Real Stories.” video series. An extension of the “Together We Bring More” campaign, this new series promotes the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand by featuring real people and their real stories.
A beef meal is worthy of getting together, and many people do just that every day. The new series documents authentic moments of people from every walk of life who come together and celebrate their bond the same way—over
a delicious beef meal. So far, three videos demonstrate how people from across the country celebrate their traditions and the important role beef plays in their gatherings.
“I think this series helps consumers connect with the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand in a different way,” said Sarah Reece, senior executive director of brand marketing at NCBA. “Viewers see themselves in these stories, and they remind them how important beef is in their own family functions.”
One video, “Comida Familiar,” highlights a group of friends, originally from Mexico City, as they come together over Ribeye Tacos with Chile Morita Salsa to continue the traditions of their culture and homeland. Another one celebrates family and friends coming together every Sunday to enjoy Grandma’s Famous Beef Meatballs. Finally, the Asian Lion Dancing Troupe
cooks up their favorite dish—Vietnamese Shaking Beef—with the same rhythm and passion as their traditional dance. Each story includes an accompanying beef recipe featuring different cuts and flavors.
The videos are available on YouTube and are shared on www. BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com , social media, and through Connected TV. To date, the videos have generated 4.8 million impressions and have been
viewed 3.2 million times, with “Comida Familiar” the highest performer with a 77.2 percent view rate. This storytelling series will continue with several new videos coming in 2025.
“Based on market research and focus groups, we heard from consumers that they value how beef connects them with others,” said Reece. “Beef builds relationships, and we want to celebrate that through this project.”
2024-2025 NCCF Scholarship Winners
The N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation has awarded 31 college scholarships and 2 graduate travel awards to students with backgrounds and interests related to cattle. These students aspire to pursue careers in agriculture or allied fields, particularly those related to cattle. Scholarships were awarded to students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Coastal Carolina Community College, Mars Hill University, Mississippi State University, Mitchell Community College, N.C. State University, Oklahoma State University, Redlands Community College, St. Andrews University, the University of Mount Olive, the University of Tennessee, and Western Carolina University.
The scholarships are funded by earnings on donations to the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation, which has
MOLLY ANDERSON
I am currently a student at N.C. State University, majoring in business administration with a concentration in marketing. I hope to use my skills and education to be able to pass along my knowledge and passion for agriculture to future generations and to always promote the beef industry and agriculture as a whole to the best of my abilities.
As a fifth generation cattle producer on my family farm, I have always been exposed to the industry; however, it is through my own experience showing and judging that this lifestyle has become so important to me.
Since I was eight years old, I have been exhibiting cattle in livestock shows. When I initially started, I was only showing at county fairs with one or two heifers and was very timid. After a couple of years, I started attending statewide shows as I got more confident in my abilities and in the quality of the heifers I raised. Now, at nineteen years old, I attend numerous shows every year, including national shows in Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, and many more; at these shows, I have had several division level and breed level championships with my heifers, as well as successes in showmanship.
been significantly supported by cattle producers in the state. The Foundation was established in 1982 with a significant donation from N.C. State University graduate E. Carroll Joyner. Since that time, numerous others have contributed to the Foundation.
The N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation is also supported by proceeds from sales of North Carolina Cattle Reflections, a history of cattle in North Carolina. The book may be purchased by contacting Kim Burdge of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association at 919-552-9111 or kim@ nccattle.com or online at www.nccattle. com/resources/merchandise/cattlereflections-order-form
The following personal stories were provided by the 2024-2025 scholarship and travel award winners in the spring of 2024:
work and responsibility. My ongoing growth and knowledge of the beef industry is extremely important to me, as I plan to continue my contribution to the betterment of the industry through education and advocacy. I am sincerely grateful to the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation for granting me this scholarship to aid in my education and success!
HOPE ANDREWS
My interest in agriculture began when I was a child, listening to my grandparents’ stories of growing up on tobacco farms. While they talked about harvesting and curing the tobacco, they also discussed the livestock their families raised (Herefords, Guernseys, Holsteins, swine, and chickens). Eventually, my continued interest in agriculture led to my mom signing me up for my county’s 4-H livestock team. During my involvement in 4-H, I found that my interest gravitated towards cattle. While I was unable to show, I began to compete in cattle working competitions with my 4-H teammates, along with competing in judging, skillathon, and quiz bowl competitions. In 2023, I qualified for the North Carolina skillathon and quiz bowl teams and went on to compete at nationals and placed fifth in quiz bowl.
CHAN BARBER
Growing up on Barber Farms my whole life and being a part of agriculture has always been something I appreciate and cherish. Impacting us from the food we eat to the clothes we wear every day, agriculture is the reason we are able to survive. I have been exposed to many different aspects of agriculture. Our family farm has allowed me to learn how to raise and manage cattle; grow, cut, and bale hay; and operate many different types of machinery. Additionally, our farm grows and sells round and square bales of equine hay to our thriving horse community. Selling quality hay has been one of the more fulfilling parts of the farming business for me because I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of different people and always enjoy making our customers happy.
The N.C. State Fair, WNC Mountain State Fair, and other North Carolina shows have given me the opportunity to grow and to meet so many people in this state who share the same passion for raising livestock. I have acquired a great network of like minded people throughout the years, which is invaluable in this industry.
This industry taught me the value of grit and dedication through friendly competition. Raising and exhibiting cattle requires a great deal of hard
Upon graduation, I plan to pursue a career in agricultural engineering. I hope to be able to own a small farm as well. Additionally, I plan to advocate for agriculture and encourage others to become involved.
I am grateful for receiving the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship, as it allows me to pursue higher education and my goals. The scholarship is aiding me in affording my tuition for this academic year at N.C. State University. Furthermore, receiving this scholarship has encouraged me to continue my education.
Support for our farmers is something we have to stand for more than ever with the mass urbanization going on across the state. With the population of the U.S. growing, keeping food in stores is going to be one of the issues. With cities expanding their size and taking over farmland, learning how to increase food production on less acreage is going to be a challenge, and educating these new neighbors about our livelihood will be more important than ever. As a future agricultural education teacher, promoting farmland conservation and managing water quality and usage in agriculture is something I want to incorporate into my teachings. Additionally, I want to continue to work on my family’s farm and continue to expand the operation, even though I know the challenges that I will face.
As an N.C. State University student, this scholarship is not only going to help me financially, but I now have a stronger connection with the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association and will continue to promote
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both. As a recipient of this prestigious scholarship, my resume will definitely boost my credentials when applying for an agriculture education teacher position. I appreciate support from the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation.
SHELBY CANDLER
I am Shelby Candler. I am from Weaverville, N.C., where I grew up on my family’s registered Simmental operation, where we prioritize using ET and A.I. to continue the improvement of our herd and offer show heifers, bulls, and replacement cattle. Over the past several years, I have been able to show and be competitive on the state and national levels. In high school, I was fortunate to be involved in both 4-H and FFA, where I served as FFA Chapter and Regional President. I also competed at both national livestock judging contests, where I was named an All American. Currently, I am a sophomore at Redlands Community College, where I am a member of a highly competitive livestock judging team. After completing my two years, I plan to transfer to a four year university, where I will continue my livestock judging career and focus on obtaining a master’s degree in reproduction. I plan to return home and not only use this to improve the genetic quality of my own herd, but also to allow the opportunity for other operations to do the same.
I would like to thank the donors of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship for their continued support of youth like myself who have a passion for the livestock industry, allowing us to further our education.
MASON CARPENTER
As a young boy, I was always doing my part to help out on the farm. I’m the fourth generation to be a part of the 100+ head family beef cattle operation. My father was an extension agent for
29 years, and his guidance fostered my interest in livestock. I was an active member in my local 4-H livestock club and was elected president three separate times during my 12 years as a 4-Her. I also participated in 4-H shows, livestock judging contests, and multiple 4-H camps during this time. As I grew, I managed to get my feet wet with all different kinds of agriculture, from helping run a 25 acre blackberry farm alongside a fatherson duo to being more heavily invested in agronomy during my time working at Southern States over the past two years.
If my experiences across the world of agriculture have taught me anything, it’s just how much I love working with cattle. After my grandfather passed away in 2015, my father, me, and my cousin took over the management of the operation, and together we have expanded to over 120 brood cows between our two farms, one in Lincoln County and one in Cleveland County, with both purebred Angus cows and SimAngus crosses. I have been working to bring artificial insemination back into our operation after we have used live cover to grow our cattle herd for the past eight years, and we will be breeding our first set of cows this winter. During my junior year at N.C. State University, I was a participant in the NCSU Wolfpack Round-Up held annually by the livestock merchandising class, an active member of the NCSU Collegiate Cattlemen’s Club, as well as being a finalist for the Goodnight scholarship as a transfer student. I am currently a student intern for the N.C. Beef Cattle Improvement Program, as well as working under my local agronomist at Southern States, all while helping run the family cattle herd.
The N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship has already helped me once before with expenses from my local community college, and I am glad I was selected to receive the scholarship again. This will help me to save more money
during school and focus more on my coursework and less on my finances. After graduation, I hope to work for N.C. State University or NCDA at one of the many research stations across North Carolina, managing and participating in research trials performed on beef cattle. I believe the research and work I will do will help out producers all across the state and the Southeastern U.S., just as the work my father did as an agent inspired and helped so many others.
EMMAROSE CHURCH
My interest in agriculture began early with 4-H and FFA. Both organizations provided me with opportunities to meet farmers, learn about their work, and inspired me in my own career. I competed in numerous judging contests and learned the value of hard work and dedication to agriculture. Growing up working on my step grandparent’s cattle farm (Seven Meadows with Bass Hyatt) in Brasstown, N.C., I learned the value of raising good cattle on well maintained pasture. I was able to learn about the methods of strip and rotational grazing while implementing practices of silvopasture. Bass taught me the importance of pasture management and carbon sequestration in the soil. Eventually, I was able to use that knowledge to help my dad bring cattle to a new farm of our own (Cole Creek Farms in Benson, N.C.), and I learned more about the agribusiness side of the cattle market. There were early mornings moving cattle, long hours sorting and record keeping, and afternoons sitting watching them graze.
The future of agriculture depends on the prioritization of not only productivity but environmental stewardship through sustainable practices. I am interested in the benefits of rotational grazing and intrigued by the intersection of technology and agriculture through precision farming and genetic based selective breeding. My passion lies in nurturing healthy ecosystems while ensuring the well being of animals, aiming for a harmonious balance between agriculture and nature.
For the past year, I have been working as an intern in the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in domestic marketing. This has been yet another opportunity to get out and explore my options for a career in agriculture. Through this internship, I have had the opportunity to promote North Carolina farmers and their products through events and commodity groups. I also help maintain records of GAP audit grants and network with farmers across the state. I have been praised for my work ethic, my organizational skills, and my
ability to communicate well. I hope to use these assets to further promote agriculture in North Carolina. Being able to work so closely with local farmers and see the impact it has on the consumers and the agriculture market has encouraged me to continue my work to promote the Got To Be N.C. mission!
