2024 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show ........................................................................................... page 22
2024 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts ................................................................................... page 20
A Message from the CEO — Beef and the Boys and Girls of Summer, by Colin Woodall .............. page 42
Amazing Grazing — Preparing for More Pasture Renovation in Fall of 2024, by Dr. Matt Poore ................................................................................................................................... page 10
American Angus Association News ....................................................................................................... page 22
American Simmental Association News ............................................................................................... page 31
Annual Five County Beef Tour ................................................................................................................ page 29
Ashley’s Beef Corner — Beef Sizzles in Summer, by Ashley W. Herring ............................................ page 8
Beef Cuts and Recommended Cooking Methods ............................................................................... page 33
Clemson Corner — Winter Grazing in the Southeast — Cool Season Forages, by Maggie Miller & Hannah Malcomson ............................................................................................... page 14
Director’s Report — Hot in Carolina, by Travis W. Mitchell .................................................................. page 3
E.B.’s View from the Cow Pasture — Making Hay From the 1950s Until 2024, by E.B. Harris .......................................................................................................................................... page 12
Electronic Identification and BQA, by Lauren Langley ........................................................................ page 40
Federation of State Beef Councils Update ........................................................................................... page 50
Forage News — Fall Armyworm Management for Pastures and Hayfields, by Amber Starnes, Brian Beer, & Lee Van Vlake ............................................................................ page 11
Have You Herd — Battling Biosecurity on the Beef Farm, by Alaina Peoples .................................. page 16
How Critical Production Decisions Affect the Fate of Our Cow Herd Numbers, by Bryan Sanderson ................................................................................................................................ page 54
Large Animal Grants Program Accepting Applications ..................................................................... page 41
N.C. Angus Association News — Starnes Family Named 2023 Outstanding N.C. Conservation Farm Family of the Year, by Cortney Holshouser ......................................... page 28
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association News ..................................................................................... page 48
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President’s Report — Building International Partnerships, by Mark Eisele .................................................................. page 47
National Grazing Management Survey ................................................................................................ page 25
New N.C. Cattlemen’s Association Members for 2024 ...................................................................... page 38
North Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ........................................................................... page 10
North Carolina Cattle Research Corner — Implementing a Defined Breeding Season to Optimize Herd Management and Improve Profitability in Beef Cattle, by Felipe Carvalho da Silvo ..................................................................................................................... page 18
Pasture Management Systems, Inc. “Mile of Fence” Program Update ........................................... page 37
Public Lands Council News ...................................................................................................................... page 64
Preventing Cattle Health Issues Through Proactive Nutrition, by Dr. Cadra Kruger .................. page 56
Ridley Block News — Your Blueprint for Fly Control, by Harrison Smith ....................................... page 56
S.C Charolais News, by Georgeanne Webb ............................................................................................. page 41
South Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ............................................................................. page 11
The Chaplain’s Corral — Freedom Through Christ, by T.W. Lawrence ............................................. page 13
The Simmental Trail, by Jennie Rucker .................................................................................................... page 30
Transforming Livestock Nutrition for Performance and Sustainability, by Tien Le ..................... page 64
Trending in Food and Media .................................................................................................................... page 53
Valley Vet News ......................................................................................................................................... page 62
You Decide, by Dr. Mike Walden .............................................................................................................. page 20
NCBA Policy Division Director - JOHN LANGDON N.C. Beef Council Director BROOKE HARWARD
Beef Board Director - BRIAN WARREN
Secretary/Treasurer - EVERETT JOHNSON
Directors At Large
MATT POORE • NEIL BOWMAN • TODD SEE
Executive Director - MILO LEWIS 2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council
Director of Consumer Information
ASHLEY W. HERRING
Administrative Assistant - KIM BURDGE
S.C. Cattlemen’s Association
Executive Director - TRAVIS MITCHELL
P.O. Box 207 • Saluda, SC 29138
Phone: 803-609-2828
Email: twmitch@clemson.edu
Website: www.sccattlemen.wildapricot.org
Executive Committee
President - Joe Oswald IV
1st Vice President - Gene Crim 2nd Vice President - Ashley Mills
Secretary - Carol Hendrix
Treasurer - Eric Seymour
Past President - Timmy Benton
John Lewis, Chester • Joe Oswald, IV, Allendale
Ryan Whitehead, Union • Terry Kirkland, Batesburg
Lloyd Baxley, Georgetown • Joe Davis, Westminster
Michael Hall, Abbeville • Richard Sox, Lexington
Carol Hendrix, Westminister • Jamie Driggers, Hamer
Bonnie Cann, Abbeville • Ashley Mills, Blair
Haskel Sexton, Sparanburg • Gene Crim, St. Matthews
Al McClain, Anderson • Eric Seymour, Columbia Timmy Benton, Walterboro
S.C. Beef Council
Executive Director - ERIN DOLL
P.O. Box 11280 • Columbia, SC 29211
Phone: 803-734-9806
Email: edoll@scda.sc.gov
Website: www.sccattle.org
The Carolina Cattle Connection
Vol. 38, No. 7 JULY 2024
Sales & Publication Office
2228 N. Main Street
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Phone: 919-552-9111
Fax: 919-552-9216
Email: mail@nccattle.com
Website: www.nccattle.com
The Carolina Cattle Connection is printed on 30 lb recycled newsprint by BN Printing in Benson, N.C.
