The Carolina Cattle Connection - Volume 35, Issue No. 1 (JANUARY 2021)

CC C

arolina attle onnection JANUARY 2021 •

Vol. 35, Issue No. 1

Spotlight on

CHAROLAIS

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ONNECTION 2020 N.C. State Fair Junior Simmental Show Winners ................................................................. page 31 2021 N.C. Farm School — Southern Piedmont ............................................................................... page 38 2021 N.C. Forage and Grassland Council Mid-Winter Conference Reminder ........................... page 18 A Message from the CEO — No Room for Turkey, by Colin Woodall ........................................... page 32 Alltech Tips ........................................................................................................................................... page 58 Amazing Grazing — Mineral Programs are Key to Efficient Production on Forages,

by Matt Poore .................................................................................................................... page 18 American Angus Association News ................................................................................................. page 27 American Gelbvieh Association News ............................................................................................ page 63 American Hereford Association News ........................................................................................... page 60 Animal Agriculture Alliance News ................................................................................................... page 57 Ashley’s Beef Corner — Common Sense, Backed by Science, by Ashley W. Herring ….............. page 16 Beef Checkoff News ........................................................................................................................... page 64 Beef Cuts and Recommended Cooking Methods .......................................................................... page 62 Beef Quality Assurance Update ....................................................................................................... page 49 BioZyme Incorporated News ........................................................................................................... page 54 Brookside Agra News ......................................................................................................................... page 29 Carolina Cooking — Indian Spiced Beef Stew ................................................................................ page 20 Carolina Video and Load Lot Monthly Summary ........................................................................... page 65 Cattlenomic$ — Back to the Futures, Part III, by Bernt Nelson .................................................... page 42 Clemson Bull Test Performance Records “SMASHED” and Sell February 6, 2021!,

by Steven E. Meadows, Ph.D. ........................................................................................... page 45 Director’s Report — New Year, New Opportunities, by Travis Mitchell ....................................... page 3 Discovery Park of America Opens Permanent Exhibit on Innovation in Agriculture ......... page 59 E.B.’s View from the Cow Pasture — You Never Can Tell What

the Next Phone Call Can Bring Forth, by E.B. Harris ................................................ page 20 Farm Credit News ............................................................................................................................... page 37 From the Desk of the SCCA President, by Roscoe Kyle ................................................................... page 55 Kenneth Johnson Passes .................................................................................................................... page 40 N.C. Forage & Grassland Council Spotlight — Don’t Forget to Rest Your Pastures,

by Allison Brown ................................................................................................................ page 21 N.C. Weekly Livestock Report ......................................................................................................... page 38 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association News ................................................................................ page 50 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President’s Report

— Cattle Production, Bigger Than Any One Election Cycle, by Marty Smith ............ page 53 New NCCA Members for 2021 ........................................................................................................... page 51 North Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ...................................................................... page 32 On the Edge of Common Sense — God Bless the FFA, by Baxter Black …...................................... page 22 Red Angus Association of America News ....................................................................................... page 48 S.C. Beef Council News, by Roy Copelan .......................................................................................... page 40 South Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ....................................................................... page 63 The Simmental Trail, by Jennie Rucker .............................................................................................. page 30 You Decide!, by Dr. Mike Walden ....................................................................................................... page 46

CHAROLAIS 21 Things You Should Know About Charolais Cattle in the United States ..... page 13 A Short History of Modern Charolais Cattle, Part 1 — Foundations,

by John Dellinger ..... page 8 A Short History of Modern Charolais Cattle, Part 2 — The Duke,

by John Dellinger ..... page 10 A Short History of Modern Charolais Cattle, Part 3 — Show Cattle,

by John Dellinger ..... page 12 A Short History of Modern Charolais Cattle, Part 4 — Performance Cattle,

by John Dellinger ..... page 14 CharAdvantage Program ..... page 6 The Great White Charolais Cows, by John Dykers, M.D. ..... page 4

N.C. Cattlemen’s Association

President JEREMY LEE 5153 Battle Run Drive • Catawba, NC 28609 Vice Presidents KARL GILLESPIE 860 Corbin Road • Franklin, NC 28734

The Carolina Cattle Connection Vol. 35, No. 1 JANUARY 2021 Sales & Publication Office

BURON LANIER 2877 Piney Woods Road • Burgaw, NC 28425 SCOTT WEST 489 Panacea Springs Road • Littleton, NC 27850 Immediate Past President MIKE COX P.O. 1317 • Elon, NC 27244 NCBA Policy Division Director - FRED SMITH, JR. NCBA Federation Division Director RALPH BLALOCK, JR. Beef Board Director - ROBERT CRABB Secretary/Treasurer - EVERETT JOHNSON Directors At Large MATT POORE • NEIL BOWMAN • TODD SEE

2228 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

Phone: 919-552-9111 or 919-552-9112 Fax: 919-552-9216 Email: mail@nccattle.com Website: www.nccattle.com

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STAFF

BRYAN BLINSON

Executive Director Manager, S.C. TRAVIS MITCHELL

BRYAN K. BLINSON 2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 Editor & Advertising Director 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

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Material in The Carolina Cattle Connection is not to be reproduced in total or in part without the written permission of the Editor. All Website: www.sccattlemen.wildapricot.org submissions become property of The Carolina Executive Committee Cattle Connection, but we make every effort to President - Roscoe Kyle return items such as photographs and artwork as 1st Vice President - Timmy Benton requested. nd 2 Vice President - Joe Oswald IV Secretary - Carol Hendrix Treasurer - Eric Seymour Past President - Thomas Legare

William Brigman, Latta • Joe Oswald, IV, Allendale Roscoe Kyle, Inman • Terry Kirkland, Batesburg Eddie Evans, Easley • Cecil Eaddy, Manning Thomas Legare, Johns Island • Richard Sox, Lexington Carol Hendrix, Westminister • Clay Alexander, Starr Timmy Benton, Walterboro • Michael Bailey, Lancaster Bonnie Cann, Abbeville • Thomas Jones, Marion Lee Haddon, Gaffney • Jack Ferguson, York Drake Yon, Ridge Spring • Gene Crim, St. Matthews

S.C. Beef Council

Executive Director ROY COPELAN P.O. Box 11280 • Columbia, SC 29211 Phone: 803-917-1119 Email: scbeef@scda.sc.gov Website: www.sccattle.org

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

Our

breed Spotlight special sections are excellent forums to r e ac h p r o d u c e r s a n d cattle industry insiders in the Carolinas and throughout the S outheast . A dvertisers also receive a special discount for placing their message in the Spotlight.

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

Director’s Report

By TRAVIS MITCHELL, Executive Director, SCCA

New Year, New Opportunities On behalf of the S.C Cattlemen’s Association, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope each of you enjoyed a very Merry Christmas and found time to spend with family and friends. A new year brings new optimism and excitement. The past year proved to be very challenging for us all. We are excited to welcome in a new year that hopefully brings things back to normal.

The S.C. Cattlemen’s Association held its Annual Membership Meeting virtually via Zoom on November 11, 2020. Members in attendance received a financial report from Treasurer Eric Seymour. The S.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation gun raffle was also held during this time. Congratulations to Jamie Kimbrell, who purchased the winning ticket. All proceeds from the Foundation gun raffle go to fund the youth scholarship program.

At the conclusion of the annual meeting, the board of directors elected new officers. Congratulations to Roscoe Kyle on becoming the new President of the S.C. Cattlemen’s Association. Mr. Kyle fills the presidency role upon past president Thomas Legare’s term expiring.

I would like to thank Mr. Legare for all the work he accomplished for the S.C. Cattlemen’s Association over the past two or more years. We look forward to his continued leadership in the past president role for years to come. I would also like to welcome Bonnie Cann to the SCCA board of directors and Linda Ashmore and Thompson Smith to the S.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation board.

The S.C. Cattlemen’s Foundation Scholarship is now available on our website. The application can be found by clicking on the award programs tab.

Please encourage interested students

ALL Regular Copy for the

FEBRUARY ISSUE

by JANUARY 5!

ALL Spotlight Material for the FEBRUARY ISSUE

By JANUARY 1!

pursuing higher education to apply.

As we move into a new year, I would like to continue to thank all of our members. Your membership and

support is the backbone that drives this organization to continue to promote and support the cattle industry in the state of South Carolina.

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e Special

Spotlight on

CHAROLAIS

Section f

The Great White Charolais Cow

By JOHN DYKERS, M.D. The great white Charolais cow is no longer a secret in the beef business. She has tremendous advantages to offer to the commercial producer, and I am seeing these gorgeous white ladies beginning to prosper in the pastures of the southeast.

The advantages of the great white Charolais cow will certainly vary with the geography and the conditions for each operation.

To appreciate the great white Charolais cow, we must look closely at many assumptions we make about beef production and the different markets for different types of beef and different consumers and different producers. New Hope Farm has vertically integrated our purebred cow/calf operations with our on-farm performance testing and processing at our own meat packing plant and marketing our own branded beef, CharLean. Our bulls with a birth weight over 100 pounds or horned bulls are very profitable for CharLean, but they are sold as breeders only to customers with mature cows looking to add growth. We can usually make the decision on whether an animal is CharLean or breeding stock by age ten months, based on performance

Have you forgotten something?

Make sure your cattlemen friends are members of your state association!

PAGE 4

and EPDs. We eat a lot of excellent EPDs if they are not validated by the animal’s performance. EPDs are derived from performance in the first place; birth weigh, adj 205 day weight, and adj 365 day weight, and brothers and sisters are not alike, they are only kinfolk! EPDs help us summarize the family history (pedigree) but they don’t tell us which genes are present in that particular individual!

Similarly, performance is subject to misinformation, especially in ET calves raised on very different recipient cows, drought or other adverse weather conditions, and downright misrepresentation. Breeder honesty is indispensable, and breeder integrity includes checking the herd every day and having an accurate birth date. Accurate birthweights are also important, and we have a cage and load bar digital scales mounted on the front of the farm truck to get a real birth weight and height.

Estimated birthweights based on tape measure of leg or chest are worse than no birth weight at all.

Marketing CharLean gives us a peek at the complexity of pleasing many customers. We started with four bred black Angus cows; after they calved we had them A.I.’ed to a Charolais and after we saw how those next four calves grew, we never looked back. We crossbred commercially for several years while we built our purebred herd and our meat packing plant, but we have been breeding only purebred Charolais for over 30 years. There are customers for fat steak, but they are dying off, and the future is in lean beef that is also juicy and tender.

Two major changes have influenced the biology/economics of producing beef...

First, we can bring the feed to the calf less expensively than we can take the calf to the feed. Classically, we have moved commercial cattle around the country chasing cheap feed. This makes sense, as feed is the biggest single cost of producing a pound of beef. But cattle don’t take kindly to being handled, crowded, sorted, regrouped, trucked, chilled, heated, and missing meals! They lose precious pounds in the process, and they get sick, and they die. And they take longer to reach slaughter weight!

The second major change is the

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

realization that the primary factor in tenderness is age. The primary quality the consumer requires is tenderness. The age at slaughter has been falling steadily for decades and it will continue to do so. The faster we can grow that steak, the more competitive and profitable our business will be.

We also have to compete with chicken, pork, turkey, fish, bison, and emu/ostrich as protein sources. Our big advantage with cattle is that they can eat grass and even newspaper and turn it into the highest quality protein with all the necessary amino acids that even the best vegetarian can’t get.

(The fact that young cattle are less likely to actually have symptomatic Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy will temporarily add impetus to the move to harvest cattle at a younger age, particularly for the Japanese market.

Beware, however, that it is likely the prions that cause this disease are present in improperly fed young heifers and bulls, and we should not focus on youth as a control measure for BSE.)

The great white Charolais cow gives us a great start on growing. She is not a white Angus, and for most markets and pasture and feeding systems, she should not be. Most markets will not, for much longer, support heavy marbling. Marbling as a basis for grading USDA Choice is still used but has steadily been reduced in the amount required and has steadily been modified by age markers. Marbling is fat, fat is expensive to produce, and most fat

is waste that the end consumer doesn’t want, and we can’t put it back into the cattle feed any longer. I asked the NCBA (when it was still the NCA!) Marketing Committee to ask the USDA to begin to explore ways to redefine Choice based on tenderness, and we should continue to push in this direction, but it may be easier to educate the consumer to look for Select than to change the bureaucracy.

The great white Charolais cow can have a calf, a real calf, with size and vigor and growth hormone. She can drop that calf in the pasture on her own, and I’ve watched those babies jump up and run. If I don’t put that ear tag in while the calf is still wet, I will be very thankful for my calf catch and my calf scale with a cage around it. Miss a whole day checking for newborns and it may be too late to tag and weigh without penning. (By then that birth weight is no longer accurate.)

There is no perfect cow, as there is no perfect bull for all herds and all circumstances.

But the four-year-old Charolais cow who has had two calves and bred back to have her third calf is as near to perfection as a commercial cowman with good grass is going to get. That cow should weigh 1,3001,600 pounds, depending on available feed and stage of gestation. She should be able to birth a 110 pound calf and never bat an eye, wean that calf at seven months and 800 pounds, and have that calf grow to slaughter weight before it is a year old, probably by 11 months with modest marbling and almost no back fat, little

e Special kidney fat, 30 to 34 ribeye steaks, 24 to 30 New York Strips, 16 to 18 filet mignon, 40 pounds of boneless sirloin, 140 pounds of boneless round, 100 pounds of boneless chuck, and 200 pounds of hamburger.

She should keep doing that every year for the next five years easily and maybe for ten years. All she needs is good pasture, proper supplements, and a bull worthy of her capacity.

The problem we have had up until recently has been that nobody was willing to breed down a great white Charolais cow by breeding her to anything other than a great white Charolais bull! Finally, we are crossbreeding enough Angus, Hereford, Simmental, and Shorthorn based Charolais crosses that we are developing a commercial Charolais cow herd worthy of the name. Not a single mature cow we have ever sold has come back to market; when they got home from the sale, they were home to stay. One heifer calf at side came back as an open heifer a year later, “to pay the bills!”

Calving that first calf at age 24 months is not the only strategy to profitability. Larger framed animals get that way because they don’t sexually mature as early and the long bones keep growing. It is the hormonal changes associated with sexual maturity that cause the growth plates in the long bones to close. We breed our heifers at 15 months; they are cycling by then, but the entire A.I. and catch up breeding season is only six weeks. We calve spring (FebruaryMarch) and fall (September-October), so if she doesn’t catch the first six weeks, she gets one other six week exposure. If open after that, she goes to slaughter, not to the sale barn. But to chuck your investment in a replacement heifer because she is not pregnant when palpated at 18 months when she may easily get pregnant at 21 months, will be bigger by then and calve more easily and raise a better calf and have more of her growing nutritional requirements already met, would only be reasonable if you assume that the six months delay in her first pregnancy was going to signal difficulty getting pregnant for the rest of her reproductive career.

If palpation or family history suggests this may be the case, take her to the slaughterhouse, not to the sale barn, no matter how great are her EPDs! But if she does get bred, it is A.I. or clean up to a low birth weight bull, and

Spotlight on

CHAROLAIS

that means she should be able to spit out a 70-80 pound calf unassisted. The second calf should be 80-90 pounds. So if she is bred to have her third calf, you know she already knows how to do the job. If she hasn’t been raising a good calf by then, she goes to slaughter, not to the sale barn.

A word about birth weights. We are appropriately concerned by the data that directly relates increased birth weight with statistical increases in calving difficulty and deaths. The problem is the same one we got into when measuring the height on bulls. Height is generally proportional to length. Length is where the money is: filets, ribeyes, and New York strips. But height is not consistently related to length, and there is no economic value in a long legged bovine!

There is no money between the knee and the ground! A bovine that is tall without also being long, only brings the ability to jump over a fence!

The same is true of birth weights in the opposite mathematical direction.

We need birth heights along with birth weights to correlate with calving ease. A cow can give birth to a 300 pound snake but die trying to calve a 30 pound bowling ball! Cimarron routinely threw 110120 pound calves. We had zero calving problems so long as he was here and alive and now even with his A.I., on mature cows. That 110 plus pounds was stretched out over a long calf and we NEVER even assisted a cow, and every calf hit the ground running. The great white Charolais cow can do that in a heartbeat. Don’t worry about a big birth weight EPD on a cow; it just means she can have a big calf.

You are going to breed her to a low birth weight bull when she is young and not through growing and is inexperienced, but she is going to pay off for you big time from the 3rd to the 13th calf! We keep a low birth weight, high milk bull, especially to breed our heifers, and often those great heifers will add enough growth and volume that those first calves are keeper females and good breeding bulls, and the same is true for second calves.

Look at the money. A 60 pound calf that reaches 1,200 pound slaughter weight at age 18 months with nice marbling but 200 pounds of waste fat at 4,000 calories per pound has wasted 800,000 calories. Grain at 2,000 calories per pound means a waste of 400 pounds of grain or comparable other feed, and at $160/T that

Section f

is $32. Maintenance for six months when compared to the animal ready for slaughter by 12 months; minimum 50¢ a day or $90; total cost of growing slowly, $122 and less tenderness. Top quality animals of other breeds will narrow that gap, and the folks breeding Angus, Hereford, and Simmental are smart and capable of selecting breeding stock to do just that, but this is where the great white Charolais cow shines a bright light toward the future profits of cattle people everywhere there is good grass. A big cow has to eat well to maintain herself, get pregnant, give birth, nurse a big calf, and get pregnant again.

Look at the money. A 30 pound difference in birth weight, 100 pounds difference in weaning weight, and a post weaning rate of gain that brings the costs to an end and puts money in the bank six months quicker. At six percent interest on a $1,000 animal is $30 more. Profit $152 a head.

Just assume a 600 pound calf off a British cow and a 700 pound calf off a

Charolais and only 80¢ a pound at the market. For the same gross as 100 of the great white Charolais cows, you would have to have 117 of the British breed cows. That means 17 more of everything; semen or bulls, ear tags, vaccinations, registration papers, worm medication and worming, weighing, calving, and doing it all extra every season.

I’d much rather look after 100 great white Charolais cows than 117 of anything else! The 17 cows you don’t have to maintain, at $300 a head per year, is another $5,100 in your pocket untaxed.

The old saying from Ben Franklin was, “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

I say $1 saved is $3 earned when you figure the cost of earning it and the taxes incurred!

Disposition, feet, udder, capacity to get pregnant, carry a calf, birth the calf, mother the young one, and nurse the big one, and do it all over again.This is THE GREAT WHITE CHAROLAIS COW.

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e Special

Spotlight on

CHAROLAIS

Section f

CharAdvantage Program Why Enroll?

CharAdvantage is an age, source, and genetic certification program designed to add more value to Charolais influenced feeder cattle. By enrolling in this program, you receive source, age, and genetic verification in the calf crop that you are currently marketing.

By documenting this information, participants can add value for buyers seeking feeder cattle with a known background that can qualify for added marketing opportunities and programs.

CharAdvantage staff partners with IMI Global to create these opportunities for producers who are seeking more premiums in the marketplace.

Overview: There are two tag options to enroll in this program: Option #1 - EID (Electronic ID) Cost-$4/head for EID Tag + Verification Option #2 - EID + Visual Tag Cost$5.25/head for EID Tag, Visual Tag + Verification CharAdvantage Certificates: Once cattle are enrolled, producers will receive a certificate which highlights several aspects of age, source, and genetic components of the feeder cattle being offered.

In addition to age, source, and genetic verification, these elements are also included on the certificate • Seedstock origin of the sires/dams that produced the cattle • Composite TSI (Terminal Sire Index) Score Average TSI score of AICA sires/dams of the feeder cattle

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• Marbling indicator (indicates if the average of seedstock parents are above breed average for Marbling EPD • Genomically Enhanced EPD Indicator notes if the accuracy of sire/dam EPDs is increased due to Genomically Enhanced EPDs • Marketing Venue for Feeder Cattle • BQA Certification of Origin Ranch or Farm • Additional Health and Management Protocols for Enrolled Cattle Additional Options: In addition to age, source, and genetic verification, producers can also elect to enroll their cattle in one of the following programs for an added fee if desired.

Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) The Non-Hormone Treated Cattle Program allows your cattle to be eligible for buyers and brands exporting beef products to the European Union • Calves can NEVER receive any growth promotants of any kind (implants) • Calves must be identified with a CharAdvantage EID tag before they leave the farm/ranch of origin • Your operation must maintain a quality manual (which is provided) and train all family members and employees on NHTC requirements and proper procedures • An onsite audit of your operation is required annually • Calves must move through NHTC approved locations at all times (i.e., they cannot sell through an auction market that is not approved to manage NHTC cattle) NHTC Enrollment is available for an additional service fee of $750 plus travel for

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

an onsite audit (in addition to the per head cost). This is an annual fee for this service.

Verified Natural Beef (VNB): The Verified Natural Beef Program allows your cattle to be eligible for buyers and brands seeking specialty markets requiring natural beef and/or exporting beef products to the European Union • Calves marketed as VNB cannot receive growth promotants, antibiotics or animal byproducts of any kind • Calves must be identified with a CharAdvantage EID tag before they leave the farm/ranch of origin • Your operation must maintain a quality manual (which is provided) and train all family members and employees on VNB requirements and proper procedures • An onsite audit of your operation is required annually • Calves must move through VNB approved locations at all times (i.e., they cannot sell through an auction market that is not approved to manage VNB cattle) VNB Enrollment is available for an additional service fee of $750 plus travel for an onsite audit (in addition to the per head cost). This is an annual fee for this service.

GAP 5 Step Animal Welfare Program: The Global Animal Partnership (GAP) 5-Step Animal Welfare Program is a tiered animal care and well being standard focused on continuous improvement and natural cattle production systems. GAP qualifies cattle for Whole Foods purchasing and other marketing opportunities.

• Location must have a written farm/ ranch plan, including procedures and practices of operation • Animals must have BCS of 4+, less than two percent lameness, and less than five percent assisted calving • Castration must occur at less than six months of age • Weaning must occur after six months of age • Horns must be disbudded at less than six weeks of age, and dehorning is prohibited • No animal byproducts in feed • ⅔ of life must be spent on pasture • CharAdvantage EID tag required • Antibiotics, ionophores, hormones, growth promotants and sulfa drugs are prohibited

• Animals must not be transported for more than 25 hours at shipping time GAP + NHTC/Natural is available for $1,750 plus travel in addition to per head cost. This is an annual fee for this service.

Process: To begin, simply download and fill out this document and submit it to becky@beefcenter.org. Phone assistance is also available by calling 816-4016427. Enrollments can be paid for by check or by credit card over the phone.

Once enrollment is paid for, the tags can be ordered and will usually arrive in seven to ten business days. This set of tags will be assigned to your operation’s premise according to the enrolled year. IMI Global will then contact the participant to perform a desktop audit via phone, to ensure all program rules are in compliance. Once approved, CharAdvantage staff will email and mail a copy of the CharAdvantage certificate, which can be presented at the time of cattle marketing.

Requirements: • 75% of either sires or dams represented in the calf crop must be registered or recorded with AICA. Registration or recordation numbers of sires must be included on the enrollment form, regardless of the ownership of the sire.

• Groups of calves must predominately show Charolais characteristic (color) • All cattle enrolled must have a known age, as determined by the date of the first calf and last calf born in the calving season; or by individual birth dates of each calf • Enrollments can only be made by the original owner of the cattle, and cattle must be owned by this participant at the time of enrollment • All enrolled cattle must be tagged with a CharAdvantage EID tag at the time of shipping For more information, contact Colt Keffer, Director of Industry Relations and Sales at 765-376-8784 or ckeffer@ charolaisusa.com.

The Carolina Cattle Connection

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e Special

Spotlight on

CHAROLAIS

Section f

A Short History of Modern Charolais Cattle, Part 1 — Foundations

By JOHN DELLINGER

I was asked to write a short article about Charolais cattle, and I’m sure happy to talk about Charolais bloodlines.

First, I should introduce myself. I’m John Dellinger. My farm, Faraway Cattle Company, is in Vale, North Carolina.

We have a small herd of Charolais brood cows. Our breeding program is based on linebreeding to just a few animals. But I’m not going to talk much about my cows.

Charolais are a very old breed, but have only been in the United States for a fairly small part of their history. The breed originated in France, perhaps as early as the 8th Century. The first French registry was started in the mid-1800s.

The first herd in North America was established by Jean Pugibet after World War I. He arranged for a shipment of two bulls and ten heifers to Mexico in

1930.Two later shipments in 1931 and 1937 increased the total number to 37 - 8 bulls and 29 females. The first Charolais to come from Mexico are believed to be two bulls, Neptune and Ortolan, which were purchased from Pugibet by the King Ranch in Texas and imported in June 1936. There were later imports of bulls.

Notably, a bull named Wee was bred by Pugibet and imported into the United States. A large percentage of the Charolais cattle in the United States would trace back to Wee. Because of an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, there were no importations of French Charolais cattle into the United States from the 1940s until the 1960s. This really restricted the supply of Charolais cattle in the United States. To expand the breed, American

breeders established a five generation “breeding up” program. This program involved using purebred Charolais bulls for five consecutive generations to produce a 31/32 Charolais animal, which was considered the equivalent of a purebred. Unless an animal in the United States is identified as a full French animal, it very likely traces back to cattle that were “bred up” to purebred Charolais.