Since freshman year, I have been working multiple jobs throughout school. I am an ambassador for the Department of Agriculture and Human Sciences through N.C. State University, a student worker with the Horse Husbandry 4-H Extension, and an intern with NCDA, alongside the other various farm tasks from the family farm. Doing all this and balancing my time wisely as a student has been challenging. Prioritizing school work has always been important to me, and my time management skills have grown exponentially in the past three years. Having this scholarship will help me cover costs so that I can continue to excel. I am so appreciative of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation for supporting college students in agriculture.
JOSEPH COLTRANE
Hello, my name is Joseph Coltrane, and I am a grateful recipient of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship. Growing up on a fourth generation dairy farm, I have always had an interest in agriculture and cattle. These experiences have taught me many valuable lessons. I have learned carpentry skills, veterinary procedures, calf raising, crop harvesting, tours for non-agriculture visitors, and all the other chores that allow a farm to operate. My interests have been expanded through my involvement in 4-H and FFA activities. I have competed successfully in many national competitions through dairy judging and even through the National
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Holstein conventions. Since the national conventions were held in multiple states, I was able to expand my knowledge of new technologies and advances available in a variety of situations. Our farm has opened a lab through Trans Ova Genetics, making embryo transplants more accessible for cattlemen throughout the southeast, and it has also helped us improve our own genetics in our farm.
I plan on graduating from N.C. State University this school year and achieving a bachelor’s degree in ag science. I am seeking to grow my knowledge in the agriculture field, which will teach me skills to bring back to my farm. As I learn about the necessities of farming, the technology that is being introduced in the agriculture field, and the management practices of a farm, I plan on soaking it all in. This will allow me to apply my newly learned knowledge to my own farm in order to improve it. After graduating from college, I plan to return to the family dairy farm. Here, I plan on working with the dairy cows and our Angus herd, the sheep, the crops, and even the machinery in order to pass it down to the next generation. I chose this career because I absolutely love the agriculture business and the passion for the land that it brings. Having the ability to work with animals, machinery, and even the land allows my love for the work to grow. Knowing that I am contributing to the world also makes me proud, as farmers are responsible for feeding everyone. This means that I can help people every day by providing food for families.
Being a twin brother is awesome and comes with many beneficial factors. It can be hard to pay for college. My brother and I go to N.C. State University. This scholarship can provide a great
opportunity for us to go to college and not have to worry about the money that’s paying for schooling. I also hope to one day pass agricultural knowledge and the farm down to the next generation of our family to continue our family’s legacy, just as my family before me did. I appreciate the generosity of scholarships like yours that can help my dreams come true.
LEMUEL COLTRANE
My name is Lemuel Coltrane, and I have been selected as a recipient of the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association scholarship. My family owns and operates a dairy farm where we milk Holstein cows and raise Angus beef cows. I have enjoyed working on our farm since I was a kid, and I have always dreamed of returning to the farm to work after school. I have always had a passion for working with cattle, and it has taught me so much.
My future goals are to graduate from N.C. State University. While in college, I hope to grow my knowledge in the agriculture field, which will teach me skills to bring back to my farm. As I learn about the necessities of farming, the technology that is being introduced in the agriculture field, and the management practices of a farm, I plan on soaking it all in. This will allow me to apply my newly learned knowledge to my own farm in order to improve it. After graduating from college, I plan to return to the family dairy farm. Here, I plan on working with the dairy cows and the machinery in order to pass it down to the next generation.
Receiving this scholarship means so much to my family and me. Receiving this scholarship helps me have the ability to pay for and attend college. This scholarship means so much to me, and it is great to have people support students in agriculture like myself.
The N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation has
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always been extremely generous towards students by helping them fund their college endeavors. I cannot express my thanks enough to the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation and the board of directors for allowing me to become a recipient of the scholarship.
JOSIE CORRELL
I am Josie Correll, and I will start my junior year of college at Oklahoma State University this fall. I completed my associate of science in agriculture at Connors State College, graduating on May 10. The N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation’s unwavering support of my education helps in so many ways. With this scholarship, I am able to concentrate more on my studies and not worry as much about paying for school. This has been a great help to me and my family, and we are grateful.
The North Carolina cattle industry is an important part of my life, and the family the cattle industry creates is felt at home in North Carolina and at school in Oklahoma.
I plan to complete my bachelor’s degree in agriculture communications and hopefully look for a career in the beef industry.
TALTON CORRELL
My name is Talton Correll, and I am a freshman at Mississippi State University pursuing a degree in poultry science with minors in Spanish and agriculture business. I am very thankful for the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship to help me accomplish my goal of attending college.
I am the sixth generation on my family’s vegetable and cattle farm in Rowan County. My grandparents, in Craven County, raise cattle and are very
involved in the N.C. Hereford Association and N.C. Cattlemen’s Association. From the age of three, I was in the show ring exhibiting sheep, goats, pigs, and turkeys. I successfully raised Shropshire sheep for several years and started a laying hen flock when I was 13.
Today, my flock supplies eggs for our farm’s Old Fashioned Home Delivery, farmer’s markets, and several restaurants. At home, I have always been involved with our cattle herd, helping with feeding and calving.
I am very excited to gain knowledge and experience to be able to contribute to the agriculture industry in the future.
TRAVIS COX
I have had the privilege of growing up on a farm for my entire life and consider myself to be a highly motivated and dedicated high school senior with a passion for agriculture with a deep rooted connection to family farming.
I started showing livestock at the age of two with pigs at the N.C. State Fair. Since then, I embarked on a journey of learning, growth, and passion for agriculture. Over the years, I have shown pigs, cattle, swine, and goats, honing my skills in animal husbandry, showmanship, and responsibility. My involvement expanded beyond the show ring to encompass diverse activities such as skillathon, quiz bowl, and livestock judging teams. This culminated in a memorable experience competing at a national level in November in Louisville, Ken., where I showcased my knowledge and dedication on a national stage. I credit the agricultural industry with a lot of my personal and leadership development.
As I transitioned into high school, my commitment to agricultural
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education and leadership only deepened through active engagement with FFA. At the chapter, federation, region, and state levels, I have held numerous leadership positions, embracing roles of responsibility and service to my peers and community. This past fall, I proudly represented North Carolina as a national delegate, embodying the values of FFA and advocating for the interests of my state. Looking ahead, I am excited to pursue my aspirations further as N.C. FFA President, driven by a desire to serve, lead, and make a meaningful impact on the future of agriculture in my state. Due to the demanding schedule required of this position, I will begin my educational journey at Coastal Carolina Community College before transitioning to a four year institution in the future.
Overall, my journey within the agricultural industry and in FFA has been characterized by a steadfast commitment to learning, leadership, and service. These organizations have not only shaped my character and skills but also instilled in me a deep sense of pride, purpose, and belonging within the agricultural community. As I continue to grow and evolve, I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences afforded to me, and I am eager to continue making a difference in the lives of others and the future of agriculture.
Alongside FFA and the agriculture industry, I have also been actively involved in various school organizations, such as the National Beta Club, National Hispanic Honors Society, National Technical Honors Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and our Student-2Student organization. Outside of school, I am actively involved in our church and other community initiatives where I can make a difference in the lives of those in need and be able to contribute to the well being of my community. Overall, my involvement in these school organizations
has enriched my high school experience, broadened my horizons, and empowered me to make a positive difference in my school, community, and beyond.
Upon completing my education in animal science and agribusiness, I envision returning home to actively contribute to the family farm’s operations. My primary focus will be on optimizing both our swine and cattle herds, which serves as one of the backbones of our enterprise. I plan to implement genetic selection strategies to maintain a healthy and productive herd, ensuring a steady supply of replacement breeding animals.
In addition to managing both herds, I aim to expand our involvement in the show industry by continuing to raise and market show animals that will be competitive in the ring. My hope is to expand our farm’s reputation of being a reputable source for show-worthy livestock.
Furthermore, I plan to capitalize on the growing demand for locally sourced, premium quality meat products by feeding out animals for meat production. Utilizing efficient feeding practices and adhering to strict quality standards, I aim to produce superior meat products that appeal to discerning consumers, thereby expanding our meat company.
Overall, my future plans involve leveraging my education and expertise to contribute to the sustainable growth and success of our family farm, ensuring its viability for generations to come.
In conclusion, winning a scholarship would be a life changing opportunity that would provide me with the financial support, academic resources, and personal validation needed to pursue my educational and career aspirations in animal science and agribusiness. With the support of a scholarship, I would have the freedom to focus on my studies, explore new opportunities, and strive for academic excellence, knowing that my hard work and dedication are being recognized and rewarded.
ADELEE DILLON
My ambition to pursue a major in animal science stems from a lifelong passion ignited by my involvement with two 4-H show lambs at the age of seven. Through raising these animals, I not only learned the fundamentals of responsibility but also gained insight into the intricate science behind raising high quality market animals. Subsequently, at the age of ten, I delved into livestock judging, honing my ability to discern quality livestock and articulate my decisions through critical thinking — an experience that further fueled my interest in animal science.
The N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship presents an opportunity to support my collegiate journey at the University of Tennessee, where I am eager to delve deeper into the realm of animal science while remaining actively engaged in livestock judging and shows. With this scholarship, I can fully immerse myself in academic pursuits with fewer financial constraints, enabling me to explore diverse facets of animal science and cultivate invaluable practical skills.
My research endeavors in animal nutrition have equipped me with insights into the complexities of producing quality market animals, from farm to table. As an undergraduate student, I aspire to engage in livestock breeding and genetics research, leveraging my AP and Gaston College dual enrollment coursework in chemistry, biology, microbiology, calculus, and statistics to contribute meaningfully to advancements in livestock breeding programs. This scholarship will alleviate some financial burdens, allowing me to focus on coursework and research opportunities essential for achieving these goals.
Furthermore, I aspire to expand my expertise in agricultural communications and marketing—a field pivotal in bridging the gap between agricultural practices and public perception. By mastering effective communication strategies, informed by my comprehensive understanding of animal breeds, nutrition, and welfare, I aim to advocate for the agricultural community and dispel misconceptions surrounding its practices.
My extensive involvement in 4-H presentations and advocacy efforts, culminating in a presentation to the United States Department of Agriculture in 2023, underscores my proficiency in public speaking and advocacy—an asset that will undoubtedly be further refined through collegiate communications
classes. With this scholarship’s support, I can fully immerse myself in these academic and extracurricular pursuits, paving the way for future leadership roles in agricultural advocacy.
Beyond academia, I am committed to developing the next generation of livestock enthusiasts, evident in my years of coaching younger children in sheep showmanship. Through collegiate participation in livestock judging and mentoring roles, I aspire to impart invaluable skills and instill confidence in aspiring agriculturalists.