STAFF
Manager, N.C. MILO LEWIS
Manager, S.C. TRAVIS MITCHELL
Editor & Advertising Director
CASEY L. HINNANT
Assistant Editor & Proofreader KIM BURDGE
N.C. Circulation KIM BURDGE
S.C. Circulation TRAVIS MITCHELL
Material in The Carolina Cattle Connection is not to be reproduced in total or in part without the written permission of the Editor. All submissions become property of The Carolina Cattle Connection, but we make every effort to return items such as photographs and artwork as requested.
The Carolina Cattle Connection, the official publication of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association and the S.C. Cattlemen’s Association is published monthly by the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association.
A complementary subscription is included with membership to each state’s association. Nonmember subscriptions are $30 per year.
All address changes for NCCA members to: The Carolina Cattle Connection 2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
All address changes for SCCA members to: The Carolina Cattle Connection P.O. Box 207 • Saluda, SC 29138
$400 - Open Rate
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$575 - Open Rate
$530* - 6 Ads Annually
$460* - 12 Ads Annually *per month
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Director’s report
By TRAVIS W. MITCHELL, Executive Director, SCCA
Hot in Carolina
The heat is on across the Carolinas as we move into the summer grilling season. Heat index values have exceeded 100ºF for several days, and the long term forecast shows more is on the way. Remember to take care of yourself and your cattle this summer as temperatures rise.
The S.C. Cattlemen’s Association and the S.C. Beef Council generously provided financial support for the
Clemson Extension Livestock & Forages team to attend the 2024 Beef Improvement Federation Symposium.
Clemson University had 12 livestock and forages agents and specialists travel to Knoxville, Tenn., for this information packed symposium focused on “Building a Better Cow.” Specialists from across the country presented on beef cattle topics, including genetic improvements,
Regular copy deadline is JULY 5 for the AUGUST issue Or else!
Spotlight material is due JULY 1 for the AUGUST issue
cow longevity and efficiency, beef sustainability, and many more.
The S.C. Cattlemen’s Association has set dates for the 2024 Regional Membership Engagement meetings. We will kick off the meetings in Florence
on August 27, travel to Spartanburg on August 28, and wrap up in Orangeburg on August 29. Exact times and locations will be announced in the near future, but please go ahead and mark your calendars to attend one of these events in your area.
Regional Membership
e Special Section f
Gelbvieh History and
Origin of Breed - The Gelbvieh breed is one of the oldest German cattle breeds, first found mainly in three Franconian districts of Bavaria in southern Germany. Starting in 1850, systematic breeding work began in stud herds. Through purebreeding, the “red-yellow Franconian cattle” were developed from several local strains, including Celtic-German Landrace and Heil-Brown Landrace cattle. These local strains have been further improved with intensive breeding work since 1870. This solid colored breed of red-yellow cattle enjoyed great popularity as draft and slaughter cattle.