In fact, the breeding up program is the source of almost all of the polled genetics in the breed, since Charolais in France were a naturally horned breed.

The polled gene in Charolais cattle in the United States comes from polled cows, like Angus or Hereford cows, that were the foundation cows of the breeding-up program.

The American Charolais breed as it developed based on the early importations and the breeding-up program seemed to produce a type of animal that was very useful, if a bit less imposing than the French cattle. They were longer muscled, more moderate in frame, and were hardy, capable of getting by in pretty tough surroundings. Then, in the 1960s and 70s, French cattle began arriving again.

Some of the French cattle that came then didn’t work out well due to structural and genetic problems, and due to a mismatch of the bulls with the cows which resulted in calving difficulties. However, the French cattle that did work out became very influential in adding a bit more muscle and power to the American cattle.

From here, I’m just going to mention a few bulls that have been extraordinarily influential in the current American Charolais breed. There are two French bulls that need to be mentioned. Avignon was imported in the 1960s. Nowadays, almost all of the cattle in the breed who trace back to Wienk Charolais or

Avignon

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Lindskov-Thiel Ranch genetics have the influence of Avignon through his son, Nutmeg’s Avignon FR31. Avignon produced thousands of useful sons and daughters that were born easy and grew fast before becoming productive breeding animals. The other French bull that I should mention is Belphegor, known as Bingo. The Bingo cattle were very influential in the Wienk cattle and the Rogers cattle from Mississippi. These cattle were good doing cattle, with exceptional carcass traits and excellent milk production.

Belphegor (Bingo)

The Sam line of cattle was very influential in the 60s through the 80s.

They were an example of the earlier American style Charolais before the return of the French cattle. They sprung from the Litton Ranch in Missouri and were based on the progeny of FWT Bar 951, known as Sam. They were famous as a source of polled genetics. This bloodline has generally fallen away, but there are Sam cattle in many modern pedigrees.

Sam M4, son of Sam 951

By far, the most influential line of breeding in American Charolais is Paul.

Paul 109 was born in 1959. He was the grandson of Señor of Sandrellan, who was a grandson of some of the original Mexican imports. Paul was a polled bull, and had calves born from the early 60s through 1999. One line of Paul breeding

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And there are many more examples of bulls that trace their lineage back to Paul 109. The take home lesson is simply that a great deal of what is good is in the modern Charolais breed.

Señor of Sandrellan

included a granddaughter who ended up being a grandmother of the bull BR Duke 261. BR Duke 261 subsequently produced sons that resulted in the Wyoming Wind line, the Duke 914 line, and the Mr. Perfect line. A granddaughter of Duke 261 became the grandmother of M6 Grid Maker. Between those bulls — Grid Maker, Wyoming Wind, Duke 914, and Mr. Perfect — almost all of the more popular cattle in the breed are Duke 261 descendants.

BCR Polled Unlimited

There are, of course, a great many other bulls that deserve to be talked about.

For example, the Michaelis Ranch cattle in Texas form a great part of the base of the breeding programs at Cobb Charolais, DeBruycker Charolais, and Eaton Ranch in Montana, three very important herds.

And there are several other French bulls that contributed along the way to make the breed what it is today. We need to remember that the genetics we see today came from these founding bulls of the breed. Knowing more about them can help modern breeders make better decisions when buying herd bulls.

BR Duke 261

Paul 109 also produced a grandson named FZ Mac 236. That bull in turn produced a grandson named BCR Polled Unlimited. All of the LindskovThiel genetics trace back to BCR Polled Unlimited many times. FZ Mac 236 also produced a grandson named WCR Sir Fab Mac 809. All of the Wienk genetics trace back to Mac 809 many times.

FZ Mac 828

Please continue to follow along with this series of articles on the modern American history of Charolais cattle in this issue. Up next, I will focus on one very influential bull in the breed’s history.

Paul 109

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A Short History of Modern Charolais Cattle, Part 2 — The Duke

By JOHN DELLINGER My previous article was about the history of Charolais cattle in the United States. Now, I am going to expand on some of the things I’ve already talked about by focusing on one bull that is among the couple of most influential bulls in modern Charolais pedigrees. This bull’s heritage traces back to some of the very first cattle that came from France, through Mexico, to the United States in the 1930s. That base of genetics was then crossed with some French genetics that came to the United States in the late 1960s. And his progeny have proven to be very successful up until today.

In the mid-1980s, the Charolais breed, like most other beef breeds in the United States, was fully caught up in a craze in which the tallest framed animals were considered the best. Every year, the

cattle got taller. At the same time, the cattle became frail and light muscled.

The cows didn’t produce enough milk, and were hard doing and difficult to maintain. Certainly, there was a need for a change. In late 1984, Wienk Charolais of Lake Preston, S.D., purchased a bull from Bauman Ranch of Carpenter, Wyo., with no fanfare. They didn’t know it then, but that bull would change the Charolais breed throughout the world over the next several decades.

BR Duke 261 was calved in 1983.

Wienk Charolais had their first calves by him in the fall of 1985. Since then, he has had 3,339 calves registered in the United States, with calves being born every year through the present. He came on the scene for a lot of reasons. He was polled.

His calves were smaller framed and

thicker, and the cows were good milking, good uddered, easy keeping cows. The early genetic evaluations in the Charolais breed identified him as a leader across several important traits. Even now, after over thirty calf crops, his EPDs are still respectable, and he’s still in the top third of the breed in weaning weight, milk, carcass weight, and marbling.

the descendants of Señor of Sandrellan and Paul 109 in U.S. cattle. Señor of Sandrellan was also a descendant of the original importation cattle, and as you can BR Duke 261

BR Duke 261 is interesting genetically because of his ancestry and because of his descendants. If you study his pedigree, several interesting patterns emerge that tie into my previous article.

I talked about the original shipment of cattle into the U.S. from Mexico in the thirties. I have sketched out how Duke 261 traces back twice in just a few generations to a bull called Mr. Coronet.

Mr. Coronet was a grandson of cattle that were in the original importation.

I also talked about the importance of

Señor of Sandrellan

BR Duke 261’s Pedigree

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see in my sketch, Duke 261 traces back to him and his grandson Paul as well.

I also talked about the importation of full French Charolais bulls in the 1960s and 70s. You can see in BR Duke 261’s pedigree that he traces back to a full French bull, Carnaval, who was imported in the late 60s. Carnaval would go on to be a very important sire and is still being

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used a bit today.

Duke 261’s pedigree is interesting, but the real importance of Duke 261 in the modern Charolais breed in the United States is measured through his descendants.

This is a diagram that shows how a good proportion of the Charolais breed in the U.S. today are reasonably closely related to each other at least because they can be easily traced to BR Duke 261.

This diagram shows the relationship of many of the most popular cattle of the breed through BR Duke 261. The bulls pictured to the right are a sample of the very important sires that trace back to BR Duke 261 at least once.

This is all very well known information, but what do you do with it? You could determine how closely related animals are based on the diagram. The fewer the links between animals, the closer related they are. For example, there are only three links between Duke 914 (VCR Sir Duke 914) and Grid Maker (M6 Grid Maker 104), so they would be something like second cousins. This kind of information might be helpful if you are trying to buy or breed cattle that are either more related or less related to each other.

Of course, this doesn’t take into account relationships through other ancestors, but it still might be helpful. If you were actually interested in using bloodlines that aren’t related to BR Duke 261, you could search for cattle that don’t show up here.

I hope this little article reminds breeders of the importance of studying pedigrees to make breeding decisions.

However you structure your breeding program — whether you try to linebreed cattle or try to avoid linebreeding cattle — it is crucial that you study the pedigrees thoroughly and understand the family behind the bulls.

I hope you are enjoying this series of articles. My next installment will focus on the history of Charolais cattle in the show ring.

Popular Charolais Bulls

LT Ledger 0332

TR Mr Firewater

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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LT Wyoming Wind

M6 Grid Maker 104

VCR Sir Duke 914

LHD Cigar

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A Short History of Modern Charolais Cattle, Part 3 — Show Cattle

By JOHN DELLINGER In this series, I have written a couple articles about the history of Charolais cattle in the United States. I wrote generally about influential bulls, and I wrote about the extra influence of a bull named BR Duke 261. Here, I thought I’d write a bit about the history of Charolais cattle in the show ring.

I guess it’s likely that cattle breeders have been showing cattle in competitions against other breeders for centuries.

Modern breeds didn’t develop until around 1800-1850 or so. Showing cattle competitively became a “thing” especially after there were better defined breeds and registries keeping track of pedigrees.

Until the time of performance testing and the calculation of Expected Progeny Differences, it’s likely that success in the show ring was the most important element that caused other cattlemen to be interested in a breeder’s genetics.

In the Charolais breed, there were shows in France since the 1800s at least. A show winner from about 1915 is pictured here.

shows in Kansas City, Chicago, Houston, and Denver in the 60s. Perhaps the pivotal moment in the change of the type of cattle from the smaller framed “belt buckle” cattle was when a Charolais cross steer named Conoco was made grand champion steer at the 1969 International Show in Chicago. He is pictured below (and would make a durn fine steer today).

started getting bigger, mostly taller — that seems to be related to the idea that the cattle had to have the performance and size of Charolais cattle, but they needed to not be so thick to cause calving troubles. So folks naturally decided to try to stretch them out. This resulted in some useful cattle for a while — maybe a bit big, but not bad. HCR Expectation 269 was the 1978 national champion bull.

Roxy’s Jack Dempsey

Over time, the cattle got even bigger.

Roxy’s Jack Dempsey was very popular, and very big. A lot of cattle today in Canada still carry his genetics.

Conoco

HCR Expectation 269

In the meantime, the descendants of a bull named FWT Bar 951 Sam bred by Litton Charolais in Chillicothe, Mo., were being aggressively shown and promoted all over the United States. The bull pictured below is Monarch’s Majesty — he was a grandson of Sam and was grand champion at the Houston show in 1969.

After that, it was sort of off to the races for taller Charolais cattle. Riverwood Genesis was the 1979 champion. He was a son of

Thomas Joker

Riverwood Genesis

Prize winning French Charolais, circa 1915

The Charolais breed came to the United States from France in the 1930s, and there have probably been shows of some sort since then. However, it was not until the late 1960s that Charolais cattle were allowed to show in many of the major livestock expositions in America. At that time, many of the established breeds — Shorthorn, Angus, and Hereford — were still quite small by modern standards. Cattlemen from those breeds did not welcome the much bigger French cattle being shown in close proximity to their cattle because they were not interested in spectators comparing the “beefiness” of the established breeds to the Charolais. But a few breeders eventually broke through and Charolais were exhibited at the large

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Riverwood Elevation, and that really started about a 20 year period when cattle related to him and his brothers dominated the breed.

Monarch’s Majesty

The grand champion female at that show was bred by one of the early pioneer breeders in the United States, Michaelis Ranch, and she is pictured below.

After that, the show circuit became the place to figure out who had “the best” Charolais cattle. Pretty quickly, cattle

MGM Hijack Mae

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Thomas Joker was the 1992 national champion. He was probably too big and was the last really big bull to win big.

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About that time, breeding value estimates were being published, and the importance of the show cattle in the breed started to wane very quickly. The availability of breeding value estimates for traits of economic importance simply made the ranking of cattle in a show ring a less valuable measurement for breeders.

f

He was owned by Barton Charolais in Abbeville, S.C., and shown by Wayne Templeton when he managed that herd.

21 Things You Should Know About Charolais Cattle in the United States • The first Charolais cattle in North America from France landed in Mexico in 1910 – none of these imports made their way to the United States.

• The first Charolais importation from Mexico – two bulls, Blanco and Plato – entered Texas in 1934.

• The first competitive Charolais show was held at the 1955 Houston Fat Stock Show.

• In 1957 the American Charbray Association (formed in 1944) and the International Charolais Cattle Raisers Association (formed in 1952) merged to form the American-International Charolais (AICA) Association in Houston, Texas.

• AICA officially began recording performance information in 1961 to encourage accurate measurements and production.

• The first Charolais Journal was published in March 1977 as the AICA official publication.

• AICA relocated to Kansas City, Mo., on May 16, 1983, from Houston, Texas.

Faraway Chico

TR Dotty

Cattle have become quite a bit more moderate in the Charolais show ring since then as well. The 2018 national champion was a cow named TR Dotty. She is pictured below from the South Dakota State Fair. Also, the 2018 champion bull named in Canada was Elder’s Honcho, who won Agribition.

More recently, my own bull, Faraway Chico, was shown successfully about a decade ago. Our herd in Vale, N.C., is based on his descendants.

Finally, since we started with a French show bull, we’ll close with another one. I don’t know this guy, but he is a recent winner in France.

• Today, AICA active (adult) membership approaches 2,500 members and junior membership 1,300 members.

• Registered and commercial Charolais producers have embraced the tools to improve phenotype and genotype across the board.

• The AICA Board of Directors implemented Whole Herd Rewards (WHR) and Performance Plus Registry in 2002. This herd inventory system has increased data to enable the development of more genetic tools.

• In the show cattle arena, Charolais influenced steers and females have impacted the results at major shows, including Denver, San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth, Louisville, and Kansas City.

• The consistent demand for Charolais genetics and Charolais bulls is dynamic. From sales reported in the Charolais Journal, from 2014 to 2018, 24,230 bulls were sold for a total of $126.18 million for a five year average of $5,207 – a demand relationship.

• The greatest indicator of the foundation for Charolais market demand lies in the genetic and phenotype trend tables found on the AICA website at www.charolaisusa.com. From 2008 to 2018, Charolais average yearling weight EPDs increased 45 lbs, weaning weight EPDs 15 lbs, all while reducing birth weight.

Elder’s Honcho

Sang D’Or

Since this article is for The Carolina Cattle Connection, I should mention a couple of our winners. There have been many over the years, but one of the most successful show bulls with a South Carolina connection from back in the days was RCC Royal Standout 2973.

It seems pretty clear that, in North America, the type of Charolais cattle that wins shows has been pretty variable over the years, but comparing the French winners 100 years apart, it seems like they have a more strict ideal with regard to show bulls. No matter. Whether you show cattle or not, we should all try to breed cattle that please us, that are in demand by our customers, and that have the best chance of making money for those who care for them. If we can do that, I’m sure we’d mostly call that a good day.

The final installment in this series, for now, will center around cattle performance testing and evaluation.

RCC Royal Standout 2973

BE A WINNER!

Join your local cattlemen’s association AND your state or regional breed association.

• The development of the Terminal Sire Index (TSI) provides seedstock and commercial producers using registered Charolais bulls with a tool to identify the most profitable sires unique to a specific operation.

• The American-International Junior Charolais Association 2019 Junior National saw youth from 25 states exhibit 475 cattle and participate in contests and educational seminars. Over $43,000 in scholarship money was awarded to the members.

• Each year AICA hosts Listening and Learning Sessions focused on breeding and marketing registered seedstock as well as Char-influenced cattle.

• The Champion Qualify Hotel-Restaurant and Overall Grand Champion Carcass at the 2019 Missouri State Fair was a Charolais cross steer: Carcass Weight: 859 lbs.; Dressing Percentage: 63.76%; Backfat: 0.4 in.; REA: 15.6 sq. in.; %KPH: 2.07%; Yield Grade: 2.17; USDA Quality Grade: Prime.

• The Spring 2018 AICA National Cattle Evaluation incorporated the use of single step genomic evaluation.

• CHARadvantage is an age, source, and genetic certification program designed to add more value to Charolais influenced feeder cattle.

Visit the AICA website to view premium averages achieved by enrolled cattle.

• From a Kansas State University Study Effect of Breed Description on Sale Price of Steer Calves Sold Through Superior Livestock Video Auctions (3,084,918 head, 2010-2016) Breed $/cwt difference Charolais Sired $8.12 Red Angus Sired $6.89 Angus Sired $6.26

Brahman Influenced Sired $0.00 • Average Weights for U.S. Charolais cattle Heifers - BW 83, WW 608, YW 904 • Bulls - BW 88, WW 680, YW 1189

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A Short History of Modern Charolais Cattle, Part 4 — Performance Cattle

By JOHN DELLINGER I hope you have enjoyed my series on Charolais cattle in the United States. I started the series generally discussing influential bulls in the breed. I continued with and article about the extra influence of a bull named BR Duke 261. I also wrote about the history of Charolais cattle in the show ring.

In this article, I thought I’d write about how performance testing and evaluation of cattle for measures of performance have evolved, especially in the Charolais breed, and especially in the Carolinas.

When Charolais cattle were developed in France throughout the 1700s, and even earlier, they were generally selected for rapid growth of lean muscular animals.

Mature size and muscularity were very important. Marbling was less important because the French markets didn’t treasure that trait, and the more maternal traits, like easy keeping and milk production and udder quality, were a bit less important.

But the strict selection for fast, lean growth was paramount. As these cattle came to the United States in the 1930s and throughout the middle of the 1900s, they were quickly recognized as being something different from the more maternal, all purpose British cattle. The calves grew faster. The cattle were bigger and more muscular.

extra growth was possible, and giving other breeds a performance target to aim for. This was the beginning of modern performance testing in beef cattle.

CCC Eleuthera’s Nulook

GCR Supreme 141

One of the early efforts at promoting performance based beef cattle genetics was Performance Registry International (PRI). PRI set standards for cattle progeny evaluations. The program identified sires that were superior at producing progeny that were evaluated for growth and carcass traits as compared to standards. PRI existed for many years, and a decent number of early Charolais bulls were proven to be outstanding on the PRI program, earning the designation of “Certified Meat Sire,” with various categories describing the best ones. For example, Avignon 1106, a full French bull whose bloodlines still flow strong throughout the breed in the U.S., was a PRI Golden Certified Meat Sire.

Avignon 1106

Charolais arrived in the U.S. at about the same time that scientific cattle breeding for performance was getting started. In the 1930s and 40s, scientists determined how to objectively measure growth genetics and developed estimates of the heritability of these traits.

Individual farmers and ranchers were starting to develop breeding programs based on performance and not on show ring appraisals. Central bull tests started in Texas in 1941. The “gift of Charolais,” as described by Thomas King, came then, showing breeders of all breeds that

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gaining fat. A few bulls that sired a large number of high performance cattle in the 70s and 80s included GCR Supreme 141, Cardinals Reflection 286, CCC Eleuthera’s Nulook, and HBR Performer 181.

Nutmegs Avignon FR31

HBR Performer 181

But North Carolina and South Carolina Charolais breeders were not left behind when it came to producing high performing bull test winners. Grassy Forks Farm in Catawba, N.C., had one of the highest gaining bulls ever in North Carolina with a bull called Grassy Forks Junker. And in South Carolina, the 1986 Edisto Bull Test was won by THE HHP Monte Carlo 1ST, bred by Horace Porter of Lancaster, South Carolina. The Monte Carlo bull is still very important today.

Cardinals Reflection 852

PRI came to an end in the 1970s, and beef cattle performance evaluation focused largely on bull tests. The Charolais breed did very well on these tests, including producing many bulls that gained in excess of five pounds of bodyweight per day over the entire test period. Cattle that stood out as being particularly strong in these tests were often fairly large framed cattle that were lean in their type. Growth is, after all, positively correlated with mature size, and gaining in lean muscle is more efficient than

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which involved directly comparing progeny of a test sire with progeny of “reference sires” that were used in every group. By comparing to the common reference sires, the association could develop Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) for the test sires. Prominent bulls who were successfully evaluated on the SEP included Nutmeg’s Avignon FR31.

The Sire Evaluation Program continued through the 90s and was essentially replaced by the development of methods of computing Expected Progeny Differences using ratios of performance traits measured on individual farms, without the need for reference sires. This program continues today. Breeders can use EPD information to make mating decisions to improve a long list of traits. Recently, these EPDs were improved by including information on the DNA of the cattle themselves.

Throughout their existence, Charolais cattle have been well recognized as the true performance bred of cattle.

Breeders have always worked hard to develop systems for identifying the best performing animals in order to continue to make progress in improving the breed.

NOTICE THE HHP Monte Carlo 1ST

While all this was going on, the American International Charolais Association was working through initial efforts to develop breeding values for Charolais cattle. Early on, the association had a Sire Evaluation Program (SEP),

Letters to the editor are welcome and we appreciate your input.

HOWEVER, letters that are not signed will not be considered for publication.

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Regular copy deadline is JANUARY 5 for the FEBRUARY issue.

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Ashley’s Beef Corner

T

Common Sense, Backed By Science

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

We are all familiar with myth busting within the agriculture and cattle community. We’ve spent countless hours explaining and educating just how a steak gets from the gate to a plate. Last year, when exploring how to effectively better the knowledge of consumers, the consumer research done by the Beef Checkoff came full circle to Beef Quality Assurance. For the first time, BQA was used to address the myths surrounding beef.

Smart, targeted, hardworking content was developed that was meant to make those who eat beef feel good about their decision to enjoy it. It supported the fact that beef is the top protein.

A landing page was placed on www.Beefitswhatsfordinner.com. Beef e-newsletters “Beef So Simple” and “Beef News Now” featured articles and images.

The Masters of Beef Advocacy network used the content in their discussions, both in-person and online. The concept

of healthy animals = nutritious food = healthy families anchored the campaign.

It was apparent that just by mentioning the concept of BQA, there was a program in place that instilled the best management practices for the care of animals and helped consumers feel good about enjoying beef. Animal welfare is an ever present notion, and BQA addressed that in a reassuring way.

High quality care of animals on farms means high quality beef, and that significantly persuades consumers.

Around 85 percent of beef comes from BQA certified farmers. This was all simply common sense, backed by science.

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The campaign generated 11 million BQA/ BIWFD video views and 58 million media impressions of BQA/BIWFD ads.

Another positive benefit was a record number of BQA certifications. Producers were seeing this as well and signing up to become certified. There were 10,000 online certifications following the campaign. We are always glad to see that 85 percent figure increase.

In North Carolina, we have great support for the BQA program. We usually think of it as regular production practices.

With the success of using it in a consumer facing campaign, we can also think of it as a means to share information and educate others about our industry.

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By DR. MATT POORE N.C. State University

Mineral Programs are Key to Efficient Production on Forages No matter how good your forages are, they still may be deficient in one or more minerals. This is especially true for the trace minerals copper, zinc, selenium, and of course, salt. Some forages may also be deficient in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, or other minerals.

In my experience, all really good cattle production systems use a good quality mineral supplement and make an effort to do a good job of managing the mineral program to make sure the cattle are eating the correct amount of the supplement. It is important that you start with assessing your forage mineral levels and consult with an advisor familiar with regional forage mineral deficiencies and mineral supplementation options available as you develop or improve your program. For tall fescue based systems, we generally need to supplement with salt, copper, zinc, selenium, and magnesium.

There are many philosophies on supplementing minerals. When I first started 30 years ago, many cattlemen in our area used “red salt,” which is either in loose or block form. Unfortunately, most of that “trace mineralized salt” contained very little copper and no selenium. It was not uncommon for me to go to a farm where the cows were in poor condition with shaggy faded hair coats and experiencing a wide variety

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of production problems. This was often blamed on fescue toxins, but I found that in many situations we could mix copper sulfate and sodium selenite into their base mineral (often red salt), and within a few months, the cows were transformed.

When I came to work at NCSU, I met my friend and collaborator, Dr. Jerry Spears. Dr. Spears is generally recognized as having a bigger impact on trace mineral nutrition for cattle (and other species as well) than any other researcher. I was fortunate to be located where he was making fundamental discoveries about selenium, copper, zinc, and other important minerals. He helped me develop a program to improve minerals across our state. As we made progress with our mineral education program, many farmers started evaluating their mineral formulas and shopped around when their mineral didn’t stack up to our recommendations. This caused me some political problems as some of the companies who needed to improve their formulas called our Dean and department head to complain about how I was hurting them. Fortunately, my bosses had my back, and after the initial push back, we helped many companies improve their formulas.

Today most farmers in our area use a complete mineral, and they pay special attention to the copper and selenium levels, and most products meet or exceed our recommendations.

One program that has been talked about a lot is a cafeteria style mineral program. With this program, cattle are offered a variety of supplements, each providing a key mineral that might be lacking at some time in their diet. The idea is based on the concept that cows can sense what they need and will pick it out and eat only the amount that they need.

While there is some support for the idea of “nutritional wisdom,” I have never seen this system last on a farm. I have known a number of cattlemen who have tried it, but never one who stuck with it in the long run. The reasons for abandoning

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it include the high cost of supplements, the number of different compartments in the feeder that have to be kept up, and the heavy feeder, which can’t be easily moved from pasture to pasture.

My recommendation these days is to find a good quality complete mineral that fits your needs or to go together with a group to have a supplement custom mixed based on input from your local advisor.

Then, put time into keeping up with the daily intake level (a cow should eat 2-4 oz per day of most products). Sometimes that is kind of hard to figure, so a good rule of thumb is that a group of 25 cows should eat about a 50 lb bag in a week or two.