Ultimately, I envision a career dedicated to research and product development in animal genetics and nutrition or advocating for agricultural legislation on Capitol Hill. This scholarship represents not just financial assistance but a catalyst for realizing my aspirations and making a lasting impact in the field of animal science. With this support, I am poised to contribute meaningfully to the future of agriculture and advocate for its continued advancement.
SAMANTHA DURHAM
My name is Samantha Durham, and I am a sophomore at N.C. State University, where I am pursuing a major in animal science with a concentration in veterinary bioscience. I come from a black Angus cattle farm located in Southern Orange County, where we produce approximately 70 feeder lot calves annually. Growing up in an agricultural environment has exposed me to the various aspects of farm life, providing me with invaluable life lessons, skills, and cherished memories. I am deeply passionate about continuing this legacy.
In addition to raising feeder calves, I have a passion for judging livestock. During high school, I was part of the FFA livestock evaluation team, which achieved first place at the state level and competed at the national level in Indiana, where we were awarded a gold placing. This experience taught me the value of teamwork and knowledge exchange, which ultimately strengthened our competitive edge. I find great joy in judging animals and providing reasons for their conformation. Since starting college, I have been actively involved in practicing and competing in smaller contests with the N.C. State University’s collegiate livestock judging team, with plans to participate in larger contests next spring. I am also a member of NCSU’s Collegiate Cattlemen’s Club and Young
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Farmer and Ranchers. Both of these clubs have provided me with a network of friends and colleagues who are as devoted to the industry as I am.
This summer, I will be working on a ranch in Ellsworth, Neb., where they manage approximately 700 head of black and red Angus cattle on over 30,000 acres. I aim to gain a deeper understanding of the beef industry and bring back new insights to North Carolina. I am confident that this experience will not only enhance my farming skills but also contribute to my personal growth. Upon completing my undergraduate studies, I intend to attend veterinary school, specializing in large animal medicine. My ultimate goal is to establish a veterinary practice on my family’s farm, equipped with a mobile unit for farm calls and a working facility with diagnostic testing for bovine and equine species. I plan to expand the herd of registered black Angus cattle using my artificial insemination certification to improve the quality in the marketplace. Working with large animals, particularly cattle, while maintaining a connection to my family farm has always been a dream of mine, and this path allows me to achieve that dream.
Receiving this scholarship is a great honor for me. It will significantly alleviate the financial burden and reduce my loan amounts. The support from the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation means a lot to me, and I am grateful for the guidance and support I have received from the community. I am committed to working hard and excelling in my studies. This scholarship will directly contribute to my education, and I eagerly anticipate the next steps in my journey in North Carolina agriculture.
HALEY HARGUS
As I grew up, I rode in the truck with a large animal veterinarian and assisted in various procedures. Routinely, I help pull calves, put uteri in, and work cattle. For about 13 years, I have been a member of the Henderson County livestock group, the Barnyard Bandits. While in this group, I have also shown cattle. I have participated in local and state shows with both steers and heifers.
A few years ago, I came in third place in the 4-H steer project. For two years, I participated in the Perry and Doris Teeter Leadership Institute at the N.C. Cattle Conference. I have attended state and national cattlemen’s meetings. During high school, I was a member of the East Henderson High School FFA program.
I also participated in the BuncombeHenderson County livestock judging team for about five years. In 2019, we won the senior state livestock judging competition in Raleigh.
We also raised beef cattle. We are still trying to fence in more pastures to help with our plan to rotationally graze. This year we have sold a few animals for private consumption, and the response has been extraordinary. I plan to continue growing our cattle operation throughout my lifetime.
In the fall, I plan to return to Mars Hill University, where I am majoring in zoology. This will be the first step in my path to becoming a large animal veterinarian. I have been visiting different veterinary schools to decide which one is the right fit for me. Currently, I am looking at N.C. State University, University of Tennessee, and University of Georgia. After vet school, I would like to return home to work at Animals R Us Veterinary Clinic. The best part of this
job will be working with the different cattle producers. Once in my career, I plan to continue working with the 4-H children and the FFA programs in my county to encourage youth to participate in agriculture. I have also joined the Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Program, and we are trying to get agriculture back into the school systems.
Your financial contribution will help me along this path. I just wanted to thank the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation for the honor of receiving this award.
MORGAN HARRINGTON
My name is Morgan Harrington, and I am a recipient of this year’s N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship. I have been involved in agriculture since I was little, mainly coming from an equine based background. My parents have both contributed to this, as my dad is a farrier and my mom worked at an emergency equine hospital. I compete in both Western and English riding events, such as ranch work, hunter shows, and jumping. While it may seem I am on a single agriculture path in the equine industry, being in FFA has opened so many new ideas and opportunities.
I first became interested in agriculture communications my freshman year of high school. Since then, I have decided that it is the career path I plan to take and pursue in college. I am finishing my associates degree at Mitchell Community College this year, then attending a four year school for agriculture communications. Having my own photography business that mainly involves the Western and agriculture industries has aided in my interest. I also served as the reporter for my FFA chapter this year. In doing so, I have gained skills in social media and marketing that I can use in my career. I have a love and passion for the American farmer
and rancher. I hope to use my degree in agriculture communications to inform others on how important the agriculture industry is.
I would like to thank everyone involved with the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation for supporting young agriculturalists like myself. Your efforts do not go unseen, and this scholarship will help in providing for my future educational goals. I plan to make an impact on the agriculture industry, and it is because of you that I can do so.
MICHELLE HARTMAN
Agriculture has always been a passion of mine from an early age. Following in the footsteps of a long line of family tradition, agriculture has always been in my blood. The best day of my life was when I was able to handle a show steer on my own, and thus began my showing career. Traveling to local farms to scout out my next year’s N.C. born and bred steer will always be a favorite time for me. Upon the arrival of my new show steer, the extra work begins immediately. If you don’t already know, getting hair on a steer is a full time job in itself. Rinsing with cold water, brushing, and blow drying are just a few of the daily tasks.
I take part in all aspects of our cattle operation, from feeding to record keeping, but the most rewarding part is when I market a finished show steer, aid with the processing at our family meat market, and help load the product into the satisfied customer’s vehicle. This is helping our economy stay local, all the while getting the public to support children’s 4-H projects. In my eyes, this is a win for everybody!
In the fall, I will attend N.C. State University and further my education in agriculture science. My passions are agriculture and science, so pursuing a future career in veterinary medicine will
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allow me to do both. Coming from a rural farming county, I see the importance of both. Science keeps the world evolving, and agriculture keeps the world fed. Growing up on a family tobacco farm and showing livestock has given me first hand experiences, and an amazing work ethic, I feel, will help me excel in the profession. My interest is to give back to my rural community and educate anyone that will listen about agriculture. I am grateful to the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation for investing in my future with this scholarship and putting me one step closer to achieving my dreams.
EMMA HAYNES
Imagine this — you walk into a convention center, and as far as the eye can see, there are rabbits. This is where my journey in agriculture began. Throughout my time in North Carolina agriculture, I have been a member of 4-H since I was five years old, a member of FFA, an IFAL (Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders) graduate, and I have advocated for agriculture through the Miss United States Agriculture Program. While growing up in Granville County, I realized that my life’s motto is to always strive to keep agriculture alive.
High school is generally the time when you decide what you would like to do with life. During my high school career, I worked on a farm and absolutely enjoyed my time there. I fed horses, cattle, goats, ducks, and chickens. This included putting out hay with a tractor, cleaning water troughs, cleaning out stalls, picking up feed bags, and more. These tasks helped me gain independence and time management skills, and it felt like home every time I went to work. Since then, I have ventured out into showing lambs and horses. I have discovered that working with any animal takes time, dedication, and patience. A horse may step on your foot from time
to time, but you have to remind yourself to always keep going and to never give up! Working on the farm (especially with cattle and horses) expanded my love of agriculture to the point where I chose to continue this lifestyle within my career and personal life.
In the fall, I will be attending the University of Mount Olive to major in animal science and minor in music. My long term goal after college is to work with N.C. Extension Services in order to better inform the public on the importance of agriculture, while also advocating for agriculture in my personal life. I plan on owning livestock in the future to improve my knowledge and to help create a beneficial work-life balance. I would like to be an agricultural ambassador all throughout my life and pass it on to the next generations. I also plan on furthering my musical career by teaching piano and voice lessons to students who have a passion for music.
Thankful is quite an understated choice of wording when it comes to how much I appreciate receiving the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship. It means the absolute world to me. Just knowing the fact that the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation has my back in furthering my education makes me feel incredibly honored and grateful to have their support. Further education helps someone make connections and learn about the world we live in. Individuals have to remember: No farmers. No food. No future. If people have no idea where the clothes on their backs or where their food comes from, then where and how will the world go forward in the future? It will ultimately cease to exist if we decide not to focus on educating citizens on agriculture; therefore, thank you, N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation, for this opportunity in not only helping me achieve my educational goals but helping others see that it is essential for agriculture to stay in our lives for generations to come.
LYDIA HILL
Born and raised on a commercial cow/calf operation in Marshville, N.C., I have always had a strong awareness of agriculture. Whether I was feeding, tagging, or working our cattle, I still helped on the farm as a child. I spent my childhood in competitive dance, so my passion for agriculture did not fully blossom until my freshman year at West Stanly High School. Once I started taking agriculture classes with Mrs. Rogers, I was introduced to our FFA Chapter and started to figure out that the ag industry was where I belonged. I competed in career development events, held multiple
officer positions, and started showing registered Angus and Simmental heifers in the Carolina Farm Credit Show Circuit and at the N.C. State Fair. My favorite competitions were meat judging, livestock judging, and employment skills. Through all these activities, I found a passion for leadership and agricultural advocacy; which is why I became a North Carolina beef ambassador. Talking to people about agriculture already came natural to me, but it was even more simple when I was talking about cattle. I became a beef ambassador in 2023 after attending the Perry and Doris Teeter Beef Leadership Institute. I was able to expand my communications skills and make new connections in the industry through this amazing learning opportunity.
I was a busy student in high school, so I had to have plenty of support. My grandpa, past FFA Advisor of Central Cabarrus High School, was always my number one fan. He always called to see how I placed in my judging competitions, wanted to hear about my experiences as a beef ambassador, and loved telling me stories about his rowdy ag students back when he was teaching. When he passed on March 14, I debated giving up on all my dreams of becoming an advocate for agriculture. It was hard losing someone you expected to be around to watch you retire from your senior FFA officer position and encourage you all the way through the state officer selection process. After spending some time grieving and reflecting, I decided that my grandpa would only want me to chase my dreams even harder in his honor.