Since World War II, Germany used a stringent selection program to repopulate its cattle herds. Only three percent of the registered cows were used to produce potential bulls. These cows were selected on structural soundness and conformation.
Bulls from these select cows were performance tested, and the top half was progeny tested. The progeny evaluation included gestation length, birth weight, calving ease, growth rate, slaughter weight, carcass quality conformation, udder soundness, and fertility and milk production in daughters. Semen was released only from bulls that proved their superiority in progeny testing.
Development
Spotlight on gElBViEh
In the 1960s, Red Danish cattle were included in the herd book to improve milk production.
Development in America - Leness Hall, the director of International Marketing for Carnation Genetics, first saw Gelbvieh cattle in 1969. He worked towards importing Gelbvieh semen to the U.S., and finally was able to bring 43,000 units to America in 1971. In that same year, the American Gelbvieh Association was formed.
Today, there are approximately 45,000 active, registered Gelbvieh cows in the United States and 1,400 active members of the American Gelbvieh Association (AGA). AGA is the largest Gelbvieh association in the world and ranks fifth in number of registered animals among beef breed associations in the United States. Most registered U.S. Gelbvieh are classified as purebreds (at
least 88 percentage Gelbvieh) and were bred up by mating fullbloods and purebred Gelbvieh bulls to foundation cows.
Breed Registry and Improvement Programs - Purebred Gelbvieh cattle as well as hybrid cattle can be registered with the AGA. Breeders can document Gelbvieh influenced bulls and females with registrations and EPDs through AGA’s three hybrid registry programs: Balancer®, Southern Balancer®, and Hybrid.
Balancer cattle are registered hybrid seedstock and have documented pedigrees and EPDs. Balancer animals are 2575 percent Gelbvieh with the balance Angus or Red Angus. Southern Balancer is a Gelbvieh heat tolerant composite specifically targeted to producers who want the maternal heterosis, disposition, fertility, and carcass consistency of a Bos Indicus x Gelbvieh cross. Hybrid animals, of any breed or cross, may be recorded using the Hybrid Cattle Recording Service. The AGA documents the pedigree, breed composition, and calculates performance data and provides EPDs.
For Gelbvieh members and commercial users of Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics, the AGA offers several services to assist in maximizing return on investment in Gelbvieh and Balancer bulls and replacement females.
Cow/calf producers who use Gelbvieh genetics are eligible to add value to females by marketing them through the Maternal Edge commercial female sales. Visit www.maternaledge.com for more information about a sale in various areas.
For cattlemen looking to market bulls, replacement females or feeder cattle, check out the AGA’s free Exchange service, including: Bull Listings, Female Listings, and Feeder Calf Listings. Visit www.gelbvieh.org/exchange to view current listings or to post a new listing.
Brand your Gelbvieh influenced feeder calves with SmartCross® ear tags. This ear tag tells the buyer he is getting quality and predictability. Contact the AGA office at 303-465-2333 for more information on the three tag styles to fit any management program, as well as electronic ID tags.
For more information about Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics, visit www. gelbvieh.org
Characteristics of the Breed
Coloration - Traditional Gelbviehs are reddish gold to russet or black in color. Traditional German Gelbviehs tend to be darker on their necks than the rest of the body; this is more prominent in bulls than in cows. Red Gelbviehs can be confused with traditional colored Limousins because of the same light pigmentation around the eyes and nose. Gelbviehs also have strong skin pigmentation, which makes them ideal for temperate to arid conditions.
Body type and characteristicsGelbvieh are beefy, moderately muscular cattle, with frame sizes ranging from medium to large. They are long and smooth-haired, with bulls averaging around 2,300 lbs and cows averaging around 1,300 lbs in weight.
Head characteristics - Though the traditional Gelbvieh breed was originally
horned, this has been bred out in most of the modern day Gelbvieh cattle. Cows have a moderately long face, not dissimilar to Simmentals, Charolais, or Limousins, and bulls have similar head characteristics to the aforementioned breeds.
Other characteristics - The Gelbvieh breed is great for its high fertility, freedom from genital defects, superior calving ease, mothering ability, exceptional milking ability, and high growth rates. Carcass characteristics have a lot of potential, since the breed is mostly lean, but can be crossed with breeds like Angus to get an exceptional carcass quality. Gelbviehs are also very quiet and docile, which is easily passed on to their offspring, crossbred or not.