If cows are not eating the supplement or are eating too much, then move the feeder relative to the water and loafing areas, mix in some palatable ingredient (if intake is low) or salt (if intake is high), and eventually, find a supplement that works better for you. With any product, you need

to monitor intake and manage accordingly, as there is normal variation in intake.

As far as mineral feeders go, make sure your feeder is inexpensive, keeps most of the rain off (none are perfect), is durable, and is easy to move. The choice of feeder is somewhat of a personal preference; make sure you choose one that is easy for you to manage, so you keep up your management program. My favorite feeder is made from a plastic barrel and a truck tire. These are especially easy to move from pasture to pasture and prove to be quite durable relative to other models I have used. We have these feeders that have been in constant use for over ten years. If you are interested in this feeder, there is an instructional video on YouTube at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ZlnDfWWeJd8&t=10s and a set of plans on our website at www.cefs.ncsu. edu/resources/barrel-and-tire-mineralfeeder-construction-instructions-2008/.

2021 N.C. Forage & Grassland Council Mid-Winter Conference Reminder We are excited to inform you that the 2021 Mid-Winter Conference held by the N.C. Forage and Grassland Council will go on. Even though we would love to see each and every one of you, our main priority is to keep everyone safe. Therefore, the conference will be held virtually. With that being said, we are trying something new in hopes of fitting everyone’s schedule. From January 26 - February 16, we will hold different sessions each week on Tuesday evenings starting at 6:30 p.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m.

Each session will be free of charge and open to everyone! Sessions will go as followed: • January 26 - All About That Waste! This session will include producers in eastern North Carolina discussing subjects including bermudagrass, annuals, and crop residue utilization. As well as hog and poultry waste utilization and its effects on soil and forages and ultimately livestock. Local extension agents Andy Burlingham and Eve Honeycutt will present this information. Dr. Tom Van Dyke, N.C. State Extension Beef Veterinarian will also be discussing mineral supplementation and nitrate issues in forages and hay.

• February 2 - Creating Your Own Opportunities! This session will focus on utilizing and optimizing forages that you have, navigating tenant-landowner relationships for leased lands, and multi-species grazing (sheep and cattle). Greg Judy, owner of Green Pastures Farm in Missouri, and Greg Brann, owner of Big Spring Farm in Tennessee and Kentucky, will be the speakers.

• February 9 - “FINALLY - Soil Health! This session will highlight soil health and fertility with a focus of fescue fertilization, winter stockpiling, and maintaining control of grassy weeds in new and existing fescue pastures. Dr. Allen Franzluebbers, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, and Dr. Neil Rhodes, University of Tennessee Extension Specialist Weed - Management, will be the speakers.

• February 16 - Producer Panel - The final session will be a panel discussion that consists of local producers from across the state.

These producers will have the opportunity to describe and showcase their farm and how they utilize different forages throughout the year. Johnny Rogers, Amazing Grazing Program Coordinator, will moderate the panel.

During the conference, we will also be holding a photo contest. Please submit your photos via Facebook or to mackenzie_hall@ncsu.edu. When submitting your photo, please provide your full name, email, and/or phone number. We will be sending out registration information in the near future, so be on the lookout! If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact our president Chad Woods at chadewoods@yahoo.com. Membership renewals are due in January. To make sure you are not missing any information, be sure to follow us on Facebook at N.C. Forage and Grassland Council and Instagram at ncforagegrassland.

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E.B.'s View from the Cow Pasture

By E.B. HARRIS

You Never Can Tell What the Next Phone Call Can Bring Forth A couple of weeks back, I received a call on my cell phone, and it showed up as being from New Jersey. Sometimes we get customer calls from all over the country on sale items, and sometimes it is a telemarketer. You are prepared when the phone rings to listen for the first 45 seconds because you can determine what the phone call is about.

I answered the phone my normal way, saying, “This is E.B., can I help you?” The lady on the other end said, “Please do not hang up on me. I know my phone is showing New Jersey.” I listened, and she went on to say, “This is Suzanne, and I am actually from Halifax County.

I live in Enfield, N.C., even though it is showing up a different location on the phone.”

She went on to tell me she had located a calf on the family property.

This calf had been abandoned and needed to be caught and stabled. She had been given my number to call. I kept listening and found out she was talking about a calf over near Scothfield Country Club in Halifax, North Carolina.

She told me she wanted the calf

caught and housed. A veterinarian was coming to do what needed to be done to change him to a steer, and then they are going to send him to Maryland to a sanctuary. I still listened without asking any questions. In my mind, a calf is 250 to 300 pounds.

She told me when she would like to get this done. I told her I would give her Nick Robertson, Kevin Cash, and Kevin Strickland’s phone numbers as they help me sometimes with my cattle and help me on my cattle sales. They have some dogs and horses and could locate the calf. She said that would be fine, so I forwarded her Nick’s phone number. They got it arranged to come one weekend and get this calf caught. The original owner of the calf had passed away, and there was a new tenant on the farm. I think all the fences were taken up and this calf was left. The former owner was not aware of this.

Nick and Kevin went with their Catahoula dogs that know how to track, and they located the calf. That calf might have thought he was lost in the swamp, but those dogs showed him where the

Photo courtesy of The Daily Herald – Richard Holm.

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house was, and he remembered right quick.

They got him caught right quick and brought him to my house. The calf was going to stay here for about a week.

Suzanne followed them up to my place.

About the middle of the next week, Dr. Cole Younger, a veterinarian from Nash County, called and said he was supposed to come and work on a calf, put in a metal ID tag, and write the health paper for him to be able to go the sanctuary in Maryland.

After he finished his work, we turned the calf back into the feedlot to stay until it was time for him to head to Maryland.

Very early on Sunday morning, Nick, Kevin, and Kevin’s dad arrived. Shortly

afterward, Suzanne and her husband (who also happens to be the mayor of Enfield) came up. Everyone was introduced, and then Nick and the others headed out for the four hour drive to Maryland. If you are going through Maryland and want to see a Halifax County steer calf that’s now calling Maryland home, give me a call. I will give you the number of the sanctuary, and you can stop by and pay him a visit.

He might even set a world record for being the longest living steer in the world with roots from Halifax County, North Carolina. Twenty-five or thirty years ago, I never would have dreamed I would be involved with something like this. As time changes, I guess you have to change with it.

Carolina Cooking Indian Spiced Beef Stew Total Cooking Time - 2 hours, 15 minutes 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 inch pieces 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1½ cups chopped onions 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 can (14½ ounces) tomato sauce 1 tablespoon garam masala 1 cup frozen peas 1 cup fat free half-and-half Serving Suggestions: Hot cooked basmati rice, naan, or lime wedges (optional) Heat 1½ teaspoons oil in a stockpot over medium heat until hot. Brown ½ of beef; remove from stockpot. Repeat with additional 1½ teaspoons oil and remaining beef. Remove beef from stockpot. Season with salt and pepper.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the same stockpot over medium heat until hot. Add onions, ginger, and garlic; cook and stir 3-5 minutes until onions are tender. Add tomato sauce and garam masala; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until browned bits attached to stockpot are dissolved. Return beef to stockpot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer 1¾-2 hours or until beef is fork tender.

Add peas and half-and-half; continue simmering, uncovered, 1-2 minutes or

until heated through.

Serve stew with serving suggestions, as desired.

Makes 6 servings.

N.C. Forage & Grassland Council Forage Spotlight

By ALLISON BROWN

Don’t Forget to Rest Your Pastures Winter can be hard on pastures. Wet winters can seem almost devastating to pastures if cattle are confined to one pasture or your stocking rate is too high. The winter of 2018 and 2019 was exceptionally wet and recent enough to still remember. At our farm, we typically utilize both stockpiled fescue and hay to feed our cattle during the winter. We have cattle at multiple locations, and no two farms are managed the same way. At one particular location, once the stockpiled fescue runs out, the cattle are moved to the front of the farm, and we begin feeding hay. Unrolling hay is a common practice around our farm and adds nutrients back to the soil while allowing all the animals to eat at one time. That winter, the cattle were fed mostly in one pasture due to the layout of that particular farm. Hay was unrolled in different areas within the pasture (this also helps distribute nutrients around the whole pasture), but by the end of winter, this pasture was looking red. As in the good ol’ red clay we have here in the foothills of North Carolina. I will admit, I was concerned about the survival rate of this pasture. It was not looking good.

Once the other pastures had reached the appropriate grazing height, we moved the cows off the winter pasture and began rotationally grazing the other pastures.

Our goal was to let the winter pasture rest, reevaluate, and then if necessary, come up with plan B. When it came time to rotate to the winter pasture, we skipped it and kept the cows moving on to the next pasture. By June, the winter pasture had filled back in and grown so much you

Don’t get caught napping!

Deadline is 5th of month prior to issue!

couldn’t tell any damage had ever been done. By not grazing that winter feeding pasture, we allowed the area to heal and the grass to regrow.

One mistake, I feel, we did make was cutting that pasture for hay in early June. The pasture would have been better served to let the cows graze it while adding nutrients back to the area with their manure. By making hay, we

February 8, 2019

April 7, 2019

removed nutrients from the area. I liken this to making monetary withdraws from the bank. You will need to add money eventually, or you will run out of money to withdraw. By August, that pasture was back in the grazing rotation. Some

might have seen that pasture in March and said get the drill out and go buy seed.

Fortunately, fescue is tough, and no drill was needed. Just rest!

The point is, a lot of problems can be solved with rest. Sometimes situations don’t allow us to keep on rotating or have enough stockpiled forage to carry us all the way through. Management adjustments need to be made, and that may mean sacrificing one area or pasture to make things work at the time. Then, as producers, we have to recognize that pasture needs a break and allow it the time to heal and regrow. Another valuable point not mentioned previously is to not overgraze. Overgrazing doesn’t leave enough leaf area for the plant to properly photosynthesize. Overgrazing will cause more damage to your forage and pasture productivity in the long run and set your pastures up for failure in the event of a summer drought. Rest is best!

I think it is important for producers to share their experiences, both good and bad. You never know when it might help someone.

“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 by 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

DONNA BYRUM

First Choice Insurance 252-792-1189 • fcipllc@gmail.com

For all your crop insurance needs!

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

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Baxter Black

On the edge of

common sense

God Bless the FFA I’m takin’ you back to the summer of 2003. Out of the blue, I got a call from Patrick Gottsch, a member of the well known Nebraska ag family. He told me he was building a TV channel dedicated solely to agriculture and the rural community. I asked if he had any programs lined up? He said, “Yes, we are filming the entire National FFA Convention!”

I admit it made me raise an eyebrow.

My Oklahoma family were farmers.

It is in my blood. I joined the Las Cruces, New Mexico FFA. On to New Mexico A&M, then CSU vet school, then large animal practice. Almost every job I’ve held has been in the livestock business.

Even after I became a speaker, I fed cattle; now I’ve been running cows. I give credit to my ag teacher, Rupert Mansell, who guided me in the direction that I would follow the rest of my life.

After I became an “agricultural banquet speaker,” the FFA has remained a regular part of my speeches; 44 appearances nationwide, including seven national conventions. I know the exact number because I learned to keep accurate daily records in FFA. Since then, times have changed. The most obvious is the prominence of women involved, both as ag teachers and ag students. They have expanded, improved, and multiplied the number of qualified ag students to keep up with the scientific, medical, technical, and mechanical knowledge that seems to never stop.

For the last three nights, I have watched the FFA convention on RFD TV, smiled, sympathized, and marveled at the FFA members parade their awards and accomplishments. I cannot help but compare them to the average suburban or city teenager playing their video games on their smartphones, exchanging photos or texting, or just killing time waiting… always waiting. ‘Immature’ describes the majority of them.

Their counterparts on the farm are riding horses, sweeping the barn, drivin’ the tractor, countin’ the rows, doin’ the chores, and, like me, milkin’ the cow by the time I was ten years old.

Those blue jackets represent more than their accomplishments, awards, and talent; they stand for good character, a strong work ethic, and someone with whom you’d cross the river.

When I was in the FFA, the giant “apocalyptic prediction” was worldwide population explosion and mass starvation.

American agriculture led the way, and my generation saved the world.

Today the scare mongering obsession is global warming.

I have faith that those kids in the blue will be at the front of America’s fight to save the earth, as it has been doing since it became a country in 1776. God bless the USA, and God bless the FFA! FFA CREED: “I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds…”

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!

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ANGUS NEWS Spring 2021 - Sire Evaluation Information. From a total of 289,145 sires with progeny records reported as of December 4 in the American Angus Association database, this Spring 2021 Sire Evaluation Report lists 2,251 sires with the following qualifications.

1. The sire must have at least 35 yearling progeny weights in proper contemporary groups on Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR).

2. The sire must post a yearling accuracy value of at least .40.

3. He must have had at least five calves recorded in the American Angus Association Herd Book since January 1, 2019.

The Young Sire Supplement lists 2,182 bulls born after January 1, 2017, that have at least ten progeny weaning weights on AHIR and post a weaning accuracy of at least .30.

The American Angus Association takes reasonable research and editing measures to ensure the quality of the genetic prediction analysis and other information made available in this report. However, the American Angus Association does not guarantee or assume responsibility for the accuracy, timeliness, correctness, or completeness of information available in this research report. The information presented here should not be considered or represented to be a measure of the actual value of the animal or its progeny or a guarantee of performance. Any conclusions that users draw from the information presented here are their own and are not to be attributed to the American Angus Association.

The American Angus Association has available upon request additional booklets explaining Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) and National Cattle Evaluation procedures (NCE).

Focusing on Fertility Association Update. Three speakers discuss improving fertility in cattle production at the 137th Annual Meeting. During the Focusing on Fertility panel at the 137th Angus Annual Meeting, Kent Weigel, professor and chair of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Tom Lawlor, executive director of research and development at the Holstein Association, USA; and Kelli Retallick, director of genetic and genomic programs for Angus Genetics, Inc., discussed the importance

of improving reproductive function for the Angus breed and the cattle industry and the role that haplotypes play in bovine fertility.

Haplotypes are alleles that are inherited as a group from a single parent.

Through genomic testing, haplotypes that affect many traits can now be identified.

In 2011, the dairy industry identified haplotypes that negatively affect fertility by causing embryonic loss. Using this research, AGI and the American Angus Association have been studying haplotypes that affect fertility in the Angus breed.

Kent Weigel - Weigel began the discussion by addressing the importance of fertility and how research over the last 20 years has focused on improving fertility for the profitability of the operation. He provided the background and basic terminology surrounding haplotypes and highlighted their value in improving fertility.

Weigel shared how VanRaden and others identified five haplotypes that affect fertility in three breeds of dairy cattle in 2011. Researchers found that genomic testing provides shortcuts to finding lethal mutations that affect embryonic viability. Because embryos that inherit two copies of a lethal fertility haplotype from its parents are not carried to term, it is all about finding haplotypes with missing homozygotes.

“You can use a haplotype test many, many years in advance and they can provide a faster, albeit imperfect, way to manage potentially lethal defects more proactively,” said Weigel, as he concluded his presentation.

Tom Lawlor - Lawlor followed Weigel in the panel discussion where he focused on research that he has conducted at Holstein Association USA since 2011. The Holstein breed was one of the first to adopt genomic testing and discover haplotypes.

“The goal with genomic testing at the Holstein Association is to test and ≠move our breed forward - NOT test and punish our association,” said Lawlor.

Lawlor shared how the Holstein breed turned haplotypes that impact fertility into a new class of genetic defects. He went into detail about the differences between genetic conditions and haplotypes. Fertility haplotypes tend to have unseen problems; they occur before birth, have less financial loss, and

are less accurate.

Lawlor also stated, “We don’t want to simply eliminate families with these haplotypes and lose out on the genetic advantage they offer the breed.”

To properly manage fertility haplotypes, Lawlor shared how the Holstein Association has improved its communication and offered mating tools to help breeders more easily avoid carrierto-carrier matings.

Kelli Retallick - Retallick concluded the panel as she shared what the Association is doing regarding haplotypes that affect fertility in Angus cattle. She emphasized how the Angus breed should learn from the dairy industry.

“When looking to the dairy industry, we learn that the Association needs an even larger database. These haplotypes affecting fertility occur at very low frequencies and genomic testing can help better manage haplotypes in herds,” said Retallick.

Retallick ended the Focusing on Fertility panel by addressing how haplotypes are a promising research endeavor. The AGI team knows that regions with missing homozygotes are present and that validating these regions

would lead to additional opportunities to make genetic progress.

“As Angus breeders, you are uniquely positioned to leverage this type of research because of your dedication to growing the world’s largest single beef breed genomic database,” says Retallick.

Vi s i t t h e A m e r i c a n A n g u s Association YouTube channel, Angus TV, to watch the full Angus University webinar, Focusing on Fertility, and to subscribe for more educational content.

Decisions that Drive Destiny. Kevin Ochsner reinforces the power of decision making at the 137 th Angus Annual Meeting. This year certainly has not been easy, especially when it comes to making important decisions that impact your farm or ranch. Kevin Ochsner, owner of Agcellerate Consulting Company and host of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association television program, Cattlemen to Cattlemen, assured the American Angus Association members at the 137th Angus Annual Meeting that there is power behind the decisions that drive our future.

While much of 2020 has been vastly uncharted waters, “mitigating risk and anticipating trends in the markets is

Continued on the next page

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North Carolina Angus Association ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS Backed by the world’s largest and most reliable genetic evaluation program.

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

4K FARMS/TARHEEL ANGUS Richard D. Kirkman, DVM Siler City 919-742-5500 info@tarheelangus.com 455 GORE FAMILY ANGUS Mark & Lori Gore Tabor City 702-401-8005 455goreangus@gmail.com www.455farms.com BACK CREEK Joe & Robin Hampton Mt. Ulla 704-880-2488 (Joe); 704-880-3572 (Robin) robinbackcreek@att.net Facebook: Back Creek Angus BB ORGANIC FARM NC, LLC Bob & Elissa Miller Louisburg 919-414-7753 BILTMORE ESTATE Kyle Mayberry - Manager Asheville 828-768-1956 livestock@biltmore.com www.biltmorelivestock.com BRIDGES BEEF CATTLE Eddie, Cindy, John, & Crystal Bridges Shelby 704-692-2978 bridgesbeefcattle@gmail.com BRITT FAMILY FARMS James Britt Calypso 919-738-6331 jrb4070@hotmail.com C-CROSS CATTLE COMPANY Duane Strider Asheboro 336-964-6277 ccrosscattle@yahoo.com www.ccrosscattle.com FOUR S FARMS Kim & Connie and Jason & Robin Starnes Luther Lyerly - Manager Salisbury 704-640-5875 kim-4sfarms@carolina.rr.com G&G FAMILY FARMS Darren & Paul Gore Tabor City 843-458-2970 goreangus1@gmail.com goreangusfarm.com GENTRY HOMEPLACE ANGUS Howard & Donna Gentry King 336-413-6698 whgentry@windstream.net H&H FARMS Buddy & Jennifer Hamrick - Owners Bly Hamrick - Manager Boiling Springs 704-472-1912 jennham@bellsouth.net HILL ANGUS FARM Dr. Gary M. Hill Hendersonville 229-848-3695 gmhill@uga.edu JACK KNOB FARMS Karl, Janet, & Logan Gillespie Franklin 828-371-2220 karl@jackknobfarms.com www.jackknobfarms.com

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KNOLL CREST FARM The Bennett Family Red House,VA 434-376-3567 knollcrest@knollcrestfarm.com www.knollcrestfarm.com LANE ANGUS Roger & Bundy Lane Gates 252-357-1279 ritalane@embarqmail.com PANTHER CREEK FARMS John C. Smith, Jr. Pink Hill 252-526-1929 JohnSmith3982@embarqmail.com S&J Farms Steven & Julie Lung Nathan Lung - Manager Carthage 910-947-3414 sandjfarms2013@gmail.com SMITH CREEK ANGUS FARM Marty & Lynne Rooker Norlina 252-213-1553 mrooker@mrookerlaw.com SPRINGFIELD ANGUS Phil Goodson Louisburg 919-880-9062 philgoodson2@gmail.com www.springfieldangus.com TRIPLE LLL ANGUS Greg Little Monroe 704-219-1294 greg.little@ATImetals.com UWHARRIE RIDGE FARMS Mark Wilburn Asheboro 336-953-0521 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 336-549-0070 michaelmoss@rtmc.net WINSLOW GENETICS Ben & Kathleen Winslow Halifax 252-578-5487 winslowgen@gmail.com WOOD ANGUS FARM, LLC Russell Wood Willow Spring 919-275-4397 rwood4400@gmail.com www.woodangus.com

Sharon Rogers

N.C. Angus Association Executive Secretary

336-583-9630 Email: ncaa.sec@gmail.com Website: www.ncangus.org

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

Angus News continued from the previous page necessary,” said Ochsner.

From COVID-19 ramifications to the uptick in the demand of quality meats at the grocery store to analyzing the beef industry’s environmental footprint — all of these are trends producers need to keep in mind to meet consumers’ needs.

Ochsner simply puts it, anticipating challenges, aligning your goals, and then acting can be the path to success.

“I think it’s critically important, especially in uncertain and rapidly changing times like these, that we take a good look at the landscape in front of us and try to anticipate the kinds of issues and trends that may be shaping our collective futures,” he said. “A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn.”

With the end of 2020 closing in, Ochsner references a quote by Captain Sullenberger, the pilot known for landing U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. Ochsner says, like Sullenberger, he remains a “long term optimist and short term realist” about the future of the beef industry.

“There are some hurdles and some things that we are going to have to navigate in the next year depending on the economy and the employment rate, but long term, I think we are in a really good space,” he said. “People have tasted and had an experience at retail that they are going to demand in the future, and I think that is very positive news for the beef industry and the Angus breed specifically.”

From creating new habits in the kitchen to optimism on the trade front, Ochsner says much of the beef industry’s hope lies in cracking open foreign market opportunities. There, producers must anticipate, align, and act upon their goals to move their operations further and take advantage of available resources.

Napoleon said, “Nothing is more difficult, and therefore, more precious, than to be able to decide.” Ochsner’s challenge to producers, even in time of ambiguity and uncertainty, is to confidently call the ball and decide.

Annual Meeting registrants can view Ochsner’s full presentation at www.

AngusConvention.com.

Angus Means Business Angus Under the Oklahoma Stars. Mark your calendars for the Oklahoma Stars Gala to support the Angus Foundation’s mission.

Join the Angus Foundation under the Oklahoma Stars to celebrate and support the Angus family. The Oklahoma Stars Gala is to be held on January 9 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City during Cattlemen’s Congress.

Join us as we take a trip back to the Old West as we honor the past and celebrate the future of the Angus breed and its members. The event will include oneof-a-kind auction items, food, live music, and fellowship, which will fill the halls of America’s premier institution of Western history, art, and culture, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

“We are so excited to host the Angus family in Oklahoma City during the Oklahoma Stars Gala,” said Thomas Martin, executive director of the Angus Foundation. “Your participation in the gala provides a remarkable gift to fulfilling the mission of the Angus Foundation.”

A gift to the Angus Fund provides unrestricted support to cover the Angus Foundation’s core mission — youth, education, and research. From academic scholarships, leadership conferences, relevant educational training, funding for the National Junior Angus Board, and cutting edge research, the Foundation supports a wide array of programs.

“Last fiscal year, through donors like you, the Angus Foundation invested $767,00 in youth, education, and research,” Martin said.

Since 1998, the Angus Foundation has awarded more than $3.5 million in undergraduate and graduate scholarships.

For more information about the Angus Foundation or scholarships, visit www.

AngusFoundation.org.

About the Angus Foundation.

Established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1980, the Angus Foundation remains focused on its mission to support Angus education, youth, and research. The organization has distributed more than $3.5 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.3 million in beef cattle research throughout the past decade.

For more information, contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100 or visit www.angusfoundation.org.

Angus Means Business. The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 25,000 members across the United States, Canada, and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by nearly 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.

NEWS

Brookside Agra Experts Recommend Natural Oral Nutritional Supplement Calf Rescue, ABSORB PLUS to Manage Cold Stress in Calves.

The cold and snow can be extremely dangerous and stressful to newborn calves, causing their appetites to decrease while increasing the nutritional demand on their bodies. When temperatures remain below 50ºF, calves will begin using their valuable energy to keep warm, which can lead to cold stress and weight loss.

The animal nutrition experts at Brookside Agra recommend a balance of natural nutritional supplementation and some simple tips to manage cold stress in calves and help them grow into productive members of the herd.

Use a Natural Supplement - To give calves the nutritional boost they need to combat the stress of cold weather, Brookside Agra recommends its natural oral nutritional supplement, Calf Rescue.

When given as directed, Calf Rescue provides calves with select vitamins and a stabilized source of direct fed microbials (probiotics) to maintain a healthy, natural appetite, digestion, and immune system during times of stress.

“Calf Rescue, with its unique blend of vitamins and natural microorganisms, works to promote healthy microbial counts in the rumen to increase feed intake and improve digestive function,” said Tim Nelson, Vice President of Animal Health & Nutrition Sales at Brookside Agra. “Calf Rescue also provides beneficial bacteria to promote a

healthy digestive system, enabling calves to grow to their full genetic potential, at a cost of only about $1.50 per calf.”