I plan to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) in Tifton, Ga., to major in agricultural communications and minor in political science. I will only spend two or three years at ABAC because I spent my junior and senior years of high school in dual enrollment classes. In addition to
obtaining my degree, I hope to explore Georgia agriculture, find potential job opportunities, and make new industry connections. I will also seek out various internships to help me best determine which particular field I enjoy the most within the ag communications industry. After I complete my bachelor’s degree, I may decide to stay and do graduate work there, but that depends on my experience during the first few years. As my career goes, I do not have any preference for an employer who hires me. My main priority is to be able to advocate for agriculture through writing, traveling, and public speaking. At some point in my career, I would also love to give back to the N.C. FFA Association in some way after all it has done for me. Once I spend my younger years traveling for work, I would like to settle down and have/run my own cow/calf operation and give back to the part of the agricultural community that I knew first.
It is an honor to accept the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship. No other industry can compare to agriculture’s generosity and familylike atmosphere. As producers, we have to stick together to feed the rest of the world, and the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation has done this by investing in the next generation of cattlemen and women through this scholarship. Going to college out-of-state is not cheap, but I am certain that I will receive the education I need to become the advocate that the world needs.
LAUREN HOESLI
Growing up in a small town in the mountains of Colorado, where agriculture was a way of life, I developed a passion for the industry without even realizing it. From a young age, I found myself working cattle with family friends and admiring the market steer show at the local county fair during my time in 4-H. At 10 years of age, I began showing market lambs and swine, which sparked my interest in the animal science aspect of agriculture.
After moving to North Carolina and starting my freshman year of high school, my passion for agriculture grew immensely. I continued showing market lambs and, in my senior year, had the opportunity to show a heifer from a barn in Cedar Grove, North Carolina. Growing and selling livestock taught me the vital role agriculture plays in our country. My involvement in FFA and 4-H deepened my interest, leading me
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to become a passionate livestock judge. I proudly represented North Carolina at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Ken., and the National FFA Livestock Judging Contest in Indianapolis, Ind., in the fall of 2023. Traveling across northeastern states in preparation for the national contests, I connected with various livestock producers and learned diverse techniques for ensuring successful production. These experiences fueled my passion for agriculture and my desire to support producers through efficient practices. Beef cattle production particularly fascinated me, especially as I delved into artificial insemination (A.I.), embryo transfer, and effective management trends.
After graduating from N.C. State University in 2027, I hope to work for a non-profit agriculture organization or a western sports entertainment company in public relations. I aim to merge my knowledge from dual degrees in agricultural sciences and communications to advocate for the agriculture industry. I aspire to bridge the gap between the general public and the agriculture industry, whether through education or entertainment. My interest in the cattle industry has driven me towards a path of wanting to work for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) organization, which values both entertainment and the promotion of agriculture. Additionally, I hope to own a herd of livestock, contributing to the industry hands-on.
Receiving the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship is an incredible honor. This scholarship not only provides financial support but also affirms my commitment to agriculture. It enables me to access resources and opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach, such as advanced courses and internships.
With the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship, I am better equipped to achieve my academic and career goals, ultimately making a meaningful impact in the field of agriculture. This support propels me toward a future where I can innovate and lead in the agricultural sector, fostering relationships with the generations to come.
MICHAEL HUGGINS
I grew up on a grain farm in central Pennsylvania, growing primarily corn and soybeans along with hay, oats, sunflowers, and produce. Over a decade, my family has also raised a few head of weaned steers through a stocker phase and finishing them out, as well as raising a few dozen layer hens. After earning my bachelor’s degree in animal science at Pennsylvania State University, I moved to North Carolina to attend graduate school at N.C. State University. I am pursuing my master’s degree with a major in animal science and specializing in beef nutrition under the supervision of Dr. Matt Poore as my advisor.
Throughout my graduate school career, I have conducted two research projects where I have fed Angus steers different levels of cotton gin byproduct during the stocker phase, and then they were all switched to the same finishing diet before being sent for harvest. With inclusion rates of up to 40 percent of the diet, cotton gin byproduct has shown good animal performance with a diet balanced in energy and protein. I have spoken to producers about my project at the NCSU Wolfpack Round-Up in how cotton gin byproduct can be used as an inexpensive feedstuff to help producers increase profit for their operation when used at an optimal level.
During the summer after my first year of graduate school, I traveled with
Dr. Poore and Johnny Rogers to extension agent workshops teaching livestock producers about Amazing Grazing principles, including plant identification, pasture management, and dung beetles. I have helped with the Amazing Grazing team’s pastureland ecology class each summer, where grazing specialists from USDA-NRCS are taught extensive information about pasture management with livestock, and I have learned that knowledge myself.
I have wanted to pursue a career in the beef industry since attending undergraduate school to expand my knowledge about beef cattle, and it is why I chose to pursue my master’s degree at N.C. State University. Ever since I began graduate school, I have gained a lot of experience with beef cattle, especially beef nutrition, and worked with beef cattle at the Butner Beef Cattle Field Lab. After finishing graduate school with my master’s degree, I plan to use the knowledge and experiences I have learned to help and consult with producers to better manage their beef operations as an N.C. extension agent. My goal is to buy a farm in North Carolina to primarily raise a cow/calf herd and locally finish beef along the side of being an extension agent to put into practice what I have learned. I also plan to raise row crops, produce, and layer hens with help from my future family.
I am proud to have received the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Travel Award to help fund my travels to the ASAS National meeting in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where I can share my research with other scientists and students. It is an excellent opportunity to share what I have worked hard for, and I am greatly appreciative of having received this award. The Cattle Industry Assessment Program also helped fund my research, and I am also very grateful that the cattlemen in North Carolina have a program to support a wide variety of applied research at N.C. State University.
BAILEY JONES
My name is Bailey Jones, and I am extremely honored and grateful to be one of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship recipients. I am currently a rising senior at N.C. State University studying animal science with a minor in extension education. I plan to attend veterinary school following my undergraduate program as a member of the Food Animal Scholars program at N.C. State University. Ultimately, my career goals include becoming a food
animal veterinarian with a focus on cattle, and continuing my family’s cow/calf operation on the side.
I am very fortunate to have had the opportunity to grow up in the agriculture industry, and discover my passion for animal agriculture at a young age. I grew up spending weekends on my family’s small cow/calf operation in Siler City, where I initially found my love for agriculture. Through the Future Farmers of America program at my high school, I was able to further explore my passion for agriculture, and I attribute a great deal of where I am today to the experiences and mentors I encountered throughout my time in FFA. I have been lucky enough to continue to broaden my network and understanding of agriculture since coming to N.C. State University.
With so many hands-on experiences, conferences, applied coursework, and extracurricular opportunities, N.C. State University has been one of the best places for me to grow as an agricultural student and leader. I have been involved in the Young Farmers and Ranchers club, as well as the NCSU Collegiate Cattlemen’s Club. I have also completed the Rurally Engaged Agricultural Leader’s Program, and I am a member of the University Scholars Program and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Honors Program. Additionally, I get to share my passion for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences as an ambassador. Off campus, I have attended conferences across the country, including a Block and Bridle National Convention and various Agriculture Future of America conferences, and in 2023 I had the opportunity to attend the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Convention in New Orleans as a convention intern. I am currently writing to you all
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from central South Dakota, where I am working as an intern for Jorgensen Land & Cattle (JLC). JLC is the largest seedstock operation in the country, and they run an outstanding operation that includes over 15,000 acres of farmland, a pheasant hunting outfit, a cow/calf component, and a bull leasing program with over 6,000 head. This is the third summer I have spent interning at a large operation out west, and I have been so blessed to be able to experience cattle work at such a large scale in a different part of the country. I’m looking forward to spending another summer learning and continuing to build my experience in the cattle industry before returning to Raleigh in the fall.
Being able to attend such an outstanding institution as N.C. State University has provided me with endless opportunities and ways to get involved in the cattle industry—and will continue to in the future. The financial assistance provided by this program allows me to focus wholeheartedly on my education and enables me to seek out additional professional development opportunities in my time outside of the classroom. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who supports students like myself through this program and allows us to continue pursuing our passions. The investment in our education is invaluable and appreciated more than a simple thank you can express!
KENSLEY LAMB
Growing up on a small farm in rural Sampson County, North Carolina, teaches about responsibility and dependability. As a young girl, I remember spending time working on the farm with my grandmother on days she babysat me. She always had farm animals to look after and work to do around the farm, and I followed her on the golf cart as we worked. Working alongside her taught me how strong and resilient she is, and that is a wonderful characteristic. Growing up on a farm teaches you that you have priorities because animals’ welfare comes first.
Growing up in Sampson County, I have been a member of 4-H through the Sampson County Extension office, and I have enjoyed many programs that teach many different aspects of animal health and welfare. I am also a member of N.C. Troop 4022 Girl Scouts of the Southern Pines. Since being in Girl Scouts since third grade, I have learned how to be responsible, dependable, and reliable. Through Girl Scouts, I have developed leadership skills that have helped me to be a leader in my school and community. During my junior year, I received the
Rotary Youth Leadership Scholarship. Through this opportunity, I was able to attend a three day camp where I received training and lectures from leaders, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. I also had the opportunity to work at a food bank and volunteer to help those less fortunate than myself. This helped me to develop my ideas of what I believe leadership means to me. I also had the opportunity to speak before the N.C. General Assembly’s House Ag Committee about the importance of farming and why they should pass the Right to Farm Bill.
I am planning to use my scholarship from the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation to continue my education at N.C. State University and major in agriculture. I want to learn all I can about various types of agriculture. I plan to even further my education to attend law school and become an agricultural attorney. I want to give back to the people who make it possible for us to have three meals a day.
HUNTER MERRITT
My name is Hunter Merritt, and I am a senior at Southern Wayne High School in Dudley, North Carolina. I have a 4.37 GPA and am a part of several clubs and organizations. I am the captain of the varsity golf team for my high school, and I am involved in my high school’s FFA chapter. I am also an Eagle Scout from Troop 200 in Mt. Olive, North Carolina. My love for cattle came from visiting and helping at my grandparents’ farm in Turkey, North Carolina. I remember going out there with my grandad and moving bales of hay into the pasture for the cattle and chasing calves that were going to be loaded up for auction. When I found out about the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship, I knew that it would be a great opportunity for me since I am about to start college with a major in animal science. I ended up being fortunate enough to be chosen as a recipient of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation scholarship.
I am very excited about starting my journey in veterinary medicine this fall at N.C. State University. This has been my lifelong dream career and college to attend. N.C. State University is the most prestigious agriculture college in North Carolina and one of the top in the nation, so I really think that I will be set up for success in the future. I know many successful people who have graduated from N.C. State University, and I aspire to have similar success. I have always wanted to become a veterinarian because pets are a huge part of so many people’s lives, so I feel that by having a career where I can take care of animals, I can also improve the well being of other people. I have shadowed my local veterinarian for over 150 hours and feel confident in my chosen career path. With every visit and every procedure I watched, I could picture myself as the veterinarian in those shoes. From my time shadowing, I have learned that being a veterinarian is so much more than just giving dogs a shot, and they magically feel better. It requires studying, adaptability, teamwork, and problem solving. I know this is a challenging career due to its competitiveness and rigor, but I feel that N.C. State University will prepare me for a successful start on this career path.