They are also highly adapted to hot arid climates, with not only the skin pigmentation that makes them resistant to
sunburn and able to stand out in the hot sun without any problems, but also their ability to restrict blood flow to the areas where they have been bitten by ticks, isolating the ticks
and starving them. This is a characteristic that has been noticed and proven by South African Gelbvieh Association, and is currently undergoing more research.
e Special Section f
Spotlight on gElBViEh
The Value of Crossbreeding for Commercial Herds
The crossbred beef cow can make you more money! One of the main keys to successful crossbreeding is finding two breeds that excel in different traits but together result in high breed complementarity. The crossbred animal that effectively captures the value of breed complementarity is the Balancer®. The
Balancer captures the maternal strengths of Gelbvieh cattle and the marbling strength of Angus or Red Angus cattle. A Balancer is a registered hybrid seedstock breed that are 25-75 percent Gelbvieh with either Angus or Red Angus contributing the remaining breed percentage.
“Crossbreeding can have positive
Gelbvieh and Balancer Maternal Influence
Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle offer maternal superiority through increased longevity, added fertility, and more pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed. In addition, Gelbvieh and Balancer females offer a small mature cow size, more maternal milk, and reach puberty at an earlier age.
U.S. Meat Animal Research Center data shows Gelbvieh females have the smallest mature cow size of the four major continental breeds. The Gelbvieh breed was the only breed in the study to reduce mature cow size. At an average of 1,382 pounds, Gelbvieh sired females had the lowest five-year-old cow weight.
This reduced mature cow size allows for puberty to be reached at an earlier age, which leads to calving earlier in the season and producing a calf at a younger age. These females are able to wean heavier calves while still maintaining low birth weights and a tight calving interval year after year.
Gelbvieh and Balancer females also excel in stayability, which is the probability a bull’s daughters will remain in the cow herd until at least six years of age. This trait is economically beneficial to cow/calf producers and directly impacts profitability. With the high costs associated with the development or purchase of replacement females, sustained reproduction is essential in a herd.
U.S. MARC data, along with American Gelbvieh Association genetic trends, prove that today’s Gelbvieh and Balancer cows are highly productive, offering increased longevity, more maternal milk, less mature weights, early puberty, quiet disposition, and will calve easily, producing calves with low birth weights and tremendous growth.
With stayability and cow productivity being important factors in cow/ calf profitability, adding Gelbvieh and Balancer maternal influence through a crossbreeding program is a great option for commercial producers.
effects on a ranch’s bottom line by not only increasing the quality and gross pay weight of calves produced but also by increasing the durability and productivity of the cow factory,” said Bob Weaber, Ph.D., cow/ calf extension specialist at Kansas State University.
The Balancer hybrid will do just as Dr. Weaber states. Balancer calves will load the scales with more pounds on sale day and their mothers will keep producing similar calves year after year.
In addition to increasing the amount of pounds sold, ranch profitability improves from crossbreeding by reducing the maintenance requirements of your cow herd.
“Positive changes in cow longevity, reproductive rate, and calf performance from heterosis effectively reduces maintenance energy requirements per pound of beef produced. Dilution of maintenance costs of the cow herd improves sustainability in both the environment, through more efficient land use, and profitability areas,” Weaber said.
Matt Spangler, Ph.D., with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, believes that a well thoughtout crossbreeding program should be utilized in a comer operation.
“The most successful commercial operations use crossbreeding as the standard rather than the exception as they exploit maternal heterosis to increase production, but mostly in order to reduce cost…They focus on the cost per pound of
production, relative to the possible revenue per pound,” Spangler said. Balancer cattle excel at meeting the demands of the cow/calf producers and the feedlots. Balancer cattle make it easy to implement crossbreeding into any commercial herd and give the rancher the benefits of profit making hybrid vigor.
Don’t put your cart before your horse... advertise that sale ahead of time! You’ll see positive results.