Calf Rescue provides guaranteed levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Thiamine HCL, Pyridoxide HCL, and Vitamin B12 - vitamins critical for normal calf growth and development. Calf Rescue also contains inulin, a complex carbohydrate that serves as a nutrient source to help successfully colonize beneficial bacteria in the gut, plus it contains a healthy dose of microorganisms including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, and Bacillus subtilis that promote healthy ruminant function.

Use a Warming Box - Use a warming box, a small ceramic electric heater in a small enclosed crate, to keep calves warm. A warming box works well to regulate their temperature and provides their lungs with warm air to breathe.

Warming boxes should be cleaned and disinfected between calves to prevent the spread of calf scours.

Use Warm Water to Thaw Calves - Use warm water, not hot, to thaw a freezing calf. If a calf has scours or another illness like pneumonia, it is likely lying down and dehydrated and has less blood flow to its extremities, which can cause its limbs to become cold and more vulnerable to freezing. A moderate water temperature of 100°-105°F should be used so as to not burn the calf. Monitor the calf’s rectal temperature to make sure it doesn’t overheat, and be sure to dry the calf completely before it goes back outside to prevent another chill.

Provide Adequate Bedding - Straw bedding provides some of the best insulation for calves. Straw bedding should be at least three inches deep and enough to cover a calf’s legs when it is lying down. Keep the bedding clean and dry. Using an all natural, multi-purpose drying agent, like Brookside Agra’s ABSORB PLUS, will safely absorb moisture and provide odor control in animal housing facilities. ABSORB PLUS’ excellent ammonia control improves air quality for the animals and the people who work with them.

Dress the Calf - Place a calf jacket on a dry calf to prevent heat loss. Some farmers have even begun using earmuffs on calves to keep their ears warm and prevent hypothermia. Since calves cannot regulate their own body temperatures due to low fat reserves, adding a layer of

clothing will help them retain valuable body heat.

For more information about Brookside Agra’s Calf Rescue and ABSORB PLUS, visit www.Brookside-Agra.com.

About Brookside Agra. Brookside Agra is a global fifth generation, family owned business based in O’Fallon, Ill., that manufactures and distributes a variety of research proven, all natural products for specialty feeds; animal health and production; agriculture; and commercial, industrial, and environmental use. Brookside also offers agronomy services, which include crop nutrient recommendations, soil sampling, water and fertilizer analysis, and precision mapping, among other services.

For more information about Brookside Agra and its all natural products and services, visit www.brookside-agra.com.

I got a great buy in the Classifieds in The Carolina Cattle Connection!

Check out the expert A.I, superior genetics, fine purebreds and terrific farm supplies offered!

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

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female sired by Hook’s Broadway 11B that sold for $4,500. This bred female went to David Carpenter of Owensville, Kentucky.

The top selling SimAngus bull was HRF Firing Line G7 that brought $4,000. This son of SWSN Deliverance sold to Culp

THE SIMMENTAL TRAIL

By JENNIE RUCKER Executive Secretary N.C. Simmental Association Genetic Opportunity Sale at High Ridge Farms. The Genetic Opportunity Sale held at High Ridge Farms on October 31 was a successful event for owner Bruce Cuddy of Albemarle, North

Judson, Brandon, and Wyatt Morgan were all looking over the cattle at High Ridge Farms Sale.

The top selling lot was HRF In The Mood 932, an open Angus heifer that sold for $14,000 to Flatland Farm of Decatur, Illinois. The top Simmental was a purebred Doug Parke was making deals over the phone, as usual.

Val Eberspacher talks about the High Ridge Farms program.

We were all keeping one cow length apart.

Carolina. The cattle looked great, and the food and fellowship is always top notch. This sale is managed by the family team of Val and Lori Eberspacher of Eberspacher Enterprises, Inc.

American Simmental Association 1 Genetics Way • Bozeman, MT 59718 406-587-4531 • www.simmental.org

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

The ringmen were kept busy at the sale.

Land & Cattle of New London, North Carolina. Another SimAngus bull also sold for $4,000 to Culp Land & Cattle. This bull was sired by Ruby SWC Battle Cry 431B. A blaze faced SimAngus bull, HRF Far Right G13 sold for $3,500 to Triple S Farm of Oakboro, North Carolina. This bull is sired by SWSN Deliverance also.

N.C. Simmental Association - Like us on Facebook!

1341 US Hwy 21 • Hamptonville, NC 27020 336-468-1679 • www.ncsimmental.com • NCSA@yadtel.net

SimAngus Solution Sale.

Johnny and Jonathan Massey, with their families, hosted the 12th Annual SimAngus Solution Sale on November 21 in Burlington, North Carolina. It was a

The yearling heifers also sold well.

Three top selling heifers sold for $1,550.

Two were daughters of CCR Abilene 6018C, and the other one was a daughter of TJ Diplomat 294D. Several heifers went for $1,500, daughters of LRS Iconic 303C, TJ Diplomat 294D, and Hooks Admiral 33A. The 22 bull lots averaged $2,036, and the 21 heifer lots averaged $1,350.

Two cattlemen in their Carhartt overalls.

The cattle sold to buyers in 13 states from Virginia all the way to California.

The 14 Simmental females averaged $2,979, and the 16 SimAngus bull lots averaged $2,206.

Jonathan Massey welcomes everyone to the SimAngus Solution Sale.

Vernon Williamson and Terry Ribelin were at the SimAngus Solution Sale to buy a bull.

beautiful day, and the buyers could easily social distance outside on the farm. The top selling bull was sired by Gibbs 5070C Declaration, and he sold for $3,100. The

Jonathan and Melissa Massey with Johnny Massey in the background.

Will Thompson was the auctioneer for the SimAngus Solution Sale.

next top selling bull was a ¾-blood bull sired by CCR Cowboy Cut 5048Z. This bull sold for $2,900.

This little man came all the way from Kansas to the SimAngus Solution Sale and to visit grandfather Bryan Blinson.

AJSA President Cara Smith was a big help in clerking the sale.

2020 N.C. State Fair Junior Simmental Show Winners “DESIGNED FOR CATTLEMEN BY CATTLEMEN”

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Grand champion Percentage Simmental heifer, shown by Shelby Candler.

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Reserve champion Simmental heifer, shown

by Allyson Helms.

Call about NEW PORTABLE SYSTEMS! For Information or Brochures, contact:

Peter Hostetler 540-810-4605

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

PAGE 31

A Message from the CEO

By COLIN WOODALL

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

No Room For Turkey

For too many years, we have allowed turkey to hold a prominent place on American dining tables during the holidays. Enough is enough! Instead of countless conversations about how dry the turkey was, we can provide profuse kudos to those who deliver a perfectly cooked and delectable beef-eating experience. Although we work closely with our friends in the turkey business on many of the same issues in Washington, D.C., we are still competitors, and competitors do not give free passes to the other party. We are on a quest to take back the holidays and make beef the holiday meal of choice!

Your checkoff dollars are pivotal in our quest. NCBA, as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, launched a holiday campaign designed to grab consumers’ attention and have them re-think placing that turkey in the basket. We do that by making their mouths water with our Beef.

It’s What’s For Dinner. “Drool Log” that has proven to be so popular. Consumers can’t get enough of the “Drool Log,” and our marketing campaign is capitalizing on their beef desires.

We are hitting our consumers daily on broadcast television, digital media, radio, and more. I hope you keyed in on the broadcast television part because

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PAGE 32

Linn, Kansas

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

it is the first time since 2003 we have been able to do this. We are a part of the 2020 Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” event that started before Thanksgiving and ran through December 26. If you have not heard, the Hallmark Channel is the channel to watch for holiday movies, and we took advantage of a unique and affordable opportunity.

The “Drool Log” is yet another great example of the work done with your checkoff dollars, and it caps off a very successful year of checkoff funded programs and projects. At least once a week, I receive a call or email asking what the checkoff really does. Well, it really does a lot, and we are proud to be one of nine contractors conducting work on behalf of the Beef Checkoff.

While 2020 has proven to be chock full of pain and challenges, we have

proven how nimble we can be as a contractor in making the most of checkoff funding. When beef cases were cleaned out, there was no need to waste these precious dollars on promotion because we were selling everything we were producing. Instead, we had to address the fact that refrigerators and freezers across the country were full of beef and, in many cases, our consumers didn’t really know what to do with it. We focused on online cooking lessons and our famous Beef.

It’s What’s For Dinner. recipe database to help our friends and neighbors have a fantastic beef meal.

When the pandemic continued to keep people at home, we tried to add a little humor with our “Beef Substitutes” campaign that focused on substituting beef for other proteins like taking the squid out of calamari and using beef to

N.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of NOVEMBER 2020 Cattle Receipts: 14,241

•

Previous Month: 19,004

Feeder supply - 29% steers • 41% heifers • 30% bulls SLAUGHTER CLASSES

Avg. Wt. Price

Cows - % Lean

Breaker 1,433 $57.60

Boner 1,224 $57.87

Lean 1,045 $49.21

Bulls - Yield Grade 1-2

1,668

$84.37

FEEDER CLASSES

FEEDER STEERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 424 $144.06 $610.81 450-500 479 $143.80 $688.80 500-550 529 $135.25 $715.47 550-600 572 $129.75 $742.17 600-650 611 $129.67 $792.28 650-700 679 $116.13 $788.52

FEEDER BULLS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 420 $143.27 $601.73 450-500 470 $133.63 $628.06 500-550 522 $123.73 $645.87 550-600 571 $118.65 $677.49 600-650 621 $108.39 $673.10 650-700 673 $102.84 $692.11

FEEDER HEIFERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 421 $120.62 $507.81 450-500 474 $117.87 $558.70 500-550 523 $114.60 $599.36 550-600 573 $108.06 $619.18 600-650 616 $100.61 $619.76 650-700 677 $95.66 $647.62

Source: N.C. Dept. of Agriculture - USDA Market News Service, Raleigh, N.C. - 919-707-3156

make “cow-lamari”! That set us up for National Beef Burger Day in May and a campaign that reminded our customers that grilling season is only possible because of your hard work and diligence – regardless of the pandemic.

Next came our “United We Steak” summer grilling promotion that was wildly successful. Over the course of the summer, “United We Steak” ads were seen over 338

MILLION times! We had over 33 million online radio ad listens, almost 90 million video views, and the campaign drove over one million visits to www.UnitedWeSteak. com. In addition, we had a 23 story tall billboard in New York City’s Times Square that displayed the map with each state cut out of steak. The bottom line is that Americans loved “United We Steak”!

We are committed to topping all of this

with our work planned for 2021.

These campaigns are just a fragment of the work that is done with checkoff funding, but we’ll cover those other areas in future articles. Your checkoff dollars are working hard for you each and every day. More importantly, these campaigns also illustrate the importance of the partnership between NCBA and the Federation of State Beef Councils. NCBA

can’t do this alone. Together, NCBA and your beef council are delivering results that we can measure. The beef industry is better with the checkoff, but we must toot our own horn about the great work that it funds. Take this information and share it with your neighbors. I take great pride in our role as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, and NCBA remains committed to protecting and defending this program.

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

70 Annual N.C. Cattlemen’s Conference Announcement th

After much consideration, due to restrictions brought on by COVID-19, we must POSTPONE the 70th Annual N.C. Cattlemen’s Conference.

Our current plan is to have an event this summer allowing everyone to come together for fellowship and education in a venue that conforms to whatever the rules are at the time.

We are planning to hold the Annual Board of Director’s Meeting sometime in late February or early March to conduct our business. We will make an announcement of how and, hopefully, where the meeting will be held in as soon as possible. The format of the meeting will be determined as information on restrictions becomes available.

The Annual N.C. Cattlemen’s Conference is more than a meeting with education and business. It is, for many, the one time a year we get to catch up with friends, network and learn from each other, and solidify what makes this business so gratifying — Each Other.

Thank you and stay safe, Jeremy Lee President, N.C. Cattlemen's Association

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

PAGE 35

VIDEO AUCTION EVERY MONTH Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.

January 5 SOUTHEAST LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

John Queen: 828-421-3466 • Evans Hooks: 770-316-9611 Canton, NC • 828-646-0270 • SELEXvideo@gmail.com • www.selex-video.com PAGE 36

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

Farm Credit News AgCarolina Farm Credit Announces Director Election Results.

AgCarolina Farm Credit completed the 2020 director election online and by mail on December 3. The ballots were tabulated by an independent third party, and the results have been certified and provided to AgCarolina. Stuart Pierce, Jr. was elected to Region 3 (serving Bertie, Northampton, and Hertford counties), Mark A. Wellons was elected to Region 5 (serving Johnston County), and Rodney D. Smith was elected to Region 10 (serving Jones, Lenoir, Craven, Carteret, and Onslow counties).

AgCarolina Farm Credit’s Board of Directors consists of ten stockholder elected directors and two outside appointed directors. All directors serve four year terms.

Stuart Pierce, Jr., of Ahoskie, is a full time farmer with an operation consisting of tobacco, cotton, peanuts, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, sage, and grain. He serves as the president of the Hertford County Farm Bureau and serves as a director for the N.C. Farm Bureau state board. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Ahoskie where he serves on the investment and finance committees.

Mark A. Wellons, of Princeton, is a full time farmer, and his operation consists of tobacco, soybeans, cattle, squash, cabbage, broccoli, and sweet corn. He serves as the vice chair of Tobacco Associates, and he is a member of the Ag Foundation, Johnston County Farm Bureau, and JoCo Grows. He also serves as a member of the N.C. Farm Bureau Energy and Transportation Committee as well as the R. Flake Shaw Scholarship Committee. He is a member of Princeton Baptist Church, where he is a deacon and the finance committee chair.

Rodney D. Smith, of Pink Hill, is a full time farmer with an operation consisting of corn, wheat, cotton, soybeans, and swine. He is a board member of the Lenoir County Farm Bureau and a director for the Lenoir County Ag District. He is a member of Lenoir County Hunter’s Association, Goldmine Hunting Club, Pink Hill Ruritan Club, Bethel Baptist Church, and a master mason of Pleasant Hill Masonic Lodge 304.

AgCarolina Farm Credit Announces Toys for Tots Donation.

AgCarolina Farm Credit is pleased to announce a total donation of $4,000 for their sixth annual Toys for Tots campaign.

The donation is the sum of employee donations, along with a corporate match of funds.

AgCarolina’s Rocky Mount branch hosted a representative of Toys for Tots for a check presentation in December.

The funds will purchase toys for needy children in eastern North Carolina.

“This is the sixth year of our Toys for Tots toy campaign,” said AgCarolina President & CEO Dave Corum. “We usually have our members and employees contribute toys during our annual campaign, and the Rocky Mount office would be filled with hundreds of toys from across our territory. This year we have been unable to gather for our toy drive events, yet we still wanted to take an active role in gathering funds to purchase toys for local children. AgCarolina Farm

Credit is committed to making a positive impact in the communities of eastern North Carolina throughout the year, and our employees wanted to see us continue to support Toys for Tots.”

About AgCarolina Farm Credit.

AgCarolina Farm Credit is a farmer owned financial cooperative with headquarters in Raleigh. They are the leading provider of credit to farmers in central and eastern North Carolina. AgCarolina Farm Credit has over $1.4 billion in loans and commitments outstanding to nearly 3,000 North Carolina farmers. Loans are made to finance land, homes, farm buildings, operating expenses, livestock, and equipment, as well as other purposes.

Credit life insurance, appraisal services, and leasing are also available through AgCarolina Farm Credit.

AgCarolina employee - Christin Fore, AgCarolina employee - Cliff Rose, Toys for Tots – David Sannes, AgCarolina employee – Clay Whitley, and AgCarolina employee – Megan Vlasak.

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

PAGE 37

2021 N.C. Farm School — Southern Piedmont North Carolina Farm School (NCFS) is a unique entrepreneurial program for new and transitioning farmers with the mission of increasing the number of successful farmers in North Carolina. It’s a program to get your farm off the ground.

The interaction of practical production and business planning is critical to making the NCFS program unique as well as successful. We offer one-on-one support with help to take the next step. Starting a farm is strategic and knowing what to do first and where to apply your time is important. We help you by investing intentional time and support to help you develop your ideas and take the next step.

We are a think-plan-do program.

Who We Are… We want to foster agricultural entrepreneurship in each region throughout the state of North Carolina to preserve farm profitability and land resources both now and in the coming generations.

Agents lend their understanding of sound production practices and crop management decision making as a part of this process to deliver a fully developed 24 hour business curriculum over a four month period.

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Local farmers host our program through field trips and the classroom to describe the challenges they faced as they started their own farms.

University specialists lend their farm management and business feasibility expertise to streamline the business start up process for students looking to find the best match for their current land or farm.

N.C. Cooperative Extension agents, farmers, and university specialists also play a key role in advising the work of NCFS in the state and providing guidance for the program. These key stakeholders are represented in a formal NCFS Advisory Board with the goal of making program decisions and NCFS policy issues. They include former graduates of the program who have successfully started a farm.

What We Do… The Framework - NCFS utilizes an extension framework in a four to six county cluster where Extension agents play a key role in classroom presentations, group facilitation, and enterprise selection. We teach sound production practices and crop management decision making as a part of a process to deliver a fully developed business

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

curriculum over a four month period. These classroom hours utilize the support of the agents and the practical knowledge of local farmers to facilitate classroom learning. The classroom business sessions are reinforced with multiple farm visits. Our method deploys the resources of each region while allowing the flexibility of location to meet the demand for the program.

The Philosophy - NCFS is a “learnplan-do” program; each month, the NCFS participants are expected to apply what they have learned that month through homework assignments and a web based business plan template.

How We Do It… The Process - The seminar is composed of eight sessions, held every other week in the evenings, that focus on specific topics in goal setting, resource development, financial management, risk management, and effective marketing strategies. The program is business planning aimed at giving you the tools to succeed. NCFS accompanies business sessions with six day long field trips at working farms led by innovative, experienced farmers and agricultural professionals. N.C. Farm School not only has business sessions and field trips, but we come to your farm or your land to help you take inventory and understand the next steps.

The Tools - Our tools include a student webpage, specialized entrepreneurship curriculum, business development case studies, farming cost of production tools, marketing guidelines, and step-by-step instructional help. The web based Ag Plan, developed by the University of Minnesota, allows N.C. State Extension educators to work remotely with students while developing a business plan. NCFS provides a multi-media format to facilitate the process of planning new farm enterprises.

The Motivation - We expect each participant to have good attendance and have a functional business plan at the end of eight class sessions. To receive a certificate of completion, students must have attended six out of the eight of the business sessions and have a draft of their business plan written. Upon successfully completing the NCFS training, participants are awarded a certificate of completion. Graduates of the program are involved with the schools as speakers, field day hosts, and currently serve as mentors for the new participants.

The cost of the program is $399 per person or $599 per pair. Please visit www. ncfarmschool.com for more information about the upcoming program and to apply online.

NCFS Southern Piedmont Team • Morgan Watts – Ag Agent, Livestock and Row Crops - Rowan County • Sara Drake – Ag Agent, Livestock

and Forage Crops - Davidson County • Amy Ballard – Ag Agent, Commercial and Consumer Horticulture - Davidson County • Michael Fine – Ag Agent - Rowan County • Amy-Lynn Albertson – County Extension Director - Rowan County • Aaron Moore – Area Agent, Small Farms - Union, Stanly, and Anson Counties • Lauren Hill – Ag Agent, Horticulture - Cabarrus County • Mackenzie Hall – Ag Agent, Field Crops and Livestock - Cabarrus County • Susan Hawkins – Ag Agent, Horticulture - Davie County • April Bowman – Extension Agent, Livestock, Forages, and 4-H - Forsyth County • Matt Lenhardt – Ag Agent, Horticulture - Iredell County At this time, we are planning to host the NCFS Southern Piedmont program in-person in 2021, adhering to all safety protocols to ensure the health of all those attending. How the program will proceed will be based on County, State, and University guidelines at the time the program is delivered. For questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 and how NCFS will be delivered, contact Derek Washburn at dawashbu@ncsu.edu.

N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment regardless of age, color, disability, family and marital status, gender identity, national origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. N.C. State University, N.C. A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating.

N.C. Weekly Auctions Report

Feeder Cattle - Medium and Large 1-2 (Week ending DECEMBER 3, 2020) Kind Avg. Wt. $/lb Steers 300-400 $123.00 - 183.00

400-500 $120.00 - 164.00

500-600 $119.00 - 143.00

600-700 $100.00 - 134.50

700-800 $100.00 - 124.00

800-900 $100.00 - 120.00 Heifers

300-400 400-500 500-600 600-700 700-800 800-900

$109.00 - 144.00 $100.00 - 134.00 $89.00 - 124.00 $84.00 - 117.00 $76.00 - 95.00 $74.00 - 94.00

Slaughter Cows: (over 850 lbs) Breakers (70-80% lean) $45.00 - 67.00 Boners (80-85% lean) $45.00 - 66.00 High Dressing (70-85% lean) $56.00 - 73.00 Source: N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services - USDA Market News, Raleigh, N.C. • 919-707-3156

UC

UC

The Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale consignors would like to thank the following bidders and buyers as well as those who attended the 45th Annual Sale held December 5, 2020.

High Selling Angus MIKE SMITH

High Selling Simmental McDONALD FARM

High Selling Gelbvieh JEFF ELMORE

Edward Aldridge • Norwood, NC Derek Phillips • Monroe, NC Randy Baucom • Monroe, NC Mike Preslar • Polkton, NC Scott Baucom • Marshville, NC Casey Richey • Taylorsville, NC Donald Beard • Maiden, NC Kathryn Russell • Marshville, NC Brian Beer • Richburg, SC Neal Russell • Marshville, NC Chance Brantley • Monroe, NC Bryne Simpson • Monroe, NC Dan Brooks • Monroe, NC Mike Smith • Oakboro, NC Jeff Elmore • Claremont, NC Edward Staton • Marshville, NC Seth Harrelson • Lawndale, NC Steven Walden • Marshville, NC Doug Heydt • Silver Street, SC Vernon Williamson • Yanceyville, NC Chad Horne • Peachland, NC David Wheeler • Hickory Grove, SC Alan Krenz • Marshville, NC Mark Yancy • Maiden, NC Edward Lineberger • Gastonia, NC Vinson York • Marshville, NC Scottie London • Concord, NC Volume Buyers Chester Lowder • Norwood, NC Emmett Marsh • Marshville, NC Doug Heydt McDonald Farm • Blackstock, SC Casey Richey Russell Mosley • Waxhaw, NC Kathryn Russell We invite you to join this list of performance oriented progressive producers in 2021!

46th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale December 4, 2021 • Union County Livestock Market The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

PAGE 39

S.C. Beef Council News

By ROY COPELAN Welcome 2021 with peace and happiness to everyone. May this year of 2021 be full of good news, excitement, and kindness!

The SCBC Fall beef promotions were successful with the football games of USC and Clemson, as well as the five well placed beef billboards around our state.

Each promotional unit raised great awareness of today’s beef and the beef producers of our state, Hundreds of thousands of impressions were made during these past four months. Our retail and foodservice beef promotions were down due to the virus.

Well, now we can begin to prepare for a new year.

I trust you enjoyed the national beef advertising of the “Beef Drool Log”

2021 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 2021. 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.

2021 Reserved Spotlight Issues

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

CHAROLAIS FORAGES ANGUS ----------------------------BRAHMAN HEREFORD GELBVIEH SIMMENTAL SANTA GERTRUDIS ----------------------------SHORTHORN RED ANGUS

Contact The Carolina Cattle Connection 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 Phone - 919-552-9111 for the contact person for each Spotlight Issue.

PAGE 40

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

during November and December. I saw it on the “Thanksgiving Day Marathon” and the “Countdown to Christmas” both on the Hallmark Channel. Great job from the NCBA office and Federation of State Beef Councils! Also, South Carolina participated in the joint Southeast States Holiday advertising opportunity using social media on YouTube. Using the joint money of all the states helped maximize the effectiveness of the advertising.

Mark August 10-12 on your calendar and plan on attending the Annual NCBA Convention & Trade Show in Nashville, Tennessee. South Carolina should have more than 25 cattlemen and cattlewomen in attendance at this large convention.

More news to come later this year.

Continue to talk up beef any time possible. Also, please join your local, state, and national cattlemen’s organizations this year.

I hope to see you out and about. Until next month.

Kenneth Johnson Passes (October 4, 1932 - November 23, 2020) Kenneth Johnson was a man whose character was defined by dignity, reverence, and service. He was humble but strong in his faith and service to others.

Kenneth served his country in the United States Navy. Upon returning to his home range, he continued a lifelong dedication to St. Paul United Methodist Church and agriculture.a He served the agricultural community steadfastly as an officer, director, and board member of many organizations, including York County Cattleman, York County Farm Bureau, York County Farm Service Committee, York County Extension Advisory Committee, S.C. Farm Bureau Beef Committee, S.C. Beef Board, Clover FFA Committee, and York Livestock Market.

Kenneth served his community for 16 years on the Clover School Board. He was an advocate for improved educational opportunities and an active promoter of 4-H, FFA, and vocational programs.