After college, I would like to come back to Wayne County, which is very rural and full of farmers with cattle and other livestock. There are not many veterinarians who travel to farms, so I could be a tremendous help with this for farmers in my area. I have not completely decided on large versus small animal medicine yet, but I think I will try to work in both areas.
Being awarded the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship is such a big deal for me and my family because college is extremely expensive, and since I am planning to attend graduate school on
top of my undergraduate, college will be double the cost. It means the world to be recognized by such a generous organization that is looking out for the next generation.
KAYLA NORRIS
I would first like to express my gratitude by thanking the hardworking members of the scholarship committee and the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation board of directors. Thank you for contributing to a purpose that allows students like myself to represent agriculture and the exceptional opportunities the industry has to offer. Receiving the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship for this school year is an honor and blessing.
My story with agriculture and the cattle industry started in my hometown Elizabethtown, N.C., where I learned about and fell in love with the related industries. My family currently owns a cow/calf operation that focuses on improving the genetics of our herd through cow/calf reproduction. We also have recently expanded into the freezer beef segment of the cattle industry, which allows us to raise high quality steers on our farm and sell directly to consumers. Being raised on a farm has shaped my personality and lifestyle through many lessons and experiences. It is also where I discovered my passion for veterinary medicine and animal reproduction.
I am currently a senior at N.C. State University, where I am majoring in animal science and minoring in agriculture business management. Attending N.C. State University has profoundly impacted my academic journey and career aspirations, particularly in preparing me to apply for vet school. The university has provided
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me with invaluable opportunities and connections in the agriculture industry. The rigorous curriculum, hands-on experience, and access to a network of professionals have equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career in veterinary medicine.
I’m pleased to announce that I’m currently in the process of applying to veterinary school, with plans to submit my application in the fall of 2024. I believe that my undergraduate studies have provided me with a strong foundation in animal biology, health, and husbandry, which will serve as an excellent preparation for the rigorous curriculum of veterinary school.
Upon successfully completing the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program, I aspire to return to my rural community to provide much needed large animal veterinary services. Growing up in a rural setting, I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by farmers and livestock owners in accessing specialized veterinary care for their animals, particularly large breeds. By returning to my community as a qualified veterinarian, I hope to make a meaningful impact by offering compassionate and skilled veterinary services tailored to the needs of the local agricultural community. My goal is not only to provide veterinary care but also to contribute to the overall health and welfare of livestock in the area, thereby supporting the sustainability and prosperity of rural agriculture.
Thanks to the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation, I can pursue my education and leadership journey through this scholarship opportunity. Pursuing my chosen career path requires several years of college and, unfortunately, accrues a significant amount of student debt, making scholarships like this invaluable to students. Organizations such as the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation are essential resources that enable students to pursue their academic and professional aspirations efficiently and effectively. I extend my gratitude once more to everyone involved in organizing and offering this scholarship.
BENJAMIN RAJO
One of the biggest passions I have in my life is beef cattle production. I was born and raised in Honduras, a small country located in Central America. Since I was a young kid, I took every opportunity I had to travel with my grandad to his farm and help him with all the chores. He taught me many things related to cattle, coffee, avocado, and
hardwood tree production. This early involvement nourished my interest in agriculture and animal production and motivated me to study for a bachelor’s degree in agricultural production. Following graduation, I worked as a farm manager for eight years in the northern region of Honduras. During my tenure, I implemented different strategies to increase pasture productivity, including the adoption of a silvopasture system with rotational grazing and the development of a nutritional supplementation program using low cost byproducts to increase weight gains and growth rates of crossbred cattle.
The positive results obtained encouraged me to pursue a career in research and apply to graduate school. In the fall of 2021, I began my master of science in animal science at N.C. State University under the advisory of Dr. Dan Poole. It has been an immensely valuable and edifying experience. As a graduate student, my objectives have focused on improving the productivity and efficiency of beef cattle exposed to different environmental stressors. During my Master’s research, I investigated the effects of endophyte infected tall fescue consumption on the pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) of beef cows, aiming to identify differences in vascular vasoconstriction associated with increased fescue tolerance. Our results showed that as the ergovaline concentration in the pastures increased, the mean PAP values of cattle decreased. In the summer of 2021, I successfully completed my master’s program and decided to continue at N.C. State University to pursue a Ph.D. in animal science with a focus in physiology. My doctoral research focuses on evaluating
changes in feed and water intake, as well as in different physiological parameters of heifers consuming an ergot alkaloid infected ration. Modern technological equipment was used to record changes in individual body temperature and feed and water consumption throughout this study. The results indicate that exposure to ergot alkaloids and heat stress increased body temperature and water intake and decreased feed intake and weight gain. Additionally, we identified a subgroup of heifers that maintained weight gains and consumed lower volumes of water, indicating potential tolerance to these burdens, superior animal performance, and efficiency in nutrient utilization. More importantly, the results of these studies may lead to the development of animal selection strategies that improve the sustainable use of water and feed resources, enhance cattle adaptability to harsh environments, and increase productivity and efficiency in beef operations in North Carolina and the Southeastern United States.
Furthermore, I have participated in the Beef Educational Tours alongside graduate students, extension agents, and faculty members. Generously funded by the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association, these tours have been extremely valuable, offering the participants immersive learning experiences by visiting seed stock and commercial cattle operations, feedlots, and meat packing facilities to increase their knowledge of the latest innovations and emerging trends within the beef industry.
Upon completing my doctoral degree, my goal is to continue working on research focusing on investigating the interaction between nutritional and physiological variables of beef cattle to enhance tolerance to environmental variations and improve nutritional efficiency. My intention is to collaborate with other scientists and producers to develop projects that help mitigate climatic risks and improve cattle productivity and food security. Additionally, I also aspire to replicate these projects in Honduras and become an asset for the country’s beef industry.
I extend my gratitude to the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation for their continuous support and recognition. I feel honored to be a member of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association, and I am committed to advancing the productivity and efficiency of cattle operations in our state and beyond.
ASHLYN RAMSEY
On average, a dairy cow produces six to seven gallons of milk per day. Crazy, right? It sounds like one of those cheesy facts you would find plastered on one of the animal stalls at the state fair. That’s all it used to mean to me, too, until I found myself working the “mooternity” booth as an assignment for my animal science class. This might sound like an awful experience, but as the girl who took her first steps onto a farm at 14, I was left speechless. I couldn’t figure out if it were the way the calves stood up just an hour after birth, or how the whole process happened in just seconds. That was one of the defining moments of my high school career—the moment that’s solely responsible for why I’m writing this article right now. My name is Ashlyn Ramsey, and I am one of the recipients of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship for this academic year. This is the story of how I discovered my passion for animal science.
Despite growing up in one of the most rural Western Carolina communities, my agricultural testimony is quite different from my peers. The closest I got to “farm life” was watching local cow pastures out the car window as a child. With a mom as a vet tech, I became set on the idea of working in animal science as a career at a young age. However, I didn’t know that this meant much more than just small animal care. It wasn’t until my first animal science class freshman year that I realized livestock production to be the admirable industry that it is today. I quickly got to work memorizing all sorts of livestock and farming facts to come home and recite to my parents.
At the time, my parents thought it was just a phase. No one in our family
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had ever worked in agriculture before, making it seemingly impossible for me to become a part of the industry myself. I began to convince myself of the same thing, making similar excuses, until my ag teacher proved me wrong. A former animal science major herself, she began to set goals for me that I had refused to set for myself. Goals like deworming, trimming hooves, and tagging the school Boer goats. Last summer, my love for the industry drove me to Clemson’s Veterinary Science Camp, where I visited my first dairy farm.
Suddenly, all the animal facts that I had memorized came to life. I watched, mesmerized, as the cows standing before me loaded into the automatic dairy parlor—each with a matching identification collar around its neck. A little while later, I witnessed the magic of bottle feeding baby calves and discovered the purpose of calf hutches. I began to think back to the “mooternity booth” where my agricultural journey started. My mind became set on working in dairy production and becoming a part of the one percent responsible for feeding our nation.
Upon conducting further research, I discovered that N.C. State University has an animal science program in which they use their dairy herd to make the renowned Howling Cow ice cream. With my passion for dairy products only continuing to grow, it is my dream to one day be a part of N.C. State University’s dairy unit. As excited as I am for such future opportunities, I know none of it would be possible without the assistance of scholarships like this one. The encouragement that this scholarship has provided me is a feeling I hope all students across America get to experience at least once in their lifetime — a feeling that someone believes in you, in your dream. I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity and the effect that it has had on my agricultural testimony. Your investment is guaranteed to contribute to changing the face of agriculture in our beautiful Tarheel state.
EMMA RAYNOR
My name is Emma Raynor, and I’m from Deep Run, North Carolina. I am the daughter of Deral and Kelly Raynor and have a twin brother. I started showing livestock when I was eight years old. I have shown sheep, goats, cows, and pigs over the years. I begged my parents for years to let me show cows, but it wasn’t until I was 15 years old that I started showing cows when Doug Moore and Sandy Batten convinced my parents to let me show one of Mr. Sandy’s heifers. I will forever be grateful to Mr. Sandy for
giving me that opportunity. Though the time I had with Mr. Sandy was short, the impact he made on me will last a lifetime.
I participated in livestock judging through Lenoir County 4-H and South Lenoir FFA. I also participated in skillathon and quiz bowl through Lenoir County 4-H, and had the pleasure of representing North Carolina on the North Carolina state skillathon and quiz bowl teams in Louisville, Ken., this past November. I participated in the Perry and Doris Teeter Leadership Institute at the N.C. Cattle Conference. I participated in the Down East Dairy Project through Lenoir County 4-H. I have also served as a mentor through the Leap into Sheep Project. I enjoy helping the next generation of showmen find their passion.
I will be attending N.C. State University in the fall, majoring in agricultural business management. I plan to focus on marketing and ag sales while I am at N.C. State University. I am not sure of the path I will take after graduating from N.C. State University. However, I hope that it leads me to help promote the cattle industry in North Carolina.
I have been truly blessed by so many in the livestock industry, and I am thankful for the people the Lord has placed in my path over the years to help get me to where I am today. I am also grateful to be selected to receive this scholarship through the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation. This scholarship is a blessing to my family, with my parents paying for both myself and my twin brother to attend college.
REBECCA RUSSELL
From a very young age, my mom and dad instilled the strong love of agriculture within me. I can vividly remember the early days of feeding some of my first bottle calves, assisting in the birth of our first set of twin lambs, and the losses
we have had to overcome throughout time. However, one thing that has never wavered is how I have always wanted to find my place within the agriculture industry. Going into high school, I knew the one club I was going to be involved in, no matter what, would be the West Rowan High School FFA Chapter. It was here that ,over the next four years of my life, I would find myself as a young agriculturalist and eventually determine where my place was in the industry.