Spotlight on gElBViEh e Special Section f
Measure the Ways Crossbreeding Pays
Now more than ever, producers are trying to maximize outputs and herd performance all while reducing costs. Taking advantage of tools that allow for reduced costs and increased productivity and profitability is an essential worth to producers in today’s industry. One tool that has been utilized in the beef industry for several years, and one that has evident value in beef production is crossbreeding. Crossbreeding provides increased performance with minimal, if any, additional costs to the producer.
Through the practice of crossbreeding, heterosis (or hybrid vigor) and breed complementarity are achieved within the herd. Heterosis can be defined as the superiority in performance of the crossbred animal compared to the average of its straightbred parents. When valuing heterosis, you essentially gain a dual advantage: individual heterosis and maternal heterosis.
above, maternal heterosis is the advantage of a crossbred mother over the average of other purebred mothers. It refers to the combined improvement in traits from the dam that causes an increase in the performance of her and her progeny. Improved fertility, increased calf survivability, greater cow longevity, and more pounds of calf produced are examples of maternal heterosis.
As seen in Table 5, a crossbred cow has been shown to have a 16.2 percent increase in longevity and has proven to stay in the herd longer than a straightbred cow. This table also reflects the increase in the number of calves through a cow’s lifetime as well as additional pounds of cumulative weaning weight and more profit for the producer. The effects of heterosis are greatest for lifetime production with a 30 percent improvement, longevity, or herd life with a 15 percent increase, and annual income improvement
Table 4. Individual heterosis: Advantage of the crossbred calf1
1Adapted from Cundiff and Gregory 1999.
Individual heterosis results in an increase of calf survival to weaning, along with increased growth. Table 4 shows the increase in performance that can be achieved through individual heterosis. Through crossbreeding, calves have been seen to have a 3.9 percent increase in weaning weight and a 2.6 percent increase in average daily gain, all which translates to increased profits. Similar to the definition of heterosis
from heterosis at 23 percent.
The crossbred female is really where crossbreeding pays off. Traits that are most influenced by heterosis are those traits with low heritability, such as fertility traits. Traits that are most affected by heterosis can be seen in the table to the right.
Utilizing crossbreeding systems also allows for the opportunity to capitalize on breed complementarity. This is the
Table 5. Maternal heterosis: Advantage of the crossbred cow1
1Adapted from Cundiff and Gregory 1999.
assessment of strengths and weaknesses of each breed type and applying those that complement each other. Breed complementarity is one of the best ways to describe the benefits of Balancer ® cattle. Balancer animals are 25 to 75 percent Gelbvieh with the balance of Angus or Red Angus. They combine the Gelbvieh growth, muscle, leanness, fertility, longevity, and low yield grading ability with the carcass qualities of Angus to make an animal that meets today’s modern industry demands.
Balancer hybrids offer a simple and powerful way to maintain hybrid vigor and the
proper combination of British and Continental genetics in your cowherd in a straightforward and easy crossbreeding system.
Gelbvieh are also an ideal fit for a crossbreeding program because of their superior maternal characteristics such as longevity and fertility. Gelbvieh females are known for reaching puberty at an earlier age and remaining in the herd longer. With these attributes, combined with performance gained through maternal heterosis, Gelbvieh influenced cattle make the ideal female for any herd. So, why not reap the benefits of the heterosis advantage?
Source: American Gelbvieh Association
“DESIGNED FOR CATTLEMEN BY CATTLEMEN”
Ashley’s Beef Corner
TBeef Sizzles in Summer
By ASHLEY W. HERRING Director of Consumer Information N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council
Coming into the warmest months of the year, we are always thinking about cooking outdoors to keep the kitchen cool. Grilling is the preferred method of preparing beef as it produces the desired sear. It is the browning effect that produces flavor and aroma during the cooking process. When you apply heat to a piece of meat over an extended period of time, you are causing a browning reaction called the Maillard reaction.
We want consumers to naturally associate grilling with beef. Our summer grilling campaign is back to promote beef on many platforms. Now, we use connected TV and streaming audio advertising to reach their eyes and ears.
Our campaign runs through August 31 to capitalize on the peak grilling season. It will also mirror the national Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner Grilling Anthem Campaign flight. The ad placements include sports, cooking shows, and local/national news networks. Participating states include Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky. Our efforts are combined with generous support from Iowa, Oklahoma, and North Dakota.