Kenneth was recognized by the S.C Cattlemen’s Association in 2018 as the Cattleman of the Year. It was a well earned laurel for over 60 years of achievement in the cattle industry. In York and surrounding counties, he was called for everything concerning cattle. He knew the location, owner, kind, value of cattle, and which ones stayed in the fence. He

helped neighbors pull calves, bale hay, round up strays, or by just being a friend.

Kenneth Johnson passed away on November 23 at Atrium Health in Pineville, North Carolina. He was laid to rest at Saint Paul United Methodist Church near his home in Clover, South Carolina.

The monument for Kenneth Johnson’s life is the memory of him that remains with us by having known him.

He was a kind, faithful, loyal, dedicated man who unselfishly took care of others.

Most of all, he was a gentleman.

Memorials may be made to: St. Paul UMC Cemetery Fund P.O. Box 317 Clover, SC 29710.

Beef Promotion and Research Program

PRIVATE TREATY SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM Information is required by (7 CRF 1260.201). Failure to report can result in a fine.

Information is held confidential (7 CRF 1260.203).

Today’s Date: ________________ Seller’s Name: ____________________________

Buyer’s Name: ____________________________

Address: _________________________________

Address: _________________________________

City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: ______

City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: ______

Seller’s Signature: _________________________

Buyer’s Signature: _________________________

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

Total Number of Cattle Sold: ___________________ x $1.50 Per Head = $ _______________________ Date of Sale: __________________

Person remitting assessment form:

Seller

o

Buyer

o

* State of Origin of Cattle: ______________________

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

Send Report and Remittance to:

SOUTH CAROLINA BEEF COUNCIL P.O. Box 11280 Columbia, SC 29211 According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0093. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1.8 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

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

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

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

PAGE 41

By BERNT NELSON Clemson University

Back to the Futures, Part III Price Takers and Price Makers.

In the previous article, basis was introduced. Back to the Futures, Part II illustrated how and why the futures markets are different from the prices received in Carolina sale barns. The article addressed how three principles: time, geography, and physiology combine to create the difference between the nearby futures contract (feeder cattle or live cattle contracts of the nearest trading futures month) and the cash price received at the local sale barn. The difference between the nearby futures

contract and the cash price received at auction is known as basis. Back to the Futures, Part III will address the concept of basis in greater detail. It will use basis to show why cattle producers are known as “price takers” and how getting “back to the futures” can be a tool to help mitigate the risks associated with being a “price taker” and bring them closer to being a “price maker.”

Basis - Basis is the difference between today’s cattle cash price and today’s cattle futures price. Back to the Futures, Part II illustrated that three

principles bridge the gap between today’s cash cattle prices and today’s cattle futures prices. Those principles are time, geography, and physiology.

Time is the difference in delivery between the futures market and cash market. A futures contract is the obligation to buy or sell cattle at a specified time in the future. The contract holder can sell the contract to a willing buyer in the market. This exchange in the futures market is far different from the sale barn cash market where buyers and sellers come together in a physical location (sale barn) on a specified date to make a transaction.

Geography, or location, is the second

difference between the cash market and the futures market. When a trader is buying and selling cattle futures contracts, he or she is typically not thinking of buying and selling load lot cattle from South Carolina. It is far more likely that the individual is trading cattle from a higher volume market such as Texas or the Midwest.

The last principle is physiology.

There is a physical quality difference in the cattle traded on the futures market and the cattle that exist in a sale barn situation.

The combination of these three principles makes up the difference between today’s futures price and cash

Table 1. Monthly Average Basis for South Carolina M1 & M2 600-700 wt steers*

a

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P.O. Box 555 Madison, Va. 22727 540-829-3625 (cell) • 540-948-5238 (office/fax) pcomyn@verizon.net Visit us online at www.vhhms.com. *Livestock Market Information Center www.lmic.info/ & USDA Agricultural Marketing Services.

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

Figure 1. Three Year and Five Year Monthly Average Basis for South Carolina M1 & M2 600-700 wt steers*

January

March

May

July

September November

*Livestock Market Information Center www.lmic.info/ & USDA Agricultural Marketing Services.

price of cattle at the time, place, and physical quality of cattle is known as basis. Basis is complex because it is affected by the movements of both the cash market and the futures markets.

Defined more simply, basis reflects supply and demand in the local cattle market. If the local basis is zero, supply and demand factors locally match the supply and demand factors in the futures market.

When basis isn’t zero, it can be described as either positive or negative.

A negative basis means that the local cash price is lower than that futures price.

A positive basis means that local cash prices are trading at a premium above the futures price.

Basis can be estimated with reasonable accuracy. In order to estimate the local basis, select a day during the week to collect both cash and futures quotes. By averaging this number over three to five years, a reasonably accurate basis estimate can be produced. Table 1 illustrates the three year and five year average basis estimates for South Carolina.

Interpreting the basis estimates above can help producers make better decisions regarding good times to buy or sell. We can use the table above to help manage the risks associated with the local supply and demand situation by identifying basis patterns. A narrowing basis, one that is changing and becoming less negative, is known as a “strengthening” basis. A widening basis is one that is becoming increasingly negative and is known as a “weakening” basis. We can see in Figure 1 that the South Carolina basis is usually weakest during September through November and begins strengthening in December. The South Carolina basis is typically strongest during the months of February and March.

Price Taker vs. Price Maker Cattlemen and agricultural producers, in general, are often thought of as “price takers.” Price takers are individuals

who must accept the prices of a specific market. They do not have enough market share to influence the market price.

Producers are “price takers” because of the natural competition of the cattle market.

When a cattle producer looks at all the variables and scenarios eventually turn into the price received, much like the popular ‘80s movie Back to the Future, it might feel like trying to capture a bolt of lightning. Cattle producers frequently use the local sale barn to sell their animals.

In this situation, producers are at the mercy of the local basis. There are other players in the market that have a much greater influence over prices than cattle producers. The greatest influence is the packers (large commercial processing companies). These players dictate not only the price they are willing to pay producers for their cattle before slaughter but the price in which they are willing to sell boxed (processed) beef to retailers.

The packers are the “price makers” of the cattle market because they have the most influence in the market.

Cattle producers do have some tools that can help mitigate the position of “price taker.” The local basis can be used to identify patterns reflecting the local supply and demand situation — this aids in decisions of when to buy and sell.

Futures markets provide opportunities for cattlemen to evaluate what prices ought to be at a future time given all the information available at the current moment. This can help target when and at what weight sales should be made for a more optimal price. Futures markets provide cattlemen with the ability to lock in a price that is favorable to them using futures markets. These insights do not allow for control over prices offered at the sale barn but can provide cattlemen with other tools that can be used to help mitigate market risk. The next article will address some of the additional tools price takes can use to mitigate market risk.

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

Clemson Bull Test Performance Records “SMASHED” and Sell February 6, 2021!

By STEVEN E. MEADOWS, Ph.D. Clemson University Bulls at the Clemson University Bull Test were weighed off test on December 7. The bulls this year are one of the most power packed set of performance bulls that have been on test. Yearling weight records were smashed in the Angus division and records set in the Simmental/Angus division as well. Lot 45, consigned by Broadway Cattle Farm of Monroe, N.C., was the overall highest yearling weight bull over all breeds. Over the entire test, he posted a 4.9 lb ADG to end with an adjusted yearling weight of 1,500 pounds! Followed close behind in the senior Angus division with a 1,395 lb 365 day weight was Lot 21 of Panther Creek, also a North Carolina consignor.

Lot 21 was the high overall ADG of the senior division at 5.39 pounds. Another top senior Braunvieh composite bull from Brasstown Beef posted a 5.27 ADG overall to post a 1,268 lb 365 day adjusted weight.

In the junior division, two Angus bulls from Edisto Pines, Leesville, S.C., rang the bell for top performance overall, tallying yearling weights over 1,400 pounds. The Lot 78 bull recorded 4.9 ADG overall and weighed in at 1,454 lb 365 day adjusted weight. The Lot 76 Angus bull from Edisto Pines recorded a yearling weight of 1,407 lb adjusted

365. Top honors in the junior Simmental/ Angus division goes to AK/NDS on their Lot 71 and 72 bulls. These bulls are power packed meat wagons who posted over 4 lbs ADG overall. These scale busters’ average 365 day weight was north of 1,400 pounds.

The Clemson bulls have been screened for structural correctness, foot conformation, disposition, and performance. Of the 78 bulls that were on test, only 58 are sale eligible. All sale eligible bulls will have passed breeding soundness exams as well by sale day.

This year the Clemson University Bull Sale will be held virtually. You can view the videos of the bulls at the Clemson University Bull Test website at www.clemson.edu/extension/bulltest/ clemson/index.html or via DVAuction.

We will set up a conference line for bidders who may like to call in and will also have representatives that will be glad to bid for you. All the information and contact numbers will be on our website and in the catalog.

Bulls will be available for viewing prior to the sale by making an appointment with me. I will do everything possible to accommodate your schedule.

Please contact me at 864-633-997 or by email at smdws@clemson.edu.

Be a winner!

Join your local cattlemen’s association AND your state cattlemen’s association!

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

PAGE 45

You Decide!

By DR. MIKE WALDEN

Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics N.C. State University You Decide: Can We Begin to Close the Urban/Rural Divide in 2021?

Recently, the federal government’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released a report showing the extent of the urban/ rural divide in the country. Before I get into the details, some background is in order. In its essence, the urban/rural divide is a shortcut for saying overall prosperity levels in urban areas and rural areas have widened in recent decades.

Average prosperity in urban areas has improved, while average prosperity in rural regions has improved at a much slower rate or, in some cases, has shrunk.

It wasn’t always this way. For example, in North Carolina a century ago, rural areas and small towns dominated the state’s economy. The “Big Three” –

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tobacco, textiles, and furniture – were the state’s leading industries, and they put the state “on the map” both nationally and internationally.

Then mechanization and technology, the replacement of brains for brawn as the main human skill, and globalization all combined to reshape the economy.

Mechanization and technology replaced human labor on the farm and in the factories, including the textile and apparel factories so prevalent in our state’s rural counties. Humans, therefore, became more important for their cognitive skills instead of their physical capabilities.

The expansion of international trade (globalization) in the late 20th and 21st centuries reinforced these trends by giving companies greater access to lower

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

cost labor in foreign countries.

At the same time, these changes were hurting rural economies; the “new economy” was benefitting urban economies. Built around college graduates, the new economy includes technology, pharmaceuticals, finance, and the professions. Workers in these sectors have flocked to cities, where the colleges and universities are usually located, and where they enjoy the excitement, entertainment, and amenities of the urban lifestyle.

The BLS analysis puts stark numbers on the urban/rural divide created by these factors. Urban jobs are weighted toward professional occupations like computer analysts, engineers, architects, business managers, and healthcare practitioners.

Leading rural occupations are in food preparation and delivery, trucking, farming, and home health care assistance.

STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) employment as a percent of total employment is over twice as great in urban counties than in rural counties.

The net result of these differences is seen in average salaries, which are 30 percent higher in urban regions than in rural areas. Higher costs, especially for housing, in urban settings account for some of this difference, but even after these extra costs are subtracted, urban workers are several thousands of dollars ahead.

Narrowing the urban/rural divide has been talked about for a long time, with, at best, modest success. A big reason is the fundamental reasons for the gap, as cited above, are big, big forces, often beyond the ability of any individual state or locality to address.

Consider international trade and the production of many products, like clothing and even technology, taking place in foreign countries where labor is cheaper. For decades, the U.S. has run a “trade deficit,” meaning we purchase more from foreign countries than we sell to them. One approach to reducing the deficit is to play hardball, such as imposing tariffs (essentially a tax) on foreign imports until the selling country agrees to buy more from us. The Trump administration has tried this, but the result was a “trade war” where the foreign country (mainly China) also put tariffs on our sales to them. As a result, the economies in both countries were hurt.

An alternative is to put additional resources into job training and infrastructure development in rural counties so these regions can attract new economy jobs. Of course, there’s always a question of funding. If the increase in imports is one reason for the relative decline in rural areas, then an argument

can be made for putting a modest fee on those imports to raise money to help rural America. For example, a fee of 1¢ per every dollar of imports would raise $26 billion annually. Such funds could help provide more money for skill upgrading of rural workers as well as for high speed internet installation. The expectation is, with the proper skills and internet access, then maybe rural locations could successfully compete for some of the jobs now going to urban centers.

Then there’s the question of whether the pandemic has permanently changed the comparisons between urban and rural areas, with the dial now pointing more to rural locations. Will people and businesses value the lower population densities in rural sites as a guard against future contagious viruses? And what if remote working does eventually reach half the working population, as some experts predict? With no need for daily commute to jobs, will more workers choose to live in quaint small towns or beautiful, pristine rural environments, assuming internet connections are available? If so, this could be a big game changer in reducing the divide.

The urban/rural divide is a major challenge for North Carolina, as it is for most states. In 2021, could we be on the verge of some major policy, technological, and preference changes that would finally begin to close the prosperity gap between urban and rural locations? You decide.

You Decide: Will These Seven Predictions Come True in 2021? It’s that time of year again for predictions about the upcoming year. In my case, of course, these will be forecasts for the economy. Here are seven predictions I think have a reasonably good chance of happening in 2021.

1. The aggregate economy will be better in 2021 than in 2020 - This is a fairly easy call. It looks like total production of products and services will drop four or five percent in 2020. Most of the damage was done in the spring, and the economy has rebounded nicely in the second half of the year. However, the resurgence of the virus at the end of 2020 and the re-emergence of some economic restrictions in the country will cause growth to be slow or slightly negative at the end of 2020. Still, with most of the population expected to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by mid-2021, the economy should grow during the year, perhaps by as much as five percent. However, this growth rate won’t return the economy to pre-pandemic levels because it will be applied to a smaller initial base.

2. Unemployment will drop, but not all the way - A little more than half of the

jobs lost from the COVID-19 recession have been recovered. The official unemployment rate has fallen to near six percent from the mid-teens levels in the spring. This is the good news. Yet, in looking ahead to 2021’s job market, there are several worries. One is the jobs that have come back have not all been the ones that were lost. Businesses are revamping their hiring and shifting away from tasks requiring in-person contact. This means many jobless people today will need to take different jobs with different skill needs. Some companies will provide onthe-job training, but others will require formal training, such as at community colleges. There’s also the worry about jobless people who aren’t counted as unemployed because they haven’t been actively looking for work. Counting them as jobless means the actual unemployment rate is closer to eight percent. A year from now, the jobless rate will still be above five percent.

3. There will be upward pressure on inflation and interest rates - As the economy recovers and spending increases, the massive amounts of money the Federal Reserve has injected into the economy will recycle faster. If the quantity of products and services don’t

keep up, the situation described by the late economist Milton Friedman of “too many dollars chasing too few goods” will push the rise in prices (inflation) higher, possibly close to three percent. The Federal Reserve would likely respond by also raising interest rates.

4. Income inequality will widen Rising income inequality has been a big issue in the 21st century. It results when incomes of top earners rise faster than incomes of lower paid earners. One of the reasons for the recent widening of income inequality is the replacement of many modestly paid jobs by machines and technology. The pandemic will accelerate this trend.

5. Federal taxes will increase Federal government debt, also known as the “national debt,” ballooned by over $4 trillion in 2020, and another COVID-19 aid package could boost the amount to $5 trillion. Add to this the facts that federal taxes were cut in 2017, and the new Biden Administration wants some new spending initiatives. The stage is set for pressure to begin to “put the federal fiscal house in order” in 2021 by increasing federal taxes. The most likely candidates for hikes are the corporate income tax and the personal income tax rates paid by

higher income taxpayers.

6. North Carolina will outperform the national economy - The North Carolina economy and people have suffered mightily from both the COVID-19 virus and resulting recession.

Yet, several metrics show job losses and deaths on a per capita basis have been much better than in many other states.

This means North Carolina will come out of the pandemic with its reputation intact as a great state in which to live and work. In fact, the state’s economic brand may be enhanced. Households and businesses looking to leave states where the pandemic was more devastating will see North Carolina as an option for a new home. I predict growth rates in both economic output and employment in North Carolina will be better than in the nation in 2021.

7. New economic opportunities will arise in North Carolina - There will be significant reshuffling of the economic deck after the pandemic that will create new industries and expand others. One area for growth is “supply chains.” A supply chain is simply a set of companies making inputs, or supplies, for companies making final products you and I buy. In the pre-pandemic world, many of these

supply chains were in foreign countries.

The pandemic taught us such supply chains can be vulnerable if a virus hits a foreign country, even if leaving our country immune. Consequently, there will be an effort to rebuild domestic supply chains. With North Carolina’s large manufacturing sector, our state could benefit from investments in these chains.

Another need made obvious by the pandemic is to increase the nation’s self sufficiency in medical supplies, from gowns to masks to ventilators to medicines. With our state’s tradition in textiles, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals, North Carolina is a “natural” for this production.

2021 will still be a challenging year. Even by year’s end, we won’t be completely recovered from COVID-19.

What will the 2021 economy look like?

Do my seven predictions make sense?

You decide.

About the author. Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension Economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at North Carolina State University who teaches and writes on personal finance, economic outlook, and public policy.

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

HARDROCK BEEF CATTLE Ronnie & Donna Holman 4613 Hickory Nut Ridge Road • Granite Falls, NC 828-302-8659 ronnie@hardrockbeefcattle.com JK RED ANGUS Jeff Banfield & Madison Adams 331 Tee Jay Farm Road • Aberdeen, NC 910-281-3821 jkredangus@gmail.com LANGDON RED ANGUS & SIMMENTAL John & Eileen Langdon 7728 Raleigh Road • Benson, NC 919-796-5010 johnlangdon5@gmail.com ROGERS CATTLE COMPANY Johnny & Sharon Rogers 945 Woodsdale Road • Roxboro, NC 336-504-7268 rccbeef@gmail.com PRESNELL RED ANGUS Jonathan & Jacob Presnell 368 Whitaker Road • Shelby, NC 704-473-2627 (Jonathan) • 704-616-8775 (Jacob) BULL HILL RANCH Jim & Alvina Meeks • Raymond Prescott, Manager 1986 Trinity Church Road • Gray Court, SC 864-682-3900 • 864-682-2828 bullhill2@mindspring.com

Jerry Simpson, President - 704-302-2940 • simpson_jerry@msn.com

The Carolina Cattle Connection

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

q JANUARY 2021

PAGE 47

RED ANGUS NEWS Red Angus Shares Valuable Insight on Bull Development. Growing and developing young bulls continues to be an ever-evolving process. How these bulls are raised has a huge impact on their success and longevity as they serve in commercial cowherds around the nation. As genetics change and are better characterized through genomically enhanced EPDs, seedstock producers are able to make more accurate bull development decisions. The Red Angus Association of America has authored an industry focused white paper to provide seedstock breeders with greater understanding and perspective on the bull development process.

“Why All the Fat Bulls?” is available exclusively at www.RedAngus.org and explores insights gathered from bull sales across the nation, as well as data garnered from breeder surveys. Registered bull producers that are aware of and attentive to the traits and development practices desired by their customers will only add to their success. Correct balancing of

body condition, structural correctness and fertility is achievable in bull development.

However, good planning and execution are needed to get the job done right.

As genetics, technology and resources evolve, so will development systems, nutrition programs and demand criteria of bull development.

“Bull development is an important topic, both for our breeders and commercial cow-calf producers,” said Tom Brink, RAAA CEO. “Our team addresses many of the critical issues via this white paper, which should assist those who want to make sure their bulls are grown right and are ready for sale day.”

Red Angus recognizes the importance of moving the industry forward, thus a white paper on this important subject can offer valuable perspective concerning how seedstock producers should approach bull development now and in the coming years. “Why All the Fat Bulls?” can be downloaded from RedAngus.org, free of charge. Questions or interview

requests should be directed to Brandi Buzzard Frobose, RAAA director of communications, at brandi@redangus.org.

Sydney Williams Joins the Red Angus Association of America. The Red Angus Association of America welcomes Sydney Williams to its member services staff as a DNA customer service specialist in the Commerce City, Colo., office. Williams will handle day-to-day submissions in the DNA department to catalog and analyze DNA orders on behalf of RAAA membership.

“We are extremely pleased to have Sydney join the Red Angus roster,” said Tom Brink. “She has a strong cattle background and will make a great addition to our professional customer services staff.”

Originally from Wisner, Neb., Williams grew up working alongside her family on a 7,000 head feedlot and 200 head cow/calf operation. Cattle production is in her blood and she and her siblings were very involved in the beef project and showing cattle in 4-H and FFA at local, state and national levels.

She attended Northeast Junior College in Sterling, Colo., and graduated with two associate degrees in animal science and agricultural business in May 2018.

She then moved on to the University of

Nebraska and earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 2020.

Throughout her scholastic career, Williams has been very involved in the beef industry competing on the livestock judging team at both NJC and UNL. Additionally, she interned at the American

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

Maine-Anjou Association and assisted with its junior national show.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to be a part of this team. I look forward to the many of connections and friendships I will make here at the Red Angus Association of America,” said Williams.

Williams started in her new role at RAAA on November 30 and can be reached at sydney@redangus.org or 940387-3502, ext. 24.

Red Angus Foundation Sponsors Beef-on-Dairy Project. There’s a genetic revolution taking place in the dairy industry. Increased use of sexed semen on top producing dairy cows is creating ample numbers of replacement heifers without the need to breed mediocre or lower end cows to dairy bulls. As a result, many dairies are now utilizing beef semen to produce growthier, more marketable calves that are 50% beef and 50% dairy.

A typical scenario is to use female sexed semen on ⅓ - ½ of the best cows and beef semen on everything else. This approach virtually eliminates all low-value dairy steers.

With over 9.3 million dairy cows in the U.S., coupled with active use of artificial insemination, “beef on dairy” has become big business. A rough estimate would be that 7-8 million straws of beef semen are now being used by the dairy industry annually, with additional growth expected in the years ahead.

Even though this semen sells for less per unit than conventional beef semen, it has become a market too big to ignore.

That’s why the Red Angus Foundation, Inc. is sponsoring a research project in central California to demonstrate that Red Angus genetics can be used successfully to produce fast growing beef-dairy cross calves that will excel in the feedlot and hang up valuable carcasses at harvest.

About the Project - Red Angus has not been extensively utilized in beefon-dairy applications. However, we are aware of some commercial use in the Texas Panhandle and New Mexico region involving both Holstein and Jersey cows.

The Visalia California project, funded in part by RAFI, was initiated in the fall of 2019. More than 50 head of Red Angus sired calves were born to Holstein dams in July and August this year and wear the yellow FCCP tag.

Calves will be grown to around 350 pounds on-site at the calf growing facility on the dairy of origin before being moved to a small feedlot, also located in central California. Eventually, both steers and heifers will be fed out to 1,300-1,400 pounds and harvested. Planned data collection includes actual live gains and feed conversion rates on a group basis, along with individual DNA and carcass

results.

Many of the project calves are mostly or entirely black hided since black is dominant to red. However, a few red calves were produced due to some of the cows being red carrier Holsteins. White on the head, feet, flank, and belly also showed up on some calves, which is normal for beef-dairy cross animals given their black and white spotted dams. Some believe Red Angus does a better job than other breeds in getting rid of the white and producing more solid colored calves.

More information will be provided on this project as the calves grow and progress during the months ahead. Thanks to RAFI for helping get this important research off the ground, and we look forward to its results!

About Red Angus Foundation, Inc. RAFI exists to enhance our breed’s position within the beef industry and help secure long term sustainable breed growth. Achievement of this purpose requires the development of tomorrow’s industry leaders, harnessing the best peer reviewed science and technology, and seeking opportunities to improve education and communication among Red Angus stakeholders. The Foundation was started at the 2010 RAAA National Convention in Springfield, Missouri.

About the Red Angus Association of America. RAAA serves the beef industry by enhancing and promoting the measurable advantages of Red Angus and Red Angus influenced cattle. The RAAA provides commercial producers with objectively described cattle by implementing new technologies and utilizing scientifically sound principles that quantify traits of economic importance to beef producers in all segments of the beef industry. For more information, visit www.RedAngus.org.

UPDATE Tool Helps Develop Custom Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention.

In support of cattle producers across the country dedicated to preventing disease, improving animal welfare, and reducing production losses, the Beef Checkoff funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program developed a Daily Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention template. The template, which helps cattle producers implement daily biosecurity measures on their operations, is available digitally as a PDF or can be printed for handwritten plans.

The template was specifically designed to be customizable, giving producers flexibility in determining management practices that work best for their cattle operation and covers everything from animal movement to worker training.

The goal of this introductory and stepwise program is to provide beef farmers and ranchers across the country with the information needed to implement biosecurity plans. In addition to providing basic information, the tool emphasizes why biosecurity is vital on cattle operations and provides an opportunity for producers to have conversations with their herd veterinarians, extension agents, and state BQA coordinators about biosecurity preparedness.

“Biosecurity is a top priority for the beef industry,” said Kim Brackett, an Idaho cattle producer and chair of the BQA Advisory Group. “This Beef Checkoff-

funded tool allows beef farmers and ranchers to develop their own biosecurity plans unique to their operations. Whether a cow/calf operation in California, a backgrounder in Mississippi or a feedyard in Kansas, being proactive and developing a written plan ahead of a crisis allows producers to implement and become familiar with biosecurity precautions.