Upon graduation from West Rowan High School in 2019, I had decided to attend Mitchell Community College for two years, not knowing what the country and the rest of the world was getting ready to endure. While at Mitchell Community College, I double majored in agribusiness technologies as well as agriculture education. With our smaller, tight knit class sizes, I was able to continue my education almost uninterrupted and on schedule. COVID-19 and the issues the agriculture industry faced during this time contributed heavily to the material we covered in class and how the pandemic was affecting the agriculture economy and local operations. After graduating from MCC in 2021, I decided to take a gap period before returning to school because of my financial situation. I finally decided in early 2023 that I had to prioritize my goals and my education, and then everything else would fall into place. In March of 2023, I enrolled in the University of Mount Olive, where I will graduate December of 2024 with a bachelor of arts in agriculture communications and leadership, as well as a bachelor of arts in agribusiness. After I graduate from the University of Mount Olive in December, I will continue my full time job at AgSouth Farm Credit, where I serve the agriculture industry as a loan officer. I hope to one day obtain my master’s degree in an agriculture related major. I am pleased to say that everything has absolutely fallen into place, right
where it should be.
Thanks to amazing sponsors like the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation, the financial burden of attending college has been lifted tremendously, and I cannot thank them enough for believing in me as I finish out my time at the University of Mount Olive. This scholarship has allowed me to feel more at ease as I begin to focus more on the financial needs that will arise post graduation. Thank you to the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation for providing myself, and many other students, the opportunity to share our love of agriculture and how we hope to be a positive light in the future of our industry.
CAROLINE SCARLETT
The cattle industry has made a huge difference in my life since I was little. I grew up on Scarlett Farms, where we raise Angus cows. My grandpa first started the family tradition of raising livestock, and that tradition has been carried on by my dad while he raised me. We sell beef as well as high quality heifers, cows, and bulls.
I have also been a part of the N.C. Junior Angus Association for as long as I can remember. Because I am involved in the NCJAA, in 2014 at the Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show, I showed my first cow at eight years old. My love for showing grew from there. My family and I began picking heifers from our herd for my brother and me to show. We joined the Farm Credit Circuit later that year with two heifers that we raised. Every weekend in the fall from then on has been filled with countless county shows. We also attend larger shows like the N.C. State Fair and Eastern Regionals each year.
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I will attend N.C. State University and plan on majoring in chemistry and minoring in ag business. The N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship will greatly help in paying for college. I am so thankful for all those who raised the money for this scholarship. I hope to give back to the cattle industry with the education I will gain at N.C. State University. I would especially love to impact the future generation of cow showmen.
HANNAH SMITH
My name is Hannah Smith, and I am a first year student studying marketing and management at Western Carolina University. Ever since I was five years old, I have actively been involved in my family’s commercial cow/calf operation and showing Chiangus and Angus cattle. The livestock industry has brought me many opportunities, including serving on the American Junior Chianina Board, meeting new people, and making lifelong friendships that encourage me to pursue my career. Being on the AJCA Board taught me the impact agriculture has on juniors, and I got to see the passion these kids have for the agriculture industry. With my marketing degree, I want to pursue a marketing business that will be a part of both youth and adult lives. I strive to be the best I can daily and want these kids to look up to me and understand that their dreams can become reality.
I am so grateful to receive this scholarship and the opportunity to represent the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation. This scholarship will help fund my education and allow me to give back to those who supported me along this journey. Having support from people in the livestock industry not only motivates me to be the best student, not
only for myself but also for other people who look up to me, but it also encourages me to pursue my dreams and change other people’s lives.
EMMA VANHOY
Everyone on the planet relies on agriculture at least three times a day. I have been lucky enough that I have been raised as a part of the agriculture and beef industries. Both of my parents are third generation cattle producers and have encouraged my sisters and me to be involved in all our different operations. I have had the opportunity to witness my parents running a successful tree farm and be involved in our raising of registered and commercial cattle. Although I have been given many chances to be involved in the agriculture industry, I quickly found that I was most passionate about raising cattle when I started showing beef heifers ten years ago. Over the past ten years, I have immersed myself in the beef industry by joining my high school’s FFA chapter, the Catawba County Cattlemen’s Association, the N.C. Junior Simmental Association, and the American Junior Simmental Association. I have also been heavily involved in the National Junior Angus Association as well as the N.C. Junior Angus Association, where I had the privilege to serve as the 2023-2024 President.
My future plans involve continuing my education at N.C. State University, where I plan on graduating in May of 2025 with a major in agribusiness management and a minor in agricultural entrepreneurship. Upon graduating, I plan to obtain a job in the agriculture industry, utilizing my diverse knowledge and background. Both the agriculture and beef industries have given me lifelong friendships and opportunities to be involved in the future. I also plan
on continuing my herd of Angus cattle, where I hope to expand to selling quality bulls and females as well as meat.
As of August 2024, both of my sisters and I will be attending N.C. State University. My younger sister will be starting her second year, I will be starting my third year, and my older sister will be starting her third year in graduate school. Receiving an N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship has helped relieve the financial burden put on my family, as well as open more opportunities for me to be involved in the beef industry. It is truly an honor to receive a scholarship from the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation, based on the fact that they strive for young cattlemen to be successful.
HANNAH VANHOY
I have been showing livestock for ten years, and it has shaped me into the person I am today. I began showing beef heifers with the local high school in elementary school. I learned the basics of showing early on and then began showing with my family in 2018. We started with lower quality animals and focused more on accurate showmanship and having fun. As my sister and I got older, we became more serious about cattle and decided to purchase animals with greater show ring potential. We continued and have been consistently improving each year since the beginning. Thanks to many mentors who poured into us, our greatest achievement has been winning supreme champion junior beef heifer at the N.C. State Fair last year. This moment solidified countless hours working on animals we thought would never make it, many early mornings and late nights, and all the sacrifices my family has made. Showing livestock has taught me to be a gracious loser, a hard worker when no one is watching, and to have dedication to an end goal. It has differentiated me from my peers with my commitment and consistent promise to always do my best. I know that my integrity, humility, grit, and drive are the direct result of showing livestock and achieving my goals.
Now that my sister and I are on the cusp of aging out, our focus has shifted to our registered herd. We have over 20 retired show heifers that we work with each year in hopes of becoming quality seedstock producers. It has been so exciting to learn more about the beef industry through a different lens and focus more on performance, growth, and success in the pasture. We look forward to promoting agriculture and the
beef industries in a different way and producing animals that we are proud of. I am so appreciative of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation for their scholarship and support of youth in North Carolina. Their gifts will help build a foundation for my success in the future. I will be a junior at N.C. State University next year studying agriculture business with minors in animal science and agriculture entrepreneurship. I plan to continue to be an advocate for agriculture at N.C. State University, and I look forward to discovering what the future holds in my career and the growth of my herd.
LINDSAY WALTERS
My name is Lindsay Walters. I was born and raised in Monroe, North Carolina. I am currently attending St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, N.C., studying business administration with a focus in equine business management. I am a part of the IHSA Western Team with my school and ride competitively in saddleseat at home.
Growing up, I had always been interested in agriculture and the ideas behind it, since we lived in front of a cow farm and always watched them graze. I became a part of my local 4-H chapter and began learning about the different aspects that came with agriculture. In high school, I joined the Sun Valley FFA chapter and competed in multiple competitions such as poultry judging, vet science, horticulture, tractor driving, and agriculture mechanics. I excelled in all these competitions and gained lots of experience and knowledge about the community of agriculture. I have grown up riding horses and helping animals whenever possible. Agriculture has led
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Hannah Smith
Emma Vanhoy
Hannah Vanhoy
NEWS
How Well Do You Know Your Pour-on Dewormer? Product selection has just as much influence as product application and label adherence in your deworming plan. Running cattle through the chute and applying a parasiticide doesn’t guarantee effective deworming. There is more to controlling parasites than meets the eye, especially when it
comes to selecting a pour-on dewormer.
“A large misconception is that all pour-ons are the same,” said David Shirbroun, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. “They’re definitely not, and for a variety of reasons.”
Choosing the right products and using them effectively can make the difference in herd health, animal
productivity, parasite resistance, and your bottom line.
Choosing the right product — “I always encourage producers to choose a product with proven stability in the field,” stated Dr. Shirbroun. “Finding a product with research and data to show the effectiveness is another good characteristic.”
Taking time to research products and see what they have to offer can pay off. Dr. Shirbroun says the following characteristics are important to check on pour-on labels:
• Ensure the pour-on is proven against a broad spectrum of parasite species and stages. The parasites you want to target need to be listed on the label.
• Look for a satisfaction guarantee. Companies that offer a product satisfaction guarantee trust their product and offer that same confidence to customers.
Shirbroun. “If we can weigh our animals, we know we’re more likely to dose them appropriately.”
Dr. Shirbroun added that improper product application and underdosing issues can open the door to parasite resistance. Taking the extra time to ensure a pour-on is spread across the topline and dosed correctly for each animal will lower the risk of resistance and maintain the efficacy of dewormers.
Diagnostics test program efficacy — A fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) is one of the best tools available to check the efficacy of a deworming program, whether the product is oral, pour-on, or injectable.
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me to become the person I am today, and I am so grateful for the experiences, friendships, and leadership roles it has given me.
After college, I plan to begin running my own farm with cattle, swine, horses, and chickens. I plan to help others engage with the world of agriculture and allow them to learn about how important it is to our communities. I also plan to board and train horses for shows and for lesson students. My degree will provide me with all the things I need to know about building my own business while also allowing me to learn about the business of equine and horse related topics. I thoroughly enjoy teaching others about how agriculture can help lead you to many new places and jobs in the future and how they can start as early as a child. This scholarship means the world to me. It will help me with the expensive college tuition, and it will lead me one
step further to completing my goals. It will help keep me away from any debt left behind and help me to continue my education without any worry of financial burdens. I will continue to help and support this foundation and make sure that I pursue my education with an eagerness to learn and strive in my love for agriculture.
2025-2026 Scholarship Applications
The N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation is receiving applications for undergraduate scholarships and graduate student travel funding for the 2025-2026 academic year. This is the ninth year the N.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation will award scholarships to students who are North Carolina residents. However, they are still eligible if they are attending college in another state. Applications for both scholarships and graduate student travel are available on the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association website homepage. Completed applications must be submitted online from www.nccattle.com/resources/nccfscholarship. However, printable versions are available to assist you in gathering information for your applications. If applicants are unable to submit completed applications online, they must contact Casey Hinnant at mail@nccattle.com for other accommodations. All applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on January 10.
Applications will be reviewed and recommended for NCCF board approval at its meeting in February. Awards will be announced after that meeting.
Questions regarding the application process can be addressed to Dr. Roger Crickenberger at 919-464-5636 or cricks4@mac.com
“Veterinarians are always aware of what kind of challenges might be in your region as far as the certain types of parasites there,” said Dr. Shirbroun. “Talking with them before a product purchase can help make sure it’s a good investment. The quality of pour-on products varies.”