From North Carolina, we are contributing $5,000, which is estimated to be the equivalent of $13,472 because of the size of our population and metro areas. Our stewardship of the Beef Checkoff is always a priority.
With a variety of events this summer, possible places our BIWFD ads may appear include live sports programming and various audio platforms.
Depending on the season, live sports programming may include:
• Regional college sports (football, basketball)
• NFL regular season and playoffs (Sunday Night Football, etc.)
• NBA, NHL, and MLB regular season (ESPN, ESPN2, TNT)
• Golf – live PGA Tour (FuboTV)
• Soccer - (U.S. coverage of EPL, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Serie A)
• Formula 1 & NASCAR racing -
(Sling, FS1)
• Paris Olympics
Audio platforms may include popular consumer audio sites, such as iHeart, Spotify, and Pxandora. These ads are unskippable and have an option to learn more on the BIWFD website.
During the natural commercial breaks in the show, a user is shown a 15 or 30 second Beef Checkoff funded ad. These are non-skippable videos, and the user must watch the entire video to continue their show.
I’ll be sure to share campaign results and metrics at the conclusion. We feel these are positive ways to position our beef advertising so it can move the needle the most.
By DR. MATT POORE N.C. State University
Preparing for More Pasture Renovation in Fall of 2024
Authors note: This month, I decided to print the June 2021 issue of my Triple Creek Journal in The Carolina Cattle Connection. Visit www.grasslandrenewal. org to read my monthly farm journal. I am really excited about our new plantings of novel endophyte tall fescue! We sprayed some of our best fescue land with glyphosate and started planting summer and winter annuals 12 years ago. The plan was to convert to novel endophyte tall fescue, but we kind of fell in love with the annuals which gave us very high quality grazing and were fun to plant and grow.
There are benefits to the annuals, but the drawbacks of an imbalanced forage system and the twice-a-year purchase of seed finally made us realize that we really need to move on to non-toxic perennials. Many farmers consider novel endophyte tall fescue seed to be too expensive to pay off. The increased performance realized will more than pay for that seed and much more, but it is still hard to swallow over $120/ acre for seed. But consider this: Over the 12 years we grew annuals on this land, we spent $1,200 per acre on seed alone! After that, $120/acre does not seem like so much!
We finally planted novel endophyte tall fescue on 40 acres last fall. We did our best to get good, healthy stands, including soil testing to guide fertilizer and lime applications. Unfortunately, we had an extremely dry fall season, so we planted very late and into dry soil. When rains finally came in late November, seeds that didn’t come up after planting finally germinated, and by late winter, the stands were there and as good as you could hope for.
We scouted for weeds in January and February and found enough henbit, buttercup, and chickweed to cause problems, so those were sprayed in late February. We applied 30 lbs/acre of N from granular urea about March 1, and after some timely rains, the grass really took off.
The new fescue was growing well in March, and so was ryegrass, which came from volunteer seeds in the seed bank. The ryegrass was thick enough on
two fields to cause trouble, so we grazed quickly to about 4 inches, which means the ryegrass was grazed more intensively than the tall fescue. By mid-April, these early grazed fields and the fields that had not been grazed were all ready to be grazed again. We rotated across these quickly with our replacement heifers and finishing steers during April.
We applied another 30 lbs/acre of nitrogen to these stands in late April, which worked well with the 11.5 inches of rain we got in May! By the end of May, these stands of fescue were again ready to graze. In fact, this grass was so thick we pulled back and decided to cut 5 acres of it for hay, which yielded 1.5 tons per acre, and that after having already grazed it twice!
These stands are all looking good now that we are going into the heat of summer, and I am confident that we will get an excellent fall stockpile off these pure tall fescue stands.
In the meantime, we are encouraged enough to be eyeing other land to convert this year. We have identified 15 acres that we will be planting for more novel fescue this fall. One 5 acre piece will be converted using the “spray-smotherspray” technique. In this case, after the first grazing, we sprayed with glyphosate and planted Ray’s Crazy Mix. After grazing that twice, we will spray again with glyphosate and plant the fescue.