Even more importantly, producers will be prepared if a biosecurity threat were to happen.”

The Daily Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention template was created in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture and its Secure Beef Supply plan. By intersecting these resources, producers that already have biosecurity steps in place for day-to-day operations are able to easily move to an enhanced biosecurity plan to prepare for a potential foreign animal disease outbreak.

For more information about BQA and the BQA Daily Biosecurity Plan, visit www.BQA.org.

About the Beef Quality Assurance Program. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association manages the BQA program as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. Funding for the BQA Awards is made possible by the generosity of Cargill, which has supported the program since its inception, and Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, which sponsors the BQA educator award. For more information about BQA, visit www.BQA.org.

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NCBA Chairman Roberts Receives NCBA’s Capitol Hill Top Hand Award. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association recently recognized U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), with the Capitol Hill Top Hand Award in honor of his long career fighting for cattle producers and rural communities in our nation’s capital.

“Chairman Roberts is a pillar of the cattle industry and there is no one more deserving of this award. Throughout a career spanning decades, he has always been committed to helping cattle producers in every way he can,” said NCBA President Marty Smith. “It is my honor to give Chairman Roberts the first Top Hand award and I personally thank him for all that he has done for every U.S.

News

cattle producer.”

The Capitol Hill Top Hand Award, in its inaugural year, is given annually to one elected official who goes above and beyond the call of duty to represent cattle producers nationwide.

Vi r t u a l S t o c k m a n s h i p & Stewardship Draws Large Audience.

Over 3,000 session views during the two day event. As coronavirus rolled through the country and it became apparent that in-person events were not likely to happen, NCBA’s Producer Education & Sustainability Team quickly pivoted from 2020’s planned Stockmanship & Stewardship Regional Tour to an all new virtual experience.

Fortunately, program sponsors Merck Animal Health and the checkoff funded Beef Quality Assurance program were on board with the idea to move online.

NCBA President Marty Smith presents Chairman Roberts with a custom hat from Greeley Hat Works.

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

While this wasn’t an ideal situation, the team went to work building out a robust agenda of industry experts that provided a world class educational experience for attendees and incorporated the low stress cattle handling demonstrations that have become a hallmark of the program.

If you missed the live event, take a moment to review the highlights provided below so you can prioritize which session recordings to view at www.

StockmanshipAndStewardship.org.

Over the course of two days, the program provided 22 unique educational sessions presented by leading experts from across the country. The event kicked off with a keynote from Dr. Dave Sjeklocha of Merck Animal Health, discussing why even during this challenging year, there is reason to be optimistic as the cattle and beef industry has always come out of challenging situations making great progress. Dr. Christine Navarre of Louisiana State University and Dr. Julia Herman, NCBA’s Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian, shared practical applications of everyday biosecurity principles that cattle producers could implement on their operations; and Jason Nickell of Allflex shared the latest advances in cattle monitoring solutions and technology.

Day one of the event continued with several sessions from NCBA’s Center for Public Policy team. Ethan Lane, Vice President of Government Affairs, and Danielle Beck, Senior Executive Director of Government Affairs, discussed the recent election results and what to expect in Washington, D.C., in the coming year.

Tanner Beymer, Director of Government Affairs and Market Regulatory Policy, shared the association’s continuing work to improve cattle markets and gave cattle producers insight into the grassroots efforts process of NCBA. Kaitlynn Glover, Executive Director of the Public Lands Council (PLC) and NCBA Natural Resources, presented on current issues that impact public lands ranchers and the ongoing work of PLC. World renowned stockmanship clinicians Curt Pate, Dr. Ron Gill, and Dr. Dean Fish provided cattle handling demonstrations on both days of the event. The low stress cattle handling demonstrations have become a staple of the Stockmanship & Stewardship program. The sessions provided cattle producers with real world examples of how applying low stress handling principles and thoughtful facility design can make working cattle a less stressful event for both the cattle and the humans involved.

Attendees were treated to a riveting keynote from Dr. Frank Mitloehner from

the University of California, Davis, who shared how the industry is rethinking methane emissions and the path for the cattle industry to climate neutrality. His insight into how emissions are calculated and what could be changing to benefit the cattle industry left everyone with the hope that we can further embrace environmental sustainability and be a climate solution!

Day two included three sessions focused on improving cattle welfare and human cattle interactions, headlined by Dr. Lily Edwards-Callaway of Colorado State University, Dr. Courtney Daigle of Texas A&M, and Dr. Robert Hagevoort of New Mexico State University.

Edwards-Callaway discussed what animal welfare means to the animal and gave an overview of animal welfare science, which can sometimes be overlooked. Dr. Daigle gave an interesting presentation focusing on how our industry could reframe some of the most common careers to attract new and educated talent to our most needed positions. Dr. Hagevoort shared how employers can better recognize employee achievements to increase satisfaction, as well as animal health and welfare outcomes.

A panel of experts, including Kelli Retallick of American Angus, Shane Bedwell of American Hereford Association, and John Genho from Neogen, discussed how cattle producers can use genetic selection tools to improve their herd. Simultaneously, U.S. CattleTrace gave an update on where their program stands today and what we can expect moving forward for disease traceability within the cattle industry.

The event finished with a market outlook from CattleFax, sharing insights on what the cattle markets might look like as we recover from coronavirus and how producers can position themselves for future success.

There is no doubt that these are interesting times for the cattle and beef industry, but attendees of the Virtual Stockmanship & Stewardship event were provided with information and tools to help them succeed as cattle producers.

All sessions are available to view at www.

StockmanshipAndStewardship.org. Next year, the Stockmanship & Stewardship Regional Tour is set to resume in-person events in Ontario, Oregon; Elko, Nevada; Durango, Colorado; Danville, Indiana; and Bowling Green, Kentucky.

NCBA Secures Critical Wins For Cattle Producers In Government Funding And COVID Relief Deal And Urges Swift Passage In Both Chambers. NCBA secured critical wins for cattle producers recently through the latest government funding and

New NCCA Members for 2021

In 2007, members of the Membership Committee passed a resolution to recognize all NEW members of the NCCA in The Carolina Cattle Connection at the NCCA Annual Conference in Hickory. A new member is defined as someone who has never been a member or someone who has rejoined after a brief break in membership. The new members are identified in this new members section by name and county of residence.

Below is a list of NCCA’s new members for the last month:

COVID-19 relief packages. The deal includes additional Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) support for cattle producers, expanded resources for state inspected meat processors through inclusion of the Requiring Assistance to Meat Processors for Upgrading Plants (RAMP UP) Act, certainty that cattle producers can recoup payment losses by establishing a dealer trust, funding for agriculture quarantine inspection services and an extension of Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR). NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued the following statement: “We are grateful to leaders on both sides of the aisle and both sides of Capitol Hill for working diligently to deliver this year end package that provides vital relief to U.S. cattle producers. This package addresses many of NCBA’s year long policy priorities as well as our work to respond to the multiple market shocks producers have experienced over the past year.”

“Local meat processors across the country continue to be severely backlogged due to COVID-19. NCBA has advocated

Alamance County William Garner – JF McNeely Acres

Chatham County David & Cheryl Perry – The Farm at Dry Creek

Ashe County Reece Phipps – Upper Mountain Research Station

Cleveland County Josh Skinner – Gallagher

Burke County Jim Pless

Cumberland County Danny McLaurin

Cabarrus County Raul Ramirez Jr. – Rocking RM Ranch

Gaston County Ronnie Ledford – Bco Farm

Nash County Phil Hicks – AP Farms Orange County Sammy and Laura Lankford – Nelson Heritage Farm Lee H. Miller – Orangedale Farm Randolph County Travis Peeler – Tom Snyder Family Farm Robeson County Donnie McRae – McRae Farms

Granville County Ray B. Huff Alexandria Yancey – Seven Oaks Farm relentlessly for passage of the RAMP UP Act, which allocates federal grant dollars to these small businesses – the modified version of this bill included in the House package allows local processors to take advantage of interstate retail channels and provide greater market access, ensuring beef always remains in stock.”

“With the inclusion of funding for additional cattle assistance through CFAP, agricultural quarantine inspection services and the extension of LMR through September 30, 2021, a tremendous amount of continuity and certainty is given back to ranchers and farmers across the country.”

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.

Stanly County Dexter Biles

Iredell County Robert T. Johnson Madison County Brandon Webb – Brown and Webb Farm Mecklenburg County Rob Speir – Harve Creek Cattle Company

Union County Dennis Baker Julius Smith Jr. Wake County Logan Pope – Lizard Lick Land & Cattle

The Carolina Cattle Connection

Watauga County William A. Greene

q JANUARY 2021

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

NCBA

President’s Report

By MARTY SMITH

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Cattle Production, Bigger Than Any One Election Cycle Like many of you, I watched election night and the ensuing counts over the following week. While I watched with great interest in the outcome that I knew undoubtedly would affect our industry, nothing I saw made my confidence in cattle producers and the strength of our industry waver. I know that no matter the results in 2020, 2022, or any other election, we as cattle producers will keep doing what we do best: raising the best protein on the planet and providing immense ecological benefits for landscapes across the country.

With round-the-clock cable news and social media coverage, it is easy to get sucked into a cycle of fear and uncertainty.

The television pundit class wants us to keep watching and rely on artificial cliffhangers to keep us on the line. Sometimes, those cliffhangers keep viewers in radical highs, or radical lows, depending on which channel you are watching.

Let me be clear: no matter what happens in the next year or four, NCBA has purposefully positioned ourselves to continue to be the trusted leader and definitive voice on all the issues that affect the U.S. beef industry, and we are well equipped to anticipate and face challenges that come our way. The cattle industry has a great story to tell. Every year, the cattle industry is increasing efficiency,

improving the carbon storage potential of America’s grasslands, and improving the greenhouse gas emissions reduction trend.

We will continue to develop partnerships with a broad range of groups to ensure cattle producers are well represented, have a strong platform from which to tell our story, and have a seat at all tables where important decisions are made.

A great example of NCBA’s influence is the recent Secretarial Order on the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

After enactment earlier this year of the Great American Outdoors Act, Interior Secretary Bernhardt listened to the call of the livestock producers who decried the bill as a transparent tool that would only result in a land grab with the blank check it provided to LWCF. For years, NCBA has said that land acquisitions using LWCF must, at the very least, be supported by local stakeholders and local governments. Secretary Bernhardt has shown he agrees with us and issued Secretarial Order 3388 to require written approval from the Governor and local county government of the affected area before the federal government buys more land and water. This Order provides common-sense direction to what is otherwise a tool for the federal government to expand their estate.

The path NCBA took with LWCF and passage of the Great American Outdoors Act is the same approach we always will follow with policy that could harm our industry: identify harmful legislation and put all our weight behind opposing it in every branch of government. If, at the end of the day, Congress or the Administration ignores our calls, we will find ways to work across industries to mitigate damage and use all available resources to make the policy work for us. We will also keep the pressure on to deliver wins for the industry. Due to our work and relationship building, cattle producers have friends in both parties, and we are in constant communication with all of our friends, regardless of their political affiliations.

As producers, we face uncertainty every day. In some ways, we face much more uncertainty than the rest of America’s workforce, but we are well equipped to meet the evolving challenges. We produce a product that is the best of the best and is highly sought after the world over. While you may be disappointed in this election cycle, and your preferred candidates may not have all won, you can be certain that NCBA will fight for you in Washington. We will endure this period of uncertainty and continue doing what we always do: raising cattle and being the definitive voice of the U.S. beef industry.

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q JANUARY 2021

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Tips to Prepare for a Successful Calving Season. You’ve waited approximately nine months to see the results of your breeding decisions and cattle nutrition, and calving day is approaching. Kevin Glaubius, Senior Manager of Formulation and Regulatory Support at BioZyme Inc., offers three tips to make sure you are prepared for the approaching calving season.

1. Prepare Your Calving Kit - There is nothing like getting the first calf on the ground, then running around trying to find the tubing bag, or worse yet, not being able to find the one calving chain if assistance is needed. Take time now to check your inventory and see what has gone missing or needs to be replaced.

BioZyme has prepared an online checklist of important supplies and equipment that you will need for assisting with deliveries, getting the calf up and going, and properly treating calves, as well as information on where to purchase these items. View the checklist at www.vitaferm. com/calving-supply-and-equipment-list/.

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2. Protect Cows and Calves from the Elements - With the variety of weather extremes that producers experience across the country, it’s best to be prepared for all situations. Be sure you have taken an inventory of available bedding options.

First calf heifers aren’t always the best about finding the ideal spot to calf in.

Ensuring that you have plenty of dry areas in your pens with protection from the wind can make the difference in calf survival, especially once winter arrives and wind chills dip.

3. Get That Calf Up and Going Once the calf is on the ground, you want to ensure that it has the best start to life possible. Consult with your veterinarian about health protocols and your nutritionist about a feeding program.

Glaubius offers some tips to manage stress and feed adequately during the winter months: • Feed higher quality hay (with more energy) and expect cows to increase intake during cold stress. Without a forage analysis, you cannot be exactly sure of

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

your hay’s energy level, which can lead to inadequate nutrition. BioZyme offers complimentary hay testing and nutrition analysis to its customers and potential customers through its nationwide dealer network and area sales managers. For more information, visit www.vitaferm. com/hay-report/.

• Feed a supplement that contains BioZyme’s prebiotic Amaferm to improve digestibility of feed and help ensure that they are extracting all of the energy possible. Research shows that feeding a supplement that contains Amaferm has similar benefits to feeding at least 1 lb of grain.

• Consider moving cows to locations with protection from the wind and wet weather. The energy requirement of beef cattle increases about three percent for each degree that the wind chill is below 59ºF. This increases even further in wet conditions and prior to fully developing a winter hair coat. This is a major reason programs fail during an abnormally severe winter.

• Match animal nutrition requirements to the quality of your forage. Heifers and thin cows require a more energy dense diet compared to older or fleshy cows.

Sorting animals into groups based on

body condition allows you to feed the available forage more effectively. Start by targeting your higher quality, more immature forages toward heifers and thin cows. These earlier harvested forages will be the most energy dense as energy declines considerably with maturity.

The older and higher body condition cows can then be fed slightly more mature forage. This allows you to maximize the use of your forage supply while better targeting the nutritional needs of your entire herd.

• A good guideline during an extended cold or wet winter period is to feed 3-6 lbs of energy supplements like soyhulls, corn gluten feed, or corn to avoid weight loss during these stressful periods.

Glaubius also recommends having a supply of colostrum on hand for emergencies. Two other products that should be readily available for your newborns include Vita Charge Gel and Vita Charge Neonatal. Both products provide a jump start to the digestive system to protect calves during stress and help calves recover quickly while supporting immunity and performance.

Vita Charge Gel also provides the perfect boost for mom if the delivery was stressful.

Calving time can be a lot less stressful if you plan ahead and go into it prepared. Have the tools you need to help your calves get a jump start should they have any challenges, and be prepared to help your cows recover too. This is just the beginning of your next adventure of seeing your genetics grow in your herd, and with some nutritional advantages along the way, you’ll be sure to see performance that pays.

Improved Herd Nutrition is a Change Worth Talking About. Making change isn’t always easy, especially when multiple generations are working together on the family farm. However, with four people from three generations bringing ideas to the table of a progressive operation, like the Winkelpleck Family Farm in east central Iowa, change for the better is always welcome.

“My dad is 81 years old, and it was

his idea to research the VitaFerm. He saw it on RFD TV,” said Jon Winkelpleck, who also farms with his brother, Larry, and his son, Zach.

After years of feeding another mineral with no visible results, the Winkelplecks talked to their local feed dealer Josh Stamp at Stamp Ag LLC in Belle Plaine, Iowa, a BioZyme Master Dealer. Winkelpleck said that after a year of using products like the Vita Charge Stress Tubs and VitaFerm Concept•Aid, he doubts if anyone could switch him back to another mineral.

“On our replacement heifers this year, we had 100 percent conception rate, and they all bred in the first 60 days. Our vet even asked us what we did differently! I like what I see. Nobody is going to talk us into going with a different tub,” Winkelpleck said.

They run about 110 commercial

From the Desk of the SCCA President

By ROSCOE KYLE Happy New Year to everyone, and I hope you have had a safe holiday season.

Let us all hope and pray for a better and healthier New Year. The past year has been one for the record books and unlike any of us has experienced in our lifetime. We had a large number of storms, floods, and wildfires in the U.S., along with a record amount of rain in the Southeast. All we can do is saddle up and press on with the work at hand.

The last time I wrote, it was as the SCCA First Vice President. Since then, I have been elected to the President’s position. I would like to thank Past President Thomas Legare for all the hard work he put into the SCCA over the years he served. I would also like to thank Cecil Eaddy for his position as Past President over the past two years in assisting Mr. Legare and the SCCA by attending the SCCA board meetings. As a reminder, all SCCA board meetings are open for the members. At the present time, the Executive Director is trying to schedule the meetings for the upcoming year, and we are trying to have a few in conjunction with the S.C. Beef Board’s meetings as we have a few SCCA Board members who also serve on the Beef Board. The SCCA is trying to plan for the Annual Membership Meeting, hopefully, to be held in mid-March at the T. Ed Garrison Arena. This all depends on where we stand with the COVID-19 situation and if the vendors will be allowed by their parent companies to travel. This event is being planned by the Annual Meeting Committee lead by SCCA Executive Director Travis Mitchell and First V.P. Timmy Benton, along with other members of the S.C. Cattlemen’s Association.

I would like to take this time to recognize Bonnie Cann from Abbeville County for being elected to serve on the SCCA Board of Directors. Also, the Foundation Board, which oversees the silent auction and the scholarship committee, elected Thompson Smith from the Farm Bureau of S.C. and Linda Ashmore from Spartanburg/Greenville County. I look forward to working with both boards during my term as SCCA President. Please, if you have not sent in your dues for 2021, contact your local extension office or the president of your local county organization for instructions. Remember that there is strength in numbers, and we can make this association strong again with your help and support.

Just in case the February issue of The Carolina Cattle Connection does not get to everyone in time, Happy Valentine’s Day to all the women of the association.

As always, if I can be of any assistance, please contact me. I am respectfully yours.

Angus cows on their family farm, and this year offered the cows the VitaFerm Concept•Aid Mineral Tub, a 200 pound cooked tub designed for reproductive success. It provides 2.5 percent phosphorus, the ideal level of phosphorus for use with average to good quality forages, to promote milk production and higher calf weaning weights that contains organic copper, zinc, and manganese to ensure maximum bioavailability of nutrients to the animal. It also contains high levels of vitamin E and selenium to promote optimized fertility.

The key ingredient in most BioZyme products is Amaferm, a precision prebiotic designed to enhance digestibility by amplifying nutrient supply for maximum performance. It is research proven to increase the energy available to the animal resulting in more milk production as well as to the ability to initiate and maintain pregnancy and fertility.

“Our cows also utilized poorer quality forages this year. We’re paying more than what we’re used to for a tub, but we’re getting a better value.

These tubs have made a big difference.”

Winkelpleck said.

In addition to the cow herd, the

Winkelpleck family also operates a 700 head feed yard, where they finish cattle.

He said they introduced the Vita Charge Stress Tub to the calves they buy and get into their feedlot this past year and have also seen great results.

“The Vita Charge Stress Tub is the first thing they get when they get to the yard. We haven’t treated any calves this year,” Winkelpleck said.

Stress Tubs are designed to support digestive health and promote feed and water intake during times of stress and recovery, and they don’t interfere with antibiotics. In addition to the prebiotic Amaferm, the Stress Tubs also include a heat tolerant probiotic to work synergistically with Amaferm to replenish and stimulate gut bacteria. The tubs also contain MOS to trap and expel pathogens, limiting their ability to do harm.

Change is not that challenging after all. When the patriarch of your family and farm has an idea that makes your operation more efficient and more profitable, that’s a change worth talking about!

Don’t Risk Your Calves’ Health, Start with Good Nutrition. Cattle feeding is a precarious business,

Continued on the next page

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BioZyme News continued from the previous page especially when you’re getting in high risk cattle and hoping to put as much gain on them as you can in about 120 days. A father-son joint venture between Chad and Coleman Ladd of 2CL Feeders LLC in Madisonville, Ken., has found that supplementing their calves with a premium nutrition program has helped increase both their overall health status and average daily gain, a double win.

“It’s been a pleasant change. We’ve drug them (calves) and buried them for years. We don’t look forward to October, but the Amaferm and this year’s weather has made a big change. Around here, October is national ‘Dead Calf Month’,” said Chad Ladd, one of the partners of the backgrounding operation.

Ladd said that he had experienced some great gains in his calves due to the Amaferm in the Gain Smart mineral he had previously fed, but realized he needed more than just a mineral and some forage for his calves that he gets in at 400-600 pounds. He wanted to convert them to a total mixed ration. So, he created a ration with wet distillers, straw, hominy, soy hull pellets, and Amaferm, which is included in the TMR in a pelleted form.

Amaferm is a precision based

prebiotic that impacts intake, feed digestibility, and nutrient absorption for optimum health and performance. It is easy-to-use either top dressed or mixed in the ration, and unlocks valuable nutrients regardless of the quality or type of feed.

His calves are also getting additional doses of Amaferm upon arrival, or anytime they go through the chute. When he processes a new load of calves, they all receive a dose of the Vita Charge Cattle Drench. They also get a dose any time they are in the chute for vaccinations or treatments. The Vita Charge Cattle Drench supports digestive health and promotes feed and water intake during times of stress and recovery.

Conveniently designed for processing large groups of ruminating cattle, the Drench contains Amaferm, organic trace minerals, and essential vitamins to stimulate the immune system and to ensure that feed intake stays consistent.

Added enzymes work with Amaferm to generate a more rapid digestive response.

Ladd rounds out his nutrition program with the Vita Charge Stress Tubs, ensuring that every new pen gets two tubs for their first few weeks on feed at his lot. The Stress Tubs also contain

IRM Red Books Are Here The price of the books are again $5.00/each this year.

We would like to thank Performance Livestock & Feed Company and Carolina Stockyards for again sponsoring this book.

Some highlights of the book are the international year letter designations for animal identification calving records Beef Quality Assurance best practices judicious use of antimicrobials in cattle injection site quality control health records pasture usage cattle sales A.I. breeding records analysis of calving activity and back by producer demand the addresses phone notes pages plus many other record keeping sections.

Simply return the order form below, along with $5.00 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.

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

Amaferm and a heat tolerant probiotic to work synergistically with Amaferm to replenish and stimulate gut bacteria, as well as MOS to trap bad bacteria limiting their ability to do harm. The Stress Tubs include organic zinc, the antioxidant vitamin E, and B vitamins. Both the Drench and Stress Tubs are formulated to help animals recover quickly and do not interfere with antibiotics.

“We just sold a load this fall that we got in this summer. They were bulls coming in around 600 pounds. We cut them. They were here 87 days or so. They gained 3.08 pounds per day, and our death loss was minimal. We lost two head and one was to bloat. Our death loss has been nothing – one or two from each pen. Our pulls have been minimal. Starting them on those Stress Tubs and Drench helps significantly,” Ladd said.

When you’re trying to turn a profit and run 1,500-1,800 calves through your feed yard each year, you’ll put forth the effort to start those calves on the right foot. And that starts with a good nutrition program from day one.

“We try to hit them hard because it is high risk cattle that we buy,” Ladd said.

Don’t take a risk with your calves’ health. Jump start their digestive health that leads to increased gains with Amaferm. To learn more about the Amaferm advantage or find a dealer near you, visit www.vitaferm.com.

BioZyme Offers Products for all Species. Wouldn’t it be nice if one nutrition company could meet all of your livestock needs year round? Many cattle producers are aware of the benefits that Amaferm offers their cow herd through breeding and calving; however, those same benefits are available to cattle of all ages and stages of reproduction, as well as other ruminants and monogastric animals in protein production.

Amaferm is a precision prebiotic research proven to increase intake, digestion, and absorption. Amaferm is designed to enhance digestibility by amplifying nutrient supply for maximum performance. BioZyme Inc., the makers of Amaferm, manufacture vitamin and mineral supplements for all species from cattle and sheep to goats and pigs.

In addition, supplement lines are also available for horses and dogs.

Often, producers will own multiple species, like a product they have tried on one group of livestock, and discover that their BioZyme dealer also has a product for the other species he or she raises. That is the case with Sardinia, Ohio, livestock producer Trevor Corboy. Corboy and his family raise registered Angus cattle and

Boer and Nubian goats.

He has been using VitaFerm Concept•Aid on his Angus herd with good results. Since he started feeding Concept•Aid, he has shortened his calving window by nearly half. Corboy said he previously stretched calving over a month and a half, but in 2021, his calving season should only last three weeks.

He also is a believer in the Vita Charge line, a fast acting, multi-species supplement designed to mitigate stress and help during times of recovery. The Vita Charge line offers versatility in many forms, simplifying application for what is best for your animal. Vita Charge comes in liquid, gels, and tubs.

“I wouldn’t wean a set of calves without the Vita Charge Stress Tubs.