Branded vs. generic pour-ons — When it comes to pour-on dewormers, Dr. Shirbroun says you get what you pay for. “The companies that made pioneer products invested in studies and data collection in order to prove the efficacy of their particular drug,” he explained. “To this day, there is a lot of data that stands behind those branded products.”
When patents on branded products timed out, generics naturally entered the scene. Although they are said to be bioequivalent, generics do not have to undergo the same efficacy studies as branded, pioneer products during the approval process.
“One of the biggest differences between pioneer products and generics is the larger team standing behind the product,” shared Dr. Shirbroun. “Some branded products have many salespeople and professional services veterinarians who are readily available to stand behind their product.”
Get the most out of your pouron with correct application and label adherence — “Pour-ons need to be applied from the withers clear to the tailhead in a thin line along the midline of the back,” said Dr. Shirbroun. Selecting a pour-on with a quality applicator that releases product in a controlled stream will make proper application easier.
Mis-dosing animals can be a challenge producers are unaware of. “Many people think their animals are lighter than they actually are,” shared Dr.
The test involves two manure samples from the same animal, one before treatment and one after. Each product will have a different wait time between treatment application and the timing of when the second sample should be taken. FECRT tests should be run by reputable laboratories, and working with your herd veterinarian is a great way to ensure this. They will know the ins and outs of the test and can provide guidance on where to send the samples for analysis.
“When we compare the first test to the second test, post treatment, we want to have 95 percent efficacy,” said Dr. Shirbroun. “If we aren’t meeting that standard, it might be a good time to review the protocol or even look at switching to a different product.”
Reviewing deworming protocols with your veterinarian at least once a year is an essential step in maintaining herd health and productivity.
“If we can deworm cattle appropriately, it is one of the best returns on investment we can offer our animals,” concluded Dr. Shirbroun. “Because there are so many pour-on options out there, working with your veterinarian and doing research will help find which product will perform the best for your herd.”
About Boehringer Ingelheim. Animal health business Boehringer Ingelheim provides innovation for preventing and treating diseases in animals. The company offers a wide range of vaccines, parasite-control products, and medicines for pets, horses, and livestock to veterinarians, animal owners, farmers, and governments. As a leader in animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim values that the health of humans and animals is deeply connected and strives to make a difference for people, animals, and society. Learn more at www.bi-animalhealth.com.
Lindsay Walterss
Scholarships
By JON ALBO, Ridley Block Operations
Cash Cows — Body Condition Crucial in Supporting Productivity and Longevity
Adequate beef cow body condition score (BCS) is fundamental to beef production and economic success. Cows that are managed to maintain body condition usually mean success and profitability; to have thin or failing cows usually means a failure or not profitable.
Beef cow body condition is an old topic that’s been used to measure responses to numerous supplement strategies. Research and discussion on BCS go back many decades. I wrote a blog on this topic about five years ago: How bred cow condition affects body condition. So, I’m not going to cite many specific studies in this blog, but I will list some production criteria that are influenced by BCS. I’ll also explain its impact on performance and economics.
BCS can be negatively affected by drought, poor feed conditions, weather, and the nutrient demands of lactation.
It’s not uncommon for beef cows, especially those in rangeland systems, to lose 1–2 condition scores from calving until weaning. But how safe is that? Some things to consider:
• Nutrient demands during late gestation and early lactation are the highest they’ll be in a yearly production cycle.
• Extreme cold, drought, and deteriorating rangelands can accelerate cows losing weight and decreasing body condition.
• Early weaning is a good strategy
and can improve later BCS by about one condition score. That’s about 80–100 lbs of body weight based on today’s average cow size.
Supplementing cows grazing in early to mid-gestation is often necessary to maintain BCS and even add weight, providing that adequate forage (even if low quality) exists.
• The best time of year to supplement cows is in middle pregnancy and post weaning, as nutrient demands are the lowest. It’s an easy time for a cow and the most efficient time for her to gain weight. For spring calving herds, this is usually late summer and early fall. If ample forage supplies exist, even if low quality, these can be utilized effectively with proper supplementation.
• A Montana state study in 2002 using Crystalyx versus a hand fed range cube/ cake supplement showed that Crystalyx could add body condition just as effectively or even more effectively. In today’s dollars, it would save approximately $17 per cow when considering labor and delivery costs.
Putting off supplementation and trying to add condition beyond midgestation and into late gestation is expensive.
• Young cows require more energy and will be set up for more challenges with calving and rebreeding if they calve in poor body condition.
• Heifers developed properly to conceive early in the breeding season
Table 1. Cow Body Condition Influences Performance &
and to calve early in the calving season will have increased longevity in the cow herd, but only if they maintain good body condition throughout their lives.
• Thin cows require more energy just to maintain, let alone gain. Adding a condition score in late gestation requires high energy feed. It would take approximately 10 lbs of corn per day, plus good hay and/or a protein supplement that would cost in excess of $80. Feeding Crystalyx to maintain cows would cost about half that much.
Cows that calve in poor BCS will have:
• lower colostrum quality
• less vigorous calves with more health problems
• higher incidences of dystocia and metabolic issues such as retained placenta
• lower calf weaning weights
• poorer conception rates and more days to return to estrus
• higher cull rates due to one or more of the above
• reduced profitability to the operation
It goes without saying that body condition is the common denominator for many aspects of successful beef cow production. Most supplement decisions start with evaluating the status of BCS in the herd and how to improve or maintain it. It’s wise to take the time to do condition scoring of your cows.
The U.S. scale of scoring is a subjective measurement score between 1–9, with 1 being extremely thin and 9 being obese. Optimal condition scores are in the 5–6 range.
It’s often good to look at cows at varying intervals and to record photos to help see even subtle changes over time. It may also be good to have other people, who don’t see your cows daily, help body score your herd. That way, subtle changes can be noticed more easily.
Many tools are available to help with BCS. Crystalyx has an app called Beef
Cow BCS that’s free to download on your smartphone. This app allows you to take photos of certain cows in a group and monitor their condition over time.
With production costs always being scrutinized, it may be tempting to cheat cows. Cheating never pays in the long run. The cost to maintain a cow with proper supplementation is much less expensive than adding condition. Additionally, the difference between profit and loss in a beef herd may only be one condition score.
Crystalyx supplements provide key nutrients to best utilize all types of forages and can be a key part of your supplement strategy to keep your cows as “cash cows.” It can help with cow herd longevity and the longevity of the beef cow enterprise.
To learn more, visit www.crystalyx. com
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Body weight change of beef cows supplemented with Crystalyx or range cake/cubes while grazing fall and winter rangeland
Effect of BCS on pregnancy rate, calving interval, calf gain, and weaning weight on subsequent income per cow exposed to breeding.
How Much Does It Cost to Raise Cattle? That is a million dollar question. Lucky for you, we have a definitive answer. A lot. Just like everything in our world, the cost of cattle production is on the rise. And it varies from operation to operation.
At BioZyme, the makers of Gain Smart, we understand that just because calf prices have increased, doesn’t mean your profits have too. There are a lot of costs involved in breeding and raising cattle. We know that because many on our team also raise and background cattle. It’s part of our passion and livelihood. We created Gain Smart, a line of vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle, that promotes healthy, economical pounds.
Costs will vary depending on region, cattle management scenario, and market conditions. While we can’t break it down to the dollar, let’s look at an overview of the expenses it takes to get our cattle from
NEWS
farm to fork.
Raising cattle involves a variety of costs, both initial and ongoing costs. And the costs will vary. What you might spend will probably be slightly different from your neighbor across the field. We’ve categorized costs for you into some primary areas.
Startup Costs
• Cattle - The price of purchasing cattle varies based on breed, age, and location. Some backgrounders will retain ownership of their calves, but they still have the costs of running the cow herd and getting their calves weaned.
• Land - Owning or leasing land is a substantial cost. The amount of land needed depends on the number of calves you plan to graze and the quality of the grass. Stocking rates will also vary by location.
• Facilities - Fencing and handling
facilities like corrals and chutes, water systems, and storage areas for feed/hay are necessary. These require significant investment, but once you make the investment and facilities are properly managed, upkeep should be minimal.
• Equipment - This includes tractors, trailers, feeders, water tanks, and veterinary tools. The cost can vary significantly, but is often a significant upfront expense.
Feed Costs
• Pasture Management - Pastures used for grazing require maintenance with fertilizers, seeding, or irrigation that can add costs.
• Feed - Supplemental feed, such as grain or hay, is often needed, especially in the winter or if pasture quality is low.
• M inerals & Supplements - Cattle require minerals and vitamins to stay healthy. This is where Gain Smart supplements can help your calves eat and gain more efficiently and help you save money in the long run.
Health & Veterinary CarePreventative health care often helps keep the costs of having a veterinarian out to your operation.
• Vaccinations & Deworming - Cattle require vaccinations, deworming, and sometimes antibiotics to prevent disease.
• Parasite Control - Fly sprays, insecticides, and other forms of pest control can be ongoing costs, especially in the summer.
• Marketing and Sales - There are costs when selling cattle at auction or transporting them to the sale barn. These include, but are not exclusive to:
- Sales Fees
- Commission
- Fuel
- Truck and trailer wear and tear
Miscellaneous — Raising cattle has a variety of miscellaneous and hidden costs; expenses you might not even think about.
• Labor - Regardless of whether you hire labor or your labor source is yourself or your family, someone is responsible for caring for your cattle. Although you might not pay yourself each month, labor is an important cost to consider.
• Fuel - Fuel for machinery like tractors and trucks is a significant operating cost, especially if you’re
transporting cattle or hay.
• Insurance - Farm and livestock insurance can protect against losses. However, it comes with premiums that vary based on the size and value of the operation. It is an optional expense.
• Interest & Financing - If you take out loans to purchase cattle, land, or equipment, interest payments and loan servicing can quickly accumulate.
Gain Smart Can Help with Cattle Raising Costs — How much does it cost to raise cattle? Less with Gain Smart. Yes, you read that correctly. Gain Smart is a vitamin and mineral supplement, so it is in the expense list above. However, using one of the four Gain Smart formulas can also help you save money. Here’s how.
We know from experience that when you feed Gain Smart products, you’re doing more than giving your cattle the best vitamin and mineral package possible. You are also supporting their immune health and helping enhance their digestive system with the research proven prebiotic, AO-Biotics Amaferm.
Amaferm is backed by 70 years of research and more than 110 research studies. When we tell you that feeding a mineral supplement with Amaferm will promote feed intake and help your cattle gain at least .25 pounds per head per day, we mean it.
We know that 70 percent of the immune response starts in the gut. If you can feed your cattle a research proven prebiotic that helps keep the gut healthy, then the rest of the animal should also remain healthier. Consequently, this should lead to an overall healthier group of calves.