The other 10 acres will be converted using the “spray-wait-spray” technique. With this area, we started by clipping the seedheads in early May, and then we grazed it. We will rotate through and graze it again several times this summer before spraying with glyphosate about September 1. We will then wait four weeks and spray again before planting around October 1.
The most encouraging thing about having all this non-toxic forage is the performance of our cattle. We are grazing most of this with a group of bred replacement heifers and finishing steers. These cattle were turned out on ryegrass and oats in early March, and they have
had really high quality forage ever since. These cattle are showing a body condition of 6+ all without any supplemental feed. Forages are the key to economical cattle production in the current
N.C. Cattle
environment. With cattle prices and feed both very high, producers that can get performance on cattle using homegrown forages rather than purchased feed will be at a great advantage.
Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of MAY 2024
FORAGE NEWS
By AMBER STARNES, BRIAN BEER, and LEE VAN VLAKE Clemson University
Fall Armyworm Management for Pastures and Hayfields
It is time for hay and livestock producers to consider prevention and protection for hayfields and pastures from fall armyworms. The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda , is known as a chronic pest in the Southeast region of the
United States. Climates in South Carolina favor the development of fall armyworms, with hot, dry summers being typical. As the name implies, fall armyworms are most numerous in late summer and early fall. The caterpillars feed on a variety of
S.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for
forage crops, such as bahiagrass, pearl millet, and sorghum sudan hybrids, but the most damage is usually seen in lush, green, well fertilized bermudagrass.
Fall armyworms are susceptible to cold, making late summer/early fall prime time for the development of fall armyworms, which means this is also the prime time to prepare for the prevention/ treatment of an invasion. Often, the pest is present but goes undetected because of the initial small size of the eggs/larvae. Mature caterpillars often cause the most damage because of the vast amount of foliage they consume, and damage often appears overnight. Damage may vary in appearance and severity according to the type of grass and management practices. In a pasture situation where the grass has been grazed closely, the grass may seem to thin out and develop brown spots. All tender green material may be removed in hayfields, leaving only tough stems a few inches long. Established, healthy bermudagrass is rarely killed by armyworms. Still, the complete defoliation caused by severe infestation weakens plants and deprives livestock of pasture or hay producers of a hay cutting. Fall armyworm damage on newly established grasses can be a more severe situation. The crops can be severely stunted or killed if fall armyworms feed too far down on these plants. Most commonly, fall armyworms forage during early morning and late afternoon, making this the recommended time to scout the fields for the pest or signs of damage.
fall armyworms during late summer/early fall, it is not uncommon to get five or more generations produced each year. Although generations can overlap, most of the fall armyworms in one area will be similar in life stage development, making damage seem to come in waves that follow the cyclic development of the fall armyworms. Some signs that indicate fall armyworms are cattle egrets and/or geese feeding in concentrated areas, foliage that has been chewed on the underside only, and forage that appears to be ‘frosted.’ Once damage becomes more severe, the field will have dead spots appear. It also pays to notice the condition of your neighboring fields because this pest will sometimes invade an area in search of food once an adjacent field has been defoliated.
Scouting pastures and hayfields can help detect fall armyworm infestation before they cause economic damage. If fields are already damaged from fall armyworms, these fields should be closely monitored for the rest of the season to determine whether further treatment is required. If a hayfield has been heavily damaged, fertilize as recommended to allow for another hay crop, whereas severely damaged pastures may need to be rested.