There has been a decrease in the amount of stress our calves experience. If you have a set of calves that have been around that tub, their attitude toward weaning is different. Overall, they are more relaxed. We have seen an increase in our

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

production related to weight throughout our entire calf crop. Vita Charge has positively impacted our herd, and we won’t go without it,” he said.

Corboy said he was excited to find out he could get similar products for his goat herd that he and his sister established, and at one time showed nationally and exported animals internationally from. The mix of meat and milk goats have already benefitted from feeding DuraFerm Goat Concept•Aid. “We’ve used the DuraFerm Goat Concept•Aid for three years and have seen an improvement in our overall goat health due to more available nutrients to them. We’ve used the same feed for roughly 15 years, and we’ve noticed a difference with a healthier coat, a better conception rate, and the overall production of the goats seems a whole lot better. I have seen increased kid vigor at birth and the does have a higher milk output. Many goat producers aren’t aware that DuraFerm is out there, but it has been

fairly beneficial from our perspective.

We’ve used several different minerals over the years, and we’re the happiest with this one,” Corboy said.

Both DuraFerm Goat Concept•Aid and VitaFerm Concept•Aid contain 2.5 times the NRC for quicker impact, are designed with high levels of vitamin E for reproductive tract repair, contain organic trace minerals for more stability and higher bioavailability, and rely on the precision prebiotic Amaferm, research proven to increase the energy available to the animal resulting in more milk production as well as to the ability to initiate and maintain pregnancy and fertility. Concept•Aid is also available in a DuraFerm package for sheep. VitaFerm Concept•Aid comes in several loose mineral and tub options.

Your mineral program should work for you year round and across all your animals. BioZyme products with the Amaferm advantage offer you and your livestock the peace of mind that they are

NEWS

Animal Agriculture Alliance Virtual Summit to help turn “Obstacles to Opportunities.” Recently, the Animal Agriculture Alliance announced that its 2021 Stakeholders Summit, set primarily for May 5-6, will be hosted virtually and themed “Obstacles to Opportunities.” The annual Summit brings top thought leaders in the industry together to discuss hot button issues and out-of-the-box ideas.

In addition to announcing the theme and virtual format for 2021.

The Summit is a one-of-a-kind conference attended by a diverse group of decision makers, including representatives from farms, ranches, allied industries, food processors, restaurants, grocery stores, legislatures, universities, government agencies, and media. The 2020 event (also hosted virtually) was the largest yet, attracting 515 attendees from around the world.

“I think we are all ready to turn the page on the obstacles of 2020 and seek opportunities to ensure a bright future for animal agriculture in 2021 and beyond,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “Our Virtual 2021 Summit will help everyone in the food chain work together toward that goal. We’re excited about building

on the smashing success of our 2020 Virtual Summit to host another top notch virtual event and hopefully set another attendance record.”

Challenging times. Unprecedented times. Uncertain times. We’re all over the clichés. But we’re far from over the impact COVID-19 and 2020, in general, have had on agriculture and the food industry.

However, there is hope. With the right tools, we can ensure the food chain is stronger than ever. We can use this time to hone our messages, fine tune our strategies, and connect, engage, and protect like never before. Now is the time to turn the obstacles of 2020 into opportunities for the decades to come, and 2021 Virtual Summit attendees will leave with the right tools and ideas to do just that.

“Hosting our Summit virtually is a perfect example of turning an obstacle into an opportunity,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, Alliance vice president of communications. “We deeply wish we could host our traditional inperson Summit. Nothing beats the energy of being in a room together sharing our passion for animal agriculture. However, the ongoing public health situation is making that look like an impossibility for May 2021, as the health and safety of our

getting the most benefit from available feedstuffs while maintaining their health and performance. To learn more about these products or to find a dealer near you, visit www.biozymeinc.com.

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

attendees will always be our top priority.

While it isn’t our first choice, the virtual setting will allow us to be safe while also making our Summit content accessible to a broader audience.”

Registration for the Virtual Summit will open in early 2021, and a tentative schedule will be shared at that time.

Check the Summit website at www. animalagalliance.org/initiatives/ stakeholders-summit/ for the most upto-date information. You can also follow the hashtag #AAA21 for periodic updates about the event on social media. For general questions about the Summit, please email summit@animalagalliance. org or call 703-562-5160.

Get involved - Show your support for the Alliance’s outreach efforts by becoming an official Virtual Summit sponsor today! For more information on 2021 sponsorship opportunities, contact Casey Kinler at ckinler@ animalagalliance.org.

About the Animal Agriculture Alliance. The Alliance is an industry united, nonprofit organization that helps bridge the communication gap between farm and fork. 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.

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Colostrum for Beef Calves. The importance of colostrum for newborn calves is well recognized. Colostrum, the first milk produced by the cow at calving, offers a rich source of energy, nutrients, immune cells, and antibodies. These antibodies are especially important since newborn calves lack disease protection, as antibodies do not pass through the cow’s placenta to the calf’s circulatory system. The antibodies in the cow’s colostrum will provide her calf with initial disease protection.

The immunity acquired during the first few days of life is particularly important for calf health and survival.

Studies on calf death loss have shown that 4-12 percent of calves are either stillborn or die within the first 24 hours after birth. While there are many risk factors during this time that may lead to calf mortality, early nutrition and colostrum management are key influences.

What are immunoglobulins? For

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the first three to five weeks of a calf’s life, the passive immunity received from the absorption of immunoglobulins in colostrum provides substantial protection to help the calf fight off infections, illness, and diseases. Immunoglobulins are large protein molecules that function as antibodies and that are produced by plasma or white blood cells. They serve an important purpose in immune response by fighting off bacteria, viruses, and other harmful invaders. There are different classes of immunoglobulins that each have specific functions, biological features, targets, and structures. The primary (80-85%) colostral antibodies are immunoglobulin G (IgG), followed by immunoglobulin A (IgA, at 8-10%) and immunoglobulin M (IgM, at 5-12%).

The major factors that will influence newborn calf colostral immunoglobulin absorption are: 1. The age of the calf when it receives its first feeding of colostrum.

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

2. The number of immunoglobulins made available to the calf.

Colostrum absorption is maximized and at its most efficient shortly after birth, beginning to decline steadily as time passes, with very minimal absorption occurring 20 hours post calving. However, in some calves, this closure of the gut can occur as early as 12 hours postpartum.

Despite the length of time to get closure, immunoglobulin transfer across the gut epithelium is most efficient in the first four hours postpartum and begins to decline rapidly after 12 hours postpartum. By 24 hours, it is estimated that only ten percent of immunoglobulins are absorbed. Therefore, it is important to get that essential colostrum into the calf as soon as possible.

While these large proteins can be transferred through the gut prior to closure, so too can bacteria and large particles that may be harmful if ingested.

This is yet another reason why it is so important to calve on clean, dry ground.

The number of immunoglobulins presented to the newborn calf is dependent on the volume of colostrum available and the immunoglobulin concentration of that colostrum. The quality of the colostrum can be affected by the dam’s age, health, and nutrition status. Cows that are older — i.e., in at least their third lactation — typically have a higher volume of colostrum that is better quality compared to the colostrum of a younger cow or first calf heifer.

While there are tools that can be used to measure colostrum quality, typically, good indicators of high quality colostrum include a tan or yellow color and very thick, creamy consistency.

Nutritional status of the dam The dam’s nutritional status can greatly impact the colostrum available to the calf.

Colostrum and immunoglobulins start to form 5-6 weeks prior to calving. A Virginia Tech study has shown that colostrum volume and calf absorption of IgG were lower in nutrient restricted cows compared to cows fed to their requirements, even though the IgG concentrations did not change. A study in sheep found that nutrient restriction from mid to late pregnancy in ewe lambs altered colostrum quality and quantity. The dam’s nutrition prior to calving can greatly impact the amount of colostrum produced and the absorption of immunoglobulins, which may lead to scours and higher mortality rates if inadequate. Bio-Mos® 2 has been shown to support gut integrity and colostrum quality, thereby promoting overall performance.

This product should be fed two months prior to calving for optimal results.

Failure of passive transfer - A frequent problem during calving season is failure of passive transfer (FPT), which occurs when a newborn calf does not receive the necessary

colostrum. This can occur if cows were in a nutrient deficit and did not produce quality colostrum. In cases of dystocia, weak calves, temperature stress, or the dam not taking care of her new calf, all of which can prevent the newborn calf from nursing.

These factors may prevent the calf from not only getting essential nutrients from colostrum but also from getting the required antibodies. FPT can result in significant economic losses through increased calf illness and death. If a calf has not nursed or is at a high risk for not nursing within the first couple of hours, it may be best to intervene and provide it with colostrum.

The ideal method for a calf to receive colostrum is from its own dam.

If possible, use a chute to restrain the cow in order to allow the calf to nurse.

If the calf does not want to suckle, the cow could be milked out, and a tube feeder can be used to get colostrum into the calf. A newborn calf should be fed about two quarts of colostrum within four to six hours post birth and again within four to six hours from the original feeding. Colostrum should be collected within 24 hours of calving. If collecting from the cow is not possible, colostrum replacers or supplements can be used. In these situations, consult a veterinarian for assistance in selecting the best option.

Remember, the first meal is the most important meal of a calf’s life and plays an instrumental role in calf immune system development. It is vital to ensure that each calf receives rich, nutritious colostrum in order to set them on a path to successful performance.

Winter To-Do List for Cattlemen.

Winter nutrition and management have many focal points, but there are a few management decisions all cattle producers should place on their “to-do” list. Most spring calving herds look at winter as a time to prepare cow herds for calving, early milk production, and breeding seasons.

Fall calving cows are in full lactation and breeding, in addition to maintaining body weight during times of environmental stress. In both production scenarios, bridging the gap between fall and green grass is a time to implement management and nutritional plans that will reduce costs, increase efficiency, and create more profits.

Here are some steps you should consider taking: 1. Monitor body condition. Body condition scores are an open book to the nutritional plane that cattle have been on; it is simple to learn how to evaluate body condition scores and can be done daily. Evaluation areas include the shape of the top and spine appearance, brisket, ribs, and flanks. Thin cows have late breed backs, lower quality colostrum, and lighter weight calves. Fat cows have low fertility, greater calving difficulty, less

milk production, and lower efficiency.

Cows do not all have to have the same body condition to be productive, but, in general, moderate body condition is an excellent indication that cattle have benefited from their environment and their management plans.

2. Don’t guess — forage test.

The value of forage testing cannot be overstated. Knowing a few basic facts about feedstuffs can help you make money in several different ways. Since water content is the most variable nutrient in the feed, it is important to know the moisture component of feed when formulating and mixing feed since it can significantly influence the amount and proportion used in the feed formula.

Nutritional profiles can be used to determine the value of the feed and assist

in making diets that are both low cost and best performing. With the wide variety and availability of feedstuffs today, knowing their nutritional makeup can help you predict the difference between a good deal and a bad one. Don’t make the mistake of filling cows with feedstuffs that do not meet daily requirements; low and no performance cattle seldom make money. Hubbard Feeds dealers offer both feed tests and technical support to fully utilize the resulting information.

3. Pregnancy check the cow herd.

Identifying open cows can help provide educated options. The open females can be culled from the herd, creating a reduction in feed costs — or they can be grouped and managed to increase their value as late bred females or placed into a different calving group. Having this pregnancy information

Discovery Park of America Opens Permanent Exhibit on Innovation in Agriculture On December 5, 2020, Discovery Park of America opened “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival” in the museum and heritage park’s Simmons Bank Ag Center.

The exhibit tells the story of farming innovation in the past, present — and especially — future. Guests exploring “AgriCulture: Innovating for Our Survival” experience how food, fuel, and fiber get from the farm to the family as they learn about the role of innovation in the field of agriculture today.

Fun for all ages, the exhibit includes a “Faces of Farming” section with more than 250 portraits of men and women working in agriculture today; a social media wall that shows examples of real time photos and videos farmers are sharing online, and hands-on elements like a state-of-the art tractor from H&R Agri-Power and Case IH. Next to the modern tractor is one from the turn of the twentieth century that guests can experience to compare the two.

The team creating the exhibit, led by Jennifer Wildes, Discovery Park’s senior director of collections and exhibits, has worked with Solid Light, a Louisville based firm, for nearly two years on the research, design, and installation.

“Much of the exhibit was designed with STEM based learning in mind, and the Nutrien Ag Solutions stage features advanced audio visual technology and will be used as an educational space for school groups and special programs,” said Wildes.

“One of my favorite sections is about jobs in agriculture that we hope will inform our young visitors about opportunities they may want to consider when choosing a career.”

Also included in the exhibit are spotlights on individuals from history who applied innovative practices to farming in the past, along with those doing the same thing on farms and in laboratories today.

“The mission of our museum and heritage park is to inspire children and adults to see beyond,” said Scott Williams, president and CEO of Discovery Park. “Those who have had a sneak peek at the nearly finished exhibit along with those of who got to work on it have certainly been inspired to see farming in a whole new way.”

More than a million dollars was raised by the 501(c)(3) non-profit to fund the exhibit with other organizations providing resources like equipment, data, and research. For a current list of all who supported the exhibit, including the Champions of Agriculture, visit the website at www.discoveryparkofamerica.com/exhibit/ agriculture-innovating-for-our-survival.

About Discovery Park of America. The mission of Discovery Park of America, a premier world class museum and 50 acre heritage park located in Union City, Tenn., is to inspire children and adults to see beyond. Included is a 100,000 ft2 museum featuring nine interactive exhibit galleries with additional space for temporary exhibits from around the world and a 50 acre heritage park. Discovery Park of America is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations, and foundations, including its principal funder, the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. For more information, visit www.DiscoveryParkofAmerica.com.

can allow you to evaluate and implement management options that could create profits.

4. Minimize feed waste. Numerous trials have shown the value of feeding equipment that reduces waste while not limiting convenience. Losses of more than 20 percent can be the result of poor forage management and feed handling. Examples include the design of round bale hay feeders, covering silage piles, timely baling, and raking to reduce field losses — the list goes on. The amount of feed delivered should also be considered. An astute cattleman once said, “Feed cows a day’s worth of hay and they will be eating in the dining room.

Feed them two days’ worth of hay and they will be eating in the living room — but feed them three days’ worth of hay and they will be eating in the bathroom.”

5. Cold stress is costly; try to provide weather protection when possible. For each degree the weather falls below a cow’s comfort temperature, TDN energy requirements increase one percent. Wind, moisture, and lack of sunshine add to the insult of cold temperatures; when temperatures are near freezing, the wind is blowing at 10-15 miles per hour, and rain has soaked cattle to the bone, the energy requirements increase by over 30 percent.

There are only two ways to meet those additional requirements: cattle either need

to eat more pounds of feed and/or they must consume a diet with greater energy density.

6. Control both internal and external parasites. Parasites are free loaders that rob profit from cattle. Lice are a major external parasite that should be controlled immediately as well as through the winter months. Scratching and hair loss are sure signs of lice infestation.

Internal parasites decrease digestion and gut health. A variety of products and application methods give producers choices that are effective. The lost income to parasite infestation is estimated to be in the millions of dollars annually. The timely application of parasite control management decisions should be a priority in every management plan.

Cattle operations may have individual identities and needs, but there are some common management decisions that can increase profits. Collecting and analyzing information on a cow herd can help refine management decisions.

Eliminating problems also eliminates profit robbers. Properly adjusting to the environmental conditions improves cow herd performance and prioritizes resources to improve efficiency. Managing cow herds for optimal performance and maximum profit are important wintertime management practices and decisions.

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PAGE 59

Spring 2021 Inventories Generated. Spring 2020 inventories were generated earlier this week. Remember, MyHerd users receive their inventories immediately on MyHerd and will not receive inventories in the mail. Members who do not use MyHerd were mailed their inventories recently. Be on the lookout for those! Also, remember to take advantage of the early bird discount on January 15 — a discount of 25¢ off per head on every female maintained on the inventory. Inventories updated after March 1 will incur a $2.00 per head surcharge on every female maintained on the inventory. Remember, MyHerd users can log in anytime to view and update the 2021 spring inventory. Take advantage of the early bird discount and save money today!

Follow these steps to update and submit your herd inventory on www.

MyHerd.org: 1. Log into MyHerd and click the “ To-Do” task labeled “2021 Spring Herd Inventory Update Needed.”

2. MyHerd will populate a list of females expected to calve this spring.

Review and update the cow herd inventory.

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

4. To make changes to any of the cows listed, follow these steps: • Select the female to update her information.

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

• Click the “Reproductive Status” and mark females as “Next Season” if they are bred to calve in fall 2021, “NonExposed” if they have not been exposed to breeding conditions (this code can only be used for first time heifers), or provide a proper calving ease score for females not expected to calve this season.

5. Add new or additional females to the inventory by providing their registration numbers and giving them a herd ID. 6. Review and correct each herd ID. Each female must have a unique herd ID — it cannot be repeated within the herd.

7. Click the “Submit Inventory Billing” button when the cow inventory list is updated. This action will submit your inventory to the American Hereford Association and then charges will be

PAGE 60

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

News

billed.

Current Openings. Junior activities internship: The AHA youth department is seeking college juniors or seniors to assist with the planning and execution of junior shows and leadership events.

Responsibilities - Assist the director of youth activities of the American Hereford Association with various summer activities, including planning for the Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) and Faces of Leadership Conference. The JNHE is one of the largest junior breed events in the world, showcasing more than 1,300 head of Hereford cattle and 800 junior members.

In addition to the cattle shows, the JNHE offers more than 23 skill based contests throughout the week, and the intern plays a key role in assisting with the contests and making sure that they run efficiently and effectively. The intern works closely with the 12 member junior board as well as the JNHE Ambassador team throughout the summer. There will be significant travel involved as well as work on weekends and at other times as assigned.

Guidelines - The youth activities internship requires excellent written and oral communication skills, as one will be expected to write letters, e-mail correspondence, and news releases, update social media outlets and website, and communicate on a daily basis with junior exhibitors, parents, and state association leadership.

Needs experience and familiarity with conducting shows. Applicants must feel comfortable at shows and have basic knowledge of how a show operates. Have the ability to travel nationwide by car or plane to cover state and regional shows as needed. At certain times, the intern will be expected to travel alone to represent the American Hereford Association at the event. Photography and writing experience preferred. Must have the ability to react independently. Applicant must be able to help the youth director in various capacities with little formal training.

Applicants must be enrolled in an agriculture related major and should be self starters, detail oriented, outgoing, and able to work well with all types of people. Attendance at the Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) and the Faces of Leadership Conference are required.

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and references by February 1 to Amy Cowan, AHA director of youth activities, acowan@hereford.org or 11500 N. Ambassador Dr., Ste. 410, Kansas City, MO 64153.

About the American Hereford Association. AHA, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the largest U.S. beef breed associations. The notfor-profit organization along with its subsidiaries — Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI), and the American Beef Records Association (ABRA) — provides programs and services for its members and their customers while promoting the Hereford breed and supporting education, youth, and research. For more information, visit www.Hereford.org.

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PAGE 62

STIR-FRY

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

GELBVIEH NEWS

Fifth Annual Gelbvieh Foundation Carcass Contest Results Released.

Results of the fifth annual American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF) Steer Challenge and Scale and Rail Sire Identified Carcass Contest have been finalized. Producers from Iowa and Nebraska took home top honors with prize payouts totaling $4,000.

The AGF continues to help advance the Gelbvieh and Balancer ® breeds through its support of research and development. For this reason, the AGF launched the Steer Challenge and Scale and Rail Sire Identified Carcass Contest

in 2016. These two projects, together, provide the information and funds necessary to generate datasets to advance Gelbvieh and Balancer carcass merit.

The AGF Steer Challenge is a competition amongst individual Gelbvieh and Balancer influenced steers in which the judging criteria focuses on carcass value and average daily gain in the feedyard. The Steer Challenge gives an opportunity for participants to donate a steer to the AGF. All proceeds from the donation go toward research and development within the breed. Green Hills Gelbvieh in Mount Ulla, N.C., and

S.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of NOVEMBER 2020 Cattle Receipts: 9,399

•

Previous Month: 9,553

Feeder supply - 37% steers • 39% heifers • 24% bulls SLAUGHTER CLASSES

Avg. Wt. Price

Cows - % Lean

Breaker 1,504 $59.14

Boner 1,250 $60.50

Lean 1,063 $55.77

Bulls - Yield Grade 1-2

1,674

$84.65

FEEDER CLASSES

Flying H Genetics in Arapahoe, Neb., each donated a steer to the AGF this year. Thank you for your generosity. The champion steer for carcass value in the steer challenge contest was owned by Flying H Genetics. This steer had a total carcass value of $1,582.92 and graded USDA Choice. Flying H also took home champion steer for average daily gain in the steer challenge contest. This animal gained 3.93 pounds per day; the calves were on feed for 205 days.

In its fifth year, seven ranches participated in the contests at Darr Feedlot in Cozad, Nebraska. All steers were harvested in July 2020 with a total of 133 individual carcass data records.

CKS Gelbvieh of Collins, Iowa, won big at this event, taking home three of the five prizes in the Gelbvieh division of the Scale and Rail Sire Identified Carcass Contest. CKS Gelbvieh had the champion Gelbvieh steer in the carcass value category with an animal that valued at $1,593.70. This steer also posted $436.50 for an increase in value. They also had the champion Gelbvieh steer in the average daily gain category with an animal that gained 4.40 pounds per day.

CKS Gelbvieh also owned the champion pen of Gelbvieh steers in the Scale and Rail Contest with a total carcass value of $4,323.56. AMGV1395460 (CKS LEGACY E64), owned by CKS Gelbvieh in Collins, Iowa, sired the pen of three steers. This group of steers averaged a marbling score of USDA Choice, Yield Grade 3, with a 15.98 square inch ribeye and 944 pound average hot carcass

weight. In total, CKS Gelbvieh took home $1,500 in prize money.

In the Balancer division, Eagle Pass Ranch of Highmore, S.D., won champion steer in the carcass value category. This steer is valued at $1,637.29. This steer also posted $522.85 for an increase in value and graded USDA Choice. Rick and Kim Taylor of Wauneta, Nebraska, won the champion steer in the average daily gain category with a steer that gained 4.46 pounds per day.

Hamilton Farms of Hitchcock, S.D., won the champion pen of Balancer steers.

The steers had a total carcass value of $4,649.61. AMGV1331092 (EGL CODE RED C081 ET), owned by Robert Farlee and Eagle Pass Ranch, sired the pen of three steers. This group of steers averaged a marbling score of USDA Choice, Yield Grade 1, with a 15.27 square inch ribeye and 1,017 pound average hot carcass weight. In total, Hamilton Farms took home $500 in prize money.

To view full results, including all closeout data, please visit the Projects page under the Foundation tab on www.

Gelbvieh.org.

About the American Gelbvieh Foundation. AGF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that helps support member education, youth development, and research for the American Gelbvieh Association.

About the American Gelbvieh Association. AGA is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,000 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance oriented total herd reporting system.

FEEDER STEERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 424 $148.64 $630.23 450-500 468 $143.01 $669.29 500-550 523 $134.68 $704.38 550-600 571 $130.08 $742.76 600-650 623 $122.78 $764.92 650-700 667 $122.14 $814.67

West End Precast

FEEDER BULLS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 423 $145.96 $617.41 450-500 468 $140.14 $655.86 500-550 518 $130.92 $678.17 550-600 567 $127.05 $720.37 600-650 614 $116.60 $715.92 650-700 668 $112.15 $749.16

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FEEDER HEIFERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 422 $124.42 $525.05 450-500 470 $122.36 $575.09 500-550 520 $119.66 $622.23 550-600 567 $115.63 $655.62 600-650 613 $111.01 $680.49 650-700 669 $107.62 $719.98

Source: N.C. Dept. of Agriculture - USDA Market News Service, Raleigh, N.C. - 919-707-3156

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PAGE 63

Beef Checkoff News USDA Announces Appointments to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the appointment of 28 members to serve on the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB). All appointed members will serve three year terms beginning February 2021 and ending February 2024, with the exception of one Importer Unit appointee who will serve a one year term.

Newly appointed members are: • Caleb Plyler, Hope, Ark. • Sallie Miller, Briggsdale, Colo.

• Sarah K. Childs, Lake Placid, Fla. • Tucker Shaw, Caldwell, Ida. • Philip L. Perry, Oskaloosa, Kan. • Trista Brown Priest, Satanta, Kan. • Andy Bishop, Cox’s Creek, Ken. • Leon James, Hurdland, Mo. • Katie Sue Cooper, Willow Creek, Mont.

• Turk Stovall, Billings, Mont.

• Gina M. Hudson, Belvidere, Neb. • Steve Wolfe, Kearney, Neb. • Bill Baldwin, Mitchell, Neb. • Raymond Erbele, Streeter, N.D. • Cheryl DeVuyst, Morrison, Okla.

• Jimmy Taylor, Cheyenne, Okla.

• Daniel M. Kniffen, Spring Mills, Penn.