A healthier animal not only tends to eat better, but also gains and performs better. You can feed your cattle less feed due to the enhanced digestibility of Amaferm yet gain more. It just makes economic sense.
Our Customers’ Reviews — So, how much does it cost to raise cattle? Two of our Gain Smart customers share that feeding Gain Smart has paid in increased performance.
“We have a lot of fescue. When we started using the Gain Smart, we did a little trial. One pasture I fed the Gain Smart, and in another pasture, we just kept on with what I was originally using. When we pulled those cattle off, the cattle that were on the Gain Smart mineral were about 25–30 pounds heavier than the rest. They all went in at the same time. They all came out of the sale barn. They were the same cattle; just the Gain Smart made them grow better.” – Michael, Virginia
“I’ve run enough tests with minerals that I can tell you if you use the Gain Smart mineral, you’re going to outgain and outperform any mineral out there. I
generally have seen anywhere from ⅓-½ pound more gain per day on my calves. That’s the only way you can make money on cattle, is grow cattle and get a return on your money. Gain Smart is money well spent.” – Dakota, Alabama VitaFerm Cattle Drench Research Proves Increased Health, Performance. Stocker operators and backgrounders want their calves to get the best nutritional start possible. They often receive loads of calves. Sometimes those calves are from multiple locations, often transported hundreds of miles. Maybe they come from a livestock auction market, fresh weaned from their mamas. Early stress, such as weaning or hauling, can take a toll on your calves’ overall health and performance.
At BioZyme, we take great pride in producing products that leave an undeniable impact. We know that cattle producers face enough stressors. Keeping their calves healthy and gaining should not add to their worries. That’s why we created the VitaFerm Cattle Drench, a drench for cattle designed to support digestive health before, during, and after challenges.
With research at the core of every product we produce, we know that producers are looking for products that offer a solution to getting their calves eating, drinking, and gaining, all while staying healthy. VitaFerm Cattle Drench is the answer to several of those challenges.
“We are in a new era of calf prices, so why not ensure they have the best nutrition possible? The first week after receiving cattle is the most critical to your profitability. Keeping them healthy and getting them up on feed is critical in this stressful situation,” said Chris Cassady, Ph.D., BioZyme Director of Beef Technical Sales.
Research Proven Results — VitaFerm Cattle Drench is powered by AO-Biotics Amaferm, a prebiotic research proven to enhance digestibility. Amaferm increases the Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) digestibility, ultimately saving you money on feed and forages. As NDF goes up, intake goes down because more NDF means more structural fiber and slower passage rate. It also contains MOS (mannan oligosaccharides), which helps normalize the gut microflora and supports the immune system. It also contains enzymes to generate a more rapid digestive response, which can be vital in stressful situations.
In this receiving trial, administering VitaFerm Cattle Drench on the calves’ arrival resulted in a 0.1 pound average daily gain advantage at day 22, or a weight advantage of 2.2 pounds. More calves in the control group found their way to the sick pen – 28 head versus the
17 that received the VitaFerm Drench.
The Research Trial — For this trial, researchers split 120 steer calves into two equal groups at processing time. Every other steer was dosed with the VitaFerm Drench as it went through the chute. The control group and Amaferm treated group were penned and fed independently of one another for the 22 day trial period.
Of the 60 calves that received Amaferm through the drench, only 17 needed treatments in the sick pen. Comparatively, 28 head in the control group, without Amaferm, found their way to the sick pen. Researchers noted that the location received approximately 6 inches of rain during the trial period, which could impact some sickness.
“Stress increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. The gut is the most important system in their body to prevent disease, as it’s home to 70 percent of the calf’s immune system. If we keep the gut healthy, we minimize the impact pathogens have and improve our feed conversion. It’s a win-win situation,” Cassady said.
VitaFerm Drench is Just the Beginning — VitaFerm Cattle Drench is your first step in helping calves stay healthy and perform. If you want to keep Amaferm in their diets throughout the backgrounding phase, you can. BioZyme encourages you to take advantage of Gain Smart’s 3 Step Program to keep Amaferm in your cattle from receiving or weaning through the stocker phase.
Step 1: Transition with VitaFerm Cattle Drench – The above research trial already shares the benefits of giving calves the VitaFerm Cattle Drench at weaning or receiving.
Step 2: Start Calves Off Right with VitaFerm Stress Tubs – The first few weeks upon arrival or post weaning can still be slightly stressful for these young calves. Start them off right and keep their digestive system working with VitaFerm Stress Tubs.
During the first 7–21 days, the Stress Tubs will:
• Promote feed and water intake.
• Help trap harmful bacteria, limiting their ability to do harm, with the help of MOS (mannan oligosaccharides).
• Increases digestibility, with the Amaferm, to maximize the energy value of feed for more gains.
Step 3: Grow Stockers or Replacement Females with Gain Smart Mineral – Now that you’ve got your calves transitioned and started, it’s time to give them a cattle weight gain supplement backed by years of research. Wouldn’t an additional quarter pound of gain per day look good on those calves you’ve just processed and turned out?
Discover the Gain Smart formula that is right for you using our Gain Smart
Product Quiz.
About BioZyme Inc. With a continued commitment to excellence, the BioZyme Stockyards location earned the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and Feedstuffs 2024 Feed Facility of the Year honor. 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, 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
NEWS
Alltech 2024 U.S. Harvest Analysis early insights reveal surge in mycotoxin contamination. Preliminary analysis of corn silage samples in the U.S. reveals a high increase in mycotoxin contamination compared to 2023, with all samples containing two or more mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are produced by certain species of molds and are a concern for livestock producers as they can influence feed quality and subsequent animal health and performance. The Alltech 2024 U.S. Harvest Analysis uncovers the true threat mycotoxins pose to animals and producers.
Mycotoxins, which are natural substances produced by molds and fungi, are more prevalent and more of a problem in agriculture, than ever before. More than 95 percent of crops today are contaminated with at least one mycotoxin, and usually two or more. Because these toxins are difficult to detect, they can cause significant damage to animal health before producers even realize they are present. A proactive mycotoxin management program is essential, and the first step is learning which mycotoxins pose the highest risk in specific regions, crops, and species.
The preliminary results of the 2024 analysis deliver an early insight into the mycotoxin landscape. The Alltech U.S. Harvest Analysis, a decade long initiative, is a comprehensive step in understanding the complexities of new crop quality, mycotoxin prevalence, and the threat that mycotoxins pose to animals and producers. To determine the most accurate representation of mycotoxin risk across the U.S., samples are collected by Alltech representatives and sent to the company’s headquarters in Kentucky, where the Alltech 37+ laboratory can detect up to 54 individual mycotoxins.
“The weather pattern for 2024 is a prime driver for the change in corn silage mycotoxin risk. The precipitation over the upper Midwest started early and, in many areas, delayed planting or caused replanting,” said Dr. Max Hawkins, technical support manager with Alltech’s mycotoxin management team. “This excess moisture is a stimulant for Fusarium mold growth, which can produce mycotoxins such as type B trichothecenes, emerging mycotoxins, and zearalenone. Overall, the numbers of mycotoxins per sample are 8.3 for 2024 versus 5.3 for 2023. The risk equivalent quantity (REQ), or risk estimate, from all the mycotoxin present is 201.6, or higher risk, vs. 122.7 for 2023.”
Alltech’s REQ is a system that measures the cumulative risk of multiple mycotoxins in feed, making it easier to evaluate contamination. It combines mycotoxin levels into a single value, helping producers manage feed safety and quality.
Weather and mycotoxin risk - The spike in contamination is largely attributed to significant rainfall across the upper Midwest, which created favorable conditions for the growth of Fusarium molds. These molds are responsible for producing various harmful mycotoxins, particularly type B trichothecenes, which pose the highest risk.
Key mycotoxins in 2024 corn silage:
• Type B trichothecenes - These mycotoxins have seen a sharp increase, with an average concentration of 1,863 parts per billion (ppb) and a staggering maximum level of 43,717 ppb. In comparison, 2023 averages were notably lower, at 1,014 ppb with a maximum of 29,853 ppb.
• Zearalenone - Levels of zearalenone, known for its estrogenic effects in livestock, also rose significantly in 2024. The average concentration was 102 ppb, with a maximum of 2,134 ppb. In 2023, these values were much lower, at an average of 28 ppb and a maximum of 1,171 ppb.
• Emerging mycotoxins - Samples to date have shown an average of 100 ppb with a peak level of 4,300 ppb, up from 73 ppb and 987 ppb in 2023.
With the corn harvest progressing well, the number of samples arriving at the lab is increasing week on week. Early indications are similar to last year, with risk increasing as you move to the East, following the rainfall patterns. This risk is due primarily to Fusarium mycotoxins, type B trichothecenes, fumonisin, and zearalenone. These toxins can have a significant impact on monogastric performance, reproduction, and overall health. More details on the corn grain samples will follow in the main report in the coming weeks.
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 animals and plants, 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 140 countries, has five bioscience centers, and operates more than 75 manufacturing facilities across the globe. For more information, visit www.alltech.com
1320 Old Manning Rd., Sumter, SC 29150 803-481-2011
williammcleod@ftc-i.net • www.blackcrestfarm.com
Walter D. Shealy III and Family 20977 US Hwy 76 • Newberry, SC 29108 803-924-1000 • 706-590-0451 walter@blackgrove.com www.blackgrove.com
Jan. 27 — Saluda Livestock Exchange Weekly Sale, Saluda, S.C.
Jan. 28 — Stanly County Livestock Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.
IGHTER IDE
The world’s leading expert on European wasps walks into a record shop. He asks the assistant “Do you have European Vespidae Acoustics Volume 2? I believe it was released this week.”
“Certainly,” replies the assistant. “Would you like to listen before you buy it?”
“That would be wonderful,” says the expert, and puts on a pair of headphones.
He listens for a few moments and says to the assistant, “I’m terribly sorry, but I am the world’s leading expert on European wasps and this is not accurate at all. I don’t recognize any of those sounds. Are you sure this is the correct recording?”
The assistant checks the turntable, and replies that it is indeed European Vespidae Acoustics Volume 2. The assistant apologizes and lifts the needle onto the next track.
Again the expert listens for a few moments and then says to the assistant, “No, this just can’t be right! I’ve been an
expert in this field for 43 years, and I still don’t recognize any of these sounds.”
The assistant apologizes again and lifts the needle to the next track.
The expert throws off the headphones as soon as it starts playing and is fuming with rage. “This is outrageous false advertising! I am the world’s leading expert on European wasps and no European wasp has ever made a sound like the ones on this record!”
The manager of the shop overhears the commotion and walks over. “What seems to be the problem, sir?”
“This is an outrage! I am the world’s leading expert on European wasps. Nobody knows more about them than I do. There is no way in hell that the sounds on that record were made by European wasps!”
The manager glances down and notices the problem instantly.
“I’m terribly sorry, sir. It appears we’ve been playing you the bee side.”