• Bill Slovek, Philip, S.D. • April Bonds, Fort Worth, Tex. • J. Ryan Moorhouse, Amarillo, Tex. • Mark Brent Sustaire, Winnsboro, Tex. • Michael White, Vernon, Tex. • Steve Springer, Linden, Wis. • Melissa Daniels, Nicasio, Calif., Southwest Unit • Jeffrey Isenmann, Rochester, Mich., Importer Unit • Kimberly A. D’Anella, Wenonah, N.J., Importer Unit

PAGE 64

• Rob Williams, Chevy Chase, Mary., Importer Unit • Stephen Sothmann, Washington, D.C., Importer Unit (one year term) More information about the board and a list of board members is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Cattlemen’s Beef Board web page.

More information can also be found on the board’s website at www.beefboard.org.

Since 1966, Congress has authorized industry funded research and promotion boards to provide a framework for agricultural industries to pool resources and combine efforts to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight to 21 boards. The oversight ensures fiscal accountability and program integrity and is paid for by industry assessments.

To learn more about the Beef Checkoff and its programs, including promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information, and safety, visit www.

DrivingDemandForBeef.com.

New Report Assesses Impact of COVID-19 on Consumer Behaviors.

The “State of the Consumer” Report Highlights Opportunities, Impact of COVID-19 on Beef Demand. The number of consumers who say they intend to eat beef at least weekly increased from 67 percent to 72 percent compared to 2019, and consumer positive perceptions of beef reached 70 percent for the first time, according to a new report released by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

Checkoff, that examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions.

“The impact of the pandemic has been transformative in every corner of our economy,” said Buck Wehrbein, 2020 NCBA Federation Division Chair. “The good news is that consumers are choosing beef more often as they adapt to cooking more at home.”

The report outlines what consumer behaviors have changed, what behaviors may be permanent, and how the beef industry has and continues to respond.

With support from the 44 state beef councils and the Beef Checkoff program, current market and consumer research provides insight into the past year and helps inform programming and response in order to keep beef as the top protein choice for consumers.

“NCBA’s checkoff funded market research program allows us to evaluate and understand the consumer landscape, especially as its dynamics continue to shift,” NCBA Senior Director of Market Research Shawn Darcy said. “As a result, this helps all checkoff programs be more efficient, whether through promotion, education, or information distribution.”

With unemployment rates climbing higher during the pandemic than they have in decades, 65 percent of consumers remain very concerned about the impact of COVID-19, especially with its effects on the economy. Despite not knowing how this pandemic will continue to shape the consumer landscape, the “State of the Consumer” report provides valuable information to help the beef industry better understand the quickly changing environment. Key takeaways include: • Online ordering for both groceries and meal ordering is likely here to stay. It is expected online ordering and delivery will grow at a more rapid pace than originally projected due to COVID-19.

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., managed

by NCBA, will continue to complete first-of-its-kind exploratory e-commerce

marketing campaigns to help the supply chain accelerate the sales of fresh beef in this rapidly changing environment.

• Consumers are cooking more meals at home now than prior to COVID-19.

This means they are searching for information to help them cook meals at home. Though expected to continue for the short term, a long term shift is difficult to assess. NCBA will continue to utilize a variety of techniques by pushing out cooking information and recipe inspiration through digital, social media, and traditional media platforms and leveraging impactful, high profile influencers or thought leaders to teach consumers how to cook.

• Consumers are spending more time at home and online than prior to COVID-19. Along with that comes the rise of more TV and movie streaming platforms and the decline of in-person movie theater watching experience, which could signal a long term shift in consumers using more media “inside of the home” compared to “out-of-home.”

NCBA will continue to utilize a variety of marketing platforms to continuously reach the consumer through paid, earned, and owned digital, social, and traditional media platforms.

• Currently, consumers are more focused on spending their money on essential needs, such as groceries, household supplies, and personal care and cleaning products. This will likely adjust back at some point; it is just a matter of when. NCBA, as a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, will continue to look for opportunities to remind consumers that beef is the classic comfort food that they want as the centerpiece of their dinner, especially as we move into the holiday season.

• Positive consumer perceptions of beef and beef production increased during the pandemic and will likely remain higher for the next several months.

Consumers may return to expressing concerns about food production when

focus evolves from current concerns.

NCBA will continue programs that educate consumers about beef and beef production.

Beef demand has remained strong to date. Consumers increased weekly beef eatings and were willing to pay more for the product. With strong domestic consumer demand building programs like Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., and other demand building programs, NCBA will keep focused on keeping this strong demand going through innovated checkoff funded programs.

The full “State of the Consumer” Report, with detailed statistics and graphs, can be found at www.beefresearch.org/ resources/market-research-planning/whitepapers/state-of-the-consumer-fall-2020.

New Tool Helps Farmers and Ranchers Develop Custom Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention. NCBA’s Beef Quality Assurance program releases a new Beef Checkoff funded tool to help cattle farmers and ranchers ensure they are prepared with a custom biosecurity plan. In support of cattle producers across the country dedicated to preventing disease, improving animal welfare, and reducing production losses, the Beef Checkoff funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program developed a Daily Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention template. The template, which helps cattle producers implement daily biosecurity measures on their operations, is available digitally as a PDF or can be printed for handwritten plans.

The template was specifically designed to be customizable, giving producers flexibility in determining management practices that work best for their cattle operation and covers everything from animal movement to worker training. The goal of this introductory and stepwise program is to provide beef farmers and ranchers across the country with the information needed to implement biosecurity plans. In addition to providing basic information, the tool emphasizes why biosecurity is vital on cattle operations and provides an opportunity for producers to have conversations with their herd veterinarians, extension agents, and state BQA coordinators about biosecurity preparedness.

“Biosecurity is a top priority for the beef industry,” said Kim Brackett, an Idaho cattle producer and chair of the BQA Advisory Group. “This Beef Checkoff funded tool allows beef farmers and ranchers to develop their own biosecurity plans unique to their operations. Whether a cow/calf operation in California, a backgrounder in Mississippi or a feedyard in Kansas,

being proactive and developing a written plan ahead of a crisis allows producers to implement and become familiar with biosecurity precautions. Even more importantly, producers will be prepared if a biosecurity threat were to happen.”

The Daily Biosecurity Plan for Disease Prevention template was created in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture and its Secure Beef Supply plan. By intersecting these resources, producers that already have biosecurity steps in place for day-to-day operations are able to easily move to an enhanced biosecurity plan to prepare for a potential foreign animal disease outbreak.

For more information about BQA and the BQA Daily Biosecurity Plan, visit www.BQA.org.

Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Hosts Celebrity Chef Jet Tila for “Virtual Roast and Toast 2.0.” Food influencers gather for Beef Checkoff funded event to learn how to make a Prime Rib Roast just in time for the holiday season. On December 3, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. hosted a virtual “Roast and Toast” food influencer holiday event teaching a select group of food influencers how to cook the perfect Prime Rib Roast. The event brought together the group of 18 for an exclusive evening with internationally known, cohost of Iron Chef America and reoccurring judge on the Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, and Guy’s Grocery Games, Chef Jet Tila.

The “Virtual Roast and Toast” is the latest effort from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, to educate food influencers and reach and inspire a wider audience of consumers to enjoy a delicious beef meal. During the event, the influencers had the chance to engage with Chef Tila and ask questions. They will use the information they learned in social posts encouraging their audiences to cook a Prime Rib Roast.

“While we weren’t able to host an in-person event this year, it was great to gather virtually and share what the holiday season isn’t complete without – a Prime Rib Roast,” said Sarah Reece, Senior Director, Influencer Engagement at NCBA, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff.

“Despite being apart, these top tier influencers were excited to learn from Chef Tila and this showed in their social media posts. In total, their posts generated a potential reach of more than one million consumers!”

“Virtual Roast and Toast 2.0” is the second iteration of last year’s in-person event, which brought together food influencers and four cattle producers for an evening of beefy, holiday inspiration. This offered a unique opportunity for influencers

to meet the people who are passionate about raising beef and learn new ways to enjoy beef during the holiday season.

For more about the latest Beef Checkoff efforts, visit www.

BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

About the Beef Checkoff. The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The Checkoff

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

Carolina Video and Load Lot Monthly Summary (Weeks ending NOVEMBER 3, NOVEMBER 10, & NOVEMBER 17, 2020)

Carolina Video and Load Lot Monthly Summary of Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales on Tuesday, NOVEMBER 3, 2020, Southeast Livestock Exchange on Tuesday, NOVEMBER 10, 2020, and Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales on Tuesday, NOVEMBER 17, 2020. All cattle in this report are located in North Carolina and South Carolina. Prices FOB the farm or local scale and many weighed with a 0-2 percent shrink and sold with a 5-8¢ per pound slide on the heavy side only.

Cattle Receipts: 1,751

Last Month: 2,752

Feeders made up 100 percent of the offering. The feeder supply included 62 percent steers and 38 percent heifers. Nearly 100 percent of the run weighed over 600 pounds. Head totals are based on load lot estimate of 49,500 pounds.

Head 32 65 65 61 58

Wt. Range 700-700 750-750 750-750 800-800 850-850

FEEDER STEERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Avg. Wt. Price Range Avg. Price Delivery 700 $114.00 $114.00 Dairy x Split Loads 750 $141.00 $141.00 Value Added Nov-Dec 750 $132.00 $132.00 Value Added 800 $143.00 $143.00 Value Added Nov-Dec 850 $136.25 $136.25 Value Added

Head 34 78 78 41 30 42 40 20 34 68 39 65 60 61 59 54

Wt. Range 600-600 625-625 625-625 650-650 670-670 700-700 700-700 700-700 725-725 725-725 725-725 750-750 800-800 800-800 825-825 900-900

FEEDER STEERS (Medium 1-2) Avg. Wt. Price Range Avg. Price Delivery 600 $135.25 $135.25 625 $143.75 $143.75 Natural 625 $140.00 $140.00 Natural 650 $131.00 $131.00 Split Loads Nov-Dec 670 $128.00 $128.00 Split Loads 700 $135.00 $135.00 Split Loads Dec 700 $129.25 $129.25 Split Loads Nov-Dec 700 $126.25 $126.25 Split Loads 725 $129.25 $129.25 Split Loads 725 $131.00 $131.00 Natural 725 $125.50 $125.50 Split Loads 750 $135.00 $135.00 Value Added Dec-Jan 800 $139.25 $139.25 Natural Nov-Dec 800 $133.00 $133.00 825 $135.00 $135.00 Value Added 900 $128.25 $128.25

Head 18

Wt. Range 700-700

FEEDER HEIFERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Avg. Wt. Price Range Avg. Price Delivery 700 $102.00 $102.00 Dairy x Split Loads

Head 35 27 48 40 19 28 35 70 22 68 68 65 65 59

Wt. Range 600-600 615-615 630-630 650-650 650-650 700-700 700-700 700-700 710-710 725-725 725-725 750-750 750-750 835-835

FEEDER HEIFERS (Medium 1-2) Avg. Wt. Price Range Avg. Price Delivery 600 $120.00 $120.00 Split Loads 615 $121.00 $121.00 Split Loads Nov-Dec 630 $120.25 $120.25 Split Loads 650 $119.25 $119.25 Split Loads Nov-Dec 650 $116.25 $116.25 Split Loads 700 $125.00 $125.00 Split Loads Dec 700 $119.25 $119.25 Split Loads 700 $130.00 $130.00 Guaranteed Open 710 $115.50 $115.50 Split Loads 725 $126.50 $126.50 Value Added 725 $129.00 $129.00 Natural 750 $130.00 $130.00 Value Added Nov-Dec 750 $130.00 $130.00 Natural Nov-Dec 835 $130.50 $130.50 Natural Nov-Dec

Source: N.C. Dept. of Agriculture - USDA Market News Service, Raleigh, N.C. - 919-707-3156

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

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The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

...

LASSIFIED PUREBRED C ATTLE BREEDERS

INSURANCE

FORAGE PRODUCTS

BACK CREEK

AUTO • HOME • LIFE BUSINESS • FARM & RANCH

ANGUS

803-789-7000

Joe and Robin Hampton

The Josey Agency, Inc.

345 Withrows Creek Lane Mt. Ulla, NC 28125

Douglas Josey Multi-Line Agent

704-880-2488

Cell: 803-385-8161 Email: djosey@truvista.net

2610 Kee Moore Drive Chester, SC 29706

BLACK GROVE Breeding Registered Angus since 1962

Walter D. Shealy III and Family

20977 US Hwy 76 • Newberry, SC 29108 Walter Shealy • 803-924-1000 Dixon Shealy • 803-629-1174 walter@blackgrove.com • dixon@blackgrove.com www.blackgrove.com

Autryville, NC 28318 www.howardbrosfarms.com

Darryl Howard Cell: 910-990-2791

SENEPOL CATTLE FOR SALE Black & Red Available

Great for grass programs!

Heat Tolerant • Calving Ease Gentle Natured • Tender Carcass

H.J. WHITE FARMS

PO Box 215 • Bladenboro, NC 28320 910-648-6171 (day) • 910-863-3170 (night)

SPRINGFIELD ANGUS 104 Springfield Lane Louisburg, NC 27549

Phil Goodson: 919-880-9062 Alex Askew: 910-260-2889

• Performance Tested • Ultrasound and 50K Evaluated • Registered Angus Bulls

KEEP POSTED FOR UPDATES ON THE 2021 Tarheel Angus/4K Farm Production Sale RICHARD KIRKMAN, DVM 20416 US 64 West Siler City, NC 27344-0350

919-742-5500 • rdkirkman@centurylink.net

FOR SALE

BBU Registered Beefmaster Bulls and Females

WHITEHALL BEEFMASTERS Joe and Ann Logan 214 Cowhead Creek Road Greenwood, SC 29646

Telephone: 864-538-3004

A NIMAL H EALTH

C. A. H. Jim Traynham Wingate, N.C. 704-233-5366 Cell - 704-292-4217

Brent Glenn, DVM Lancaster, S.C.

Carolinas Animal Health, LLC

519 Morgan Mill Rd., Monroe, NC 28112 704-289-5083 • 704-289-1696 • 800-222-8638

AUCTIONEERING Ernest B. Harris President

Phone: 252-257-2140 Mobile: 252-430-9595 ®

Inc. / Auctioneers

QUALITY GELBVIEH, ANGUS, & BALANCER CATTLE

DUANE & WENDY STRIDER, OWNERS

Duane Cell: 336-964-6277 • Wendy Cell: 336-964-5127 Home: 336-381-3640 • Fax: 910-428-4568 ccrosscattle@yahoo.com • ccrosscattle.com THE HERD THAT CONSISTENTLY PRODUCES CATTLE WITH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS, AND EYE APPEAL.

CATTLE FOR SALE PRIVATE TREATY AT ALL TIMES!

328 Fowken Farm Rd. • Jonesville, SC More than 70 years of breeding grass type cattle!

Carcass Data • Fescue Suited • Southern Bred EPDs Breeding Soundness Exam on Two-Year-Old Bulls

Norris Fowler • 864-219-0182 www.fowkenfarm.com

3200 NC Hwy. 58 • Warrenton, NC 27589 NCAL #1468 • NC#C#4264 • VAL #146 • SCAL #3895 Email: ebharris@ebharris.com www.ebharris.com

LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT SMITH FARM

TRAILER SALES

trailers • truck bodies • tool boxes

Carl R. Smith 2205 Finch Farm Rd. Trinity, NC 27370 336.475.1279

smithfarmtrailers@yahoo.com

Authorized Dealer

I NDEX

OF

A DVERTISERS

12th Annual EBS Farms Select Bull & Female Sale ....... 27 2021 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show — RESCHEDULED ............... 53 2021 IRM Red Books .................................................... 56 2021 N.C. Forage & Grassland Council Mid-Winter Virtual Conference …........................ 19 2021 Southern Farm Show — CANCELLED .................. 16 70th Annual N.C. Cattlemen’s Conference Announcement ................................................... 35 4K Farms/Tarheel Angus .............................................. 63 45th Annual Clemson Bull Sale ..................................... 44 45th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale — THANK YOU ..... 39 AGCO — Massey Ferguson ............................................. 2 American-International Charolais Association .......... 7 American Angus Association ....................................... 26 American National Insurance — The Josey Agency ............................................. 63 American Red ............................................................... 46 American Simmental Association ............................... 33 Apple Brandy Prime Cuts ............................................. 59 Back Creek Angus ......................................................... 63 Benton’s Hay Farm ....................................................... 49 BioZyme Incorporated — VitaFerm Concept•Aid ….... 54 Black Crest Angus Farm 23rd Annual Production Sale ................................ 24 Black Grove Angus ....................................................... 63 Brubaker Family Angus ................................................ 63 Bull Hill Ranch “More Bull for Your Buck” Sale …....... 48 C-Cross Cattle Company .............................................. 63 Carolinas Animal Health ............................................. 63 Conquest Insurance Agency, Inc. ................................. 63 Double J Farms — BULLS FOR SALE ............................ 61 Dura•Cast ….................................................................... 8 E.B. Harris Auctioneers, Inc. ........................................ 63 First Choice Insurance — Donna Byrum ….................. 21 Fowken Farms — CATTLE FOR SALE ............................ 63 FPL Food, LLC ............................................................... 22 Fred Smith Company Ranch ........................................ 63 Got to Be NC .................................................................. 55 H.J. White Farms .......................................................... 63 Harward Sisters Cattle Company 3rd Annual Bull & Female Sale ….............................. 9 Howard Brothers Farms ............................................... 63 Hunt’s H+ Brangus Bull & Female Sale ….................... 57 Hutton & Sons Herefords ............................................. 63 L.E. Smith Cattle Equipment ........................................ 32

Legend Lespedeza …................................................... 63 March Madness Cattle Sales of the Carolinas ........... 37 N.C. Angus Association Directory .............................. 28 N.C. Cattlemen’s Association Membership Application …................................ 51 N.C. Meat Suite …........................................................ 58 N.C. Hereford Association …....................................... 61 N.C. Simmental Association ….................................... 30 National Beef Checkoff/ North Carolina Cattle Industry Assessment …... 17 Nationwide® AgriBusiness Insurance — The Wills Company …...................................... 34 Nufarm — Grassmanship …........................................ 10 Pearson Livestock Equipment …................................. 31 Post Drivers USA …...................................................... 43 Red Angus Association of the Carolinas Directory .................................. 47 Rusty Thomson & Family Cattle Fencing and Equipment …........................ 15 Safety Zone Calf Catchers …....................................... 64 Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association 29th Annual Replacement Heifer Sale …............. 52 Savannah River Cattlemen Sale ................................. 45 Smith Farm Trailer Sales ............................................ 63 South Carolina Private Treaty Sale Checkoff Investment Form ….............................. 41 Southeast AgriSeeds …............................................... 63 Southeast Livestock Exchange — Upcoming Sale Schedule …............................. 36 Springfield Angus ….................................................... 63 The Carolina Cattle Connection 2021 Spotlight Schedule …................................. 41 The Carolina Cattle Connection Advertising Rates and Sizes …............................ 66 The University of Georgia 28th Focus on Genetically Enhanced EPDs Sale ........................................... 29 Tokeena Angus Bull & Female Sale ............................ 23 Virginia Herd Health Management Services — Pat Comyn, DVM ….......................................... 42 West End Precast — Feed Bunks ................................. 63 West End Precast — Feed Bunks & Troughs ................. 3 White Hawk Ranch 11th Annual Beef Maker Bull Sale ....................... 60 Whitehall Beefmasters ............................................... 63 Wilkes Livestock Exchange ........................................... 5 Yon Family Farms Spring Sale .................................... 25

The Carolina Cattle Connection

q JANUARY 2021

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VENTS ANGUS Jan. 2 — 12th Annual EBS Farms Select Sale, Norwood, N.C. Jan. 9 — C-Cross Cattle Company Annual Bull Sale, Biscoe, N.C. Jan. 23 — Harward Sisters Cattle Company 3rd Annual Bull & Female Sale, Norwood, N.C. Jan. 23 — Rolling B Ranch Inaugural Angus Bull Sale, Yatesville, Ga. Jan. 30 — Tokeena Angus Annual Bull Sale, Seneca, S.C. Feb. 6 — 45th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, online via DV Auction Feb. 11 — UGA Focus on Genetically Enhanced EPDs Sale, Athens, Ga. Feb. 13 — Black Crest Angus Farm 23rd Annual Production Sale, Sumter, S.C.

Feb. 19 — White Hawk Ranch 11th Annual Beef Maker Bull Sale, Buchanan, Ga. Feb. 20 — Yon Family Farms Spring Sale, Ridge Spring, S.C. Feb. 27 — Hunt’s Brangus Bull & Female Sale, Calhoun, Ga. Feb. 27 — Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association 29th Annual Replacement Heifer Sale, Saluda, S.C. Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C. Apr. 24 — N.C. Angus Association Spring Fever Sale, Union Grove, N.C. Nov. 6 — Barnett Angus 2nd Annual Bull Sale, Washington, Ga.

*

*

*

The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady because she had just gotten married for the fourth time.

The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband’s occupation.

“He’s a funeral director,” she answered.

“Interesting,” the newsman thought...

He then asked her if she wouldn’t mind telling him a little about her first three

PAGE 68

santa gertrudis Feb. 27 — Savannah River Cattlemen Sale, Hephzibah, Ga.

Braford Feb. 27 — Savannah River Cattlemen Sale, Hephzibah, Ga.

SIMMENTAL Jan. 2 — 12th Annual EBS Farms Select Sale, Norwood, N.C. Jan. 23 — Harward Sisters Cattle Company 3rd Annual Bull & Female Sale, Norwood, N.C. Feb. 6 — 45th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, online via DV Auction Feb. 20 — Yon Family Farms Spring Sale, Ridge Spring, S.C. Feb. 27 — Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association 29th Annual Replacement Heifer Sale, Saluda, S.C. Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C.

Brahman Feb. 27 — Savannah River Cattlemen Sale, Hephzibah, Ga. BRANGUS Feb. 19 — White Hawk Ranch 11th Annual Beef Maker Bull Sale, Buchanan, Ga. Feb. 27 — Hunt’s Brangus Bull & Female Sale, Calhoun, Ga. Feb. 27 — Savannah River Cattlemen Sale, Hephzibah, Ga. BRAUNVIEH Feb. 6 — 45th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, online via DV Auction

IGHTER A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband. Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen.

“Careful,” he said, “CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my gosh! You’re cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh my gosh! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They’re going to STICK! Careful. CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you’re cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don’t forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!” The wife stared at him. “What in the world is wrong with you? You think I don’t know how to fry a couple of eggs?”

The husband calmly replied, “I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I’m driving.”

Beefmaster Feb. 27 — Savannah River Cattlemen Sale, Hephzibah, Ga.

IDE

husbands and what they did for a living.

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years.

After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she had first married a banker when she was in her 20s, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40s, a preacher in her 60s, and now - in her 80s - a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

She smiled and explained, “I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go.”

*

*

*

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse named Buddy.

He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, “Pull, Nellie, pull!” Buddy didn’t move.

Then the farmer hollered, “Pull, Buster, pull!” Buddy didn’t respond.

Once more the farmer commanded, “Pull, Coco, pull!” Nothing.

Then the farmer nonchalantly said, “Pull, Buddy, pull!” And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.

The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times.

The farmer said, “Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn’t even try!”

The Carolina Cattle Connection q JANUARY 2021

CHAROLAIS Jan. 23 — Harward Sisters Cattle Company 3rd Annual Bull & Female Sale, Norwood, N.C. Feb. 6 — 45th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, online via DV Auction GELBVIEH Jan. 9 — C-Cross Cattle Company Annual Bull Sale, Biscoe, N.C. Feb. 6 — 45th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, online via DV Auction Feb. 27 — Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association 29th Annual Replacement Heifer Sale, Saluda, S.C. HEREFORD Feb. 6 — 45th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, online via DV Auction Feb. 19 — White Hawk Ranch 11th Annual Beef Maker Bull Sale, Buchanan, Ga. Feb. 27 — Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association 29th Annual Replacement Heifer Sale, Saluda, S.C. Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C. Red angus Jan. 16 — Bull Hill Ranch More Bull for Your Buck Sale, Gray Court, S.C. Jan. 23 — Harward Sisters Cattle Company 3rd Annual Bull & Female Sale, Norwood, N.C. Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C. Red Brangus Feb. 27 — Savannah River Cattlemen Sale, Hephzibah, Ga.

OTHER EVENTS Jan. 2 — 12th Annual EBS Farms Select Sale, Norwood, N.C. Jan. 5 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Jan. 5 — Southeast Livestock Exchange Video Auction Jan. 19 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Jan. 26 — N.C. Forage & Grassland Council 2021 Mid-Winter Virtual Conference Feb. 2 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Feb. 2 — N.C. Forage & Grassland Council 2021 Mid-Winter Virtual Conference Feb. 6 — 45th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, online via DV Auction Feb. 9 — N.C. Forage & Grassland Council 2021 Mid-Winter Virtual Conference Feb. 11 — UGA Focus on Genetically Enhanced EPDs Sale, Athens, Ga. Feb. 16 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Feb. 16 — N.C. Forage & Grassland Council 2021 Mid-Winter Virtual Conference Mar. 2 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C. Mar. 16 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Apr. 6 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Apr. 20 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction May 4 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction May 18 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Aug. 10-12 — NCBA Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show, Nashville, Tenn.