- Yield Grade 1-2
CLASSES
Scouting hayfields and pastures should begin in July. While scouting, the following descriptions are stages of the fall armyworm that you may notice. Fall armyworm eggs are creamy white and dome shaped with a flat base. Eggs are laid in clusters of 25100, with a single adult female moth laying as many as 2,000 eggs on lower leaf blades. The egg clusters will have a hairy/fuzzy appearance. The newly hatched larva is light green to cream colored with a dark head capsule. The newly hatched larva is tiny and often goes unnoticed. As the larva develops, it becomes darker, with light colored lines down the side of the body. The head capsule will be dark with a light colored inverted Y marking on the front. Another identifying mark will be the four dots on the next to last abdominal segment. Once fully grown, the larva measures about 1½ inches long. Large armyworms frequently disappear almost as suddenly as they appeared, either burrowing into the ground to pupate or migrating in search of food. The adult fall armyworm is an ash gray moth with a 1½ inch wingspan. It will have whitish spots near the tip of the front wings, and the hind wings are whitish with narrow brownish wing edges. With the rapid rate of development of the
If you detect fall armyworms, there are certain insecticides that are labeled for pastures and hayfields that can be used for treatment. The decision to treat and the amount of insecticide to apply for fall armyworms depends on the stage of the fall armyworms and the intended use of the forage. A population of 2-3 fall armyworms per square foot is a reasonable treatment threshold. As with other pests, timing is essential. Apply insecticides early or late in the day because fall armyworm larvae are most active at these times. Below is a link with insecticides labeled for fall armyworms. As always, read the label before use to ensure proper precautions are taken, such as any grazing or haying restrictions, and to ensure the product will treat the intended target.
For more information on pasture and hay insect management, visit www.clemson. edu/extension/agronomy/pestmanagement21/20 21pmhpastureinsectcontrol.pdf. Contact your local Livestock and Forages agent for further assistance.
References
Loftin, Kelly, Gus Lorenz, Ricky Corder. Managing Armyworms in Pastures and Hayfields (publication number FSA7083). University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension. Accessed July 15, 2015, from www.uaex. edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7083.pdf. Marshall, Mike, et al. 2021 South Carolina Pest Management Handbook. Clemson University Cooperative Extension.
E.B.'s ViEw from thE Cow PasturE
By E.B. HARRIS
Making Hay From the 1950s Until
2024
The first experience with hay that I can recollect was probably about 1956 or 1957. My daddy had a round baler made by Allis Chalmers. It put up a bale about two feet in diameter, three feet long, and had a long apron feeder housing on it, chain feed, apron, and then it went into a series of rollers. I guess it tripped it to let you know the bale was full and put the twine on it. I can’t say I remember exactly how it worked, but it was something similar. It would kick the bale out and do the same process again.
Sometime about that same era, I remember I ran a dump rake behind a mule in the field diagonally across the
road in front of the house in front of the Mayflower School. They went to the woods, cut some saplings, and put the pole up. They would stack the hay into a tipi style. Sometimes they would put a piece of tin over that would sheet it. The first hay feed up would come from these haystacks.
Probably about 1959, I remember my daddy bailing with the Allis Chalmers baler, and he could not get it adjusted. It was coming out the back end as fast as it was being put in the front end. He got frustrated with it and called Mr. Creech, who ran the Allis Chalmers/New Holland dealership. He had a New Holland Super 77 with a Wisconsin engine that Albert Bugg had
bought since he was out of the hay business. Lake Gaston had come and bought all his river land on the Roanoke River and took his dairy, so the baler was available. Daddy bought this baler and brought it home. This was a square bailing machine. I believe it could bale as fast as you could drive the tractor. It had one fault. It had a Wisconsin air cooled engine, and sometimes, on a hot day, if the temperature was in the upper 90s, it would vapor lock. There was no cranking it, period, until it got off the vapor lock. You would have to pull it over in the shade, cut it off, and let it cool.
We ran this baler for many years, and I don’t think it put up a bale of hay less than 100 pounds. I know my daddy had soybean and millet hay, and it was all someone could do to handle one of those square bales of hay behind the Super 77. I remember the day I thought it was a big feat for me to pick up one of those bales of hay and put it on the trailer. It was a challenge, but I told my mama that day that I was a man because I had put one of those bales of hay on the trailer by myself.
All the hay was hauled up on a 16 foot single axle farm trailer. Every bit of it was pitched in the loft or put in the barns. We did not have any conveyors to handle the bales of hay. It was muscle and manpower that handled the bales of hay. My job was to get it from the doorway back to the man stacking. The day I could throw a bale of hay up in the loft, I knew I was a man and was proud that I could put a bale of hay up in the loft. Sometimes Jimmy and I, along with the men helping, would have stacking contests to see who stacked the hay the highest on the trailer without it falling off.
The Super 77 lasted up until about the late ‘70s and was still a bailing machine. Sometime in the late ‘70s or early ‘80s, the round baler was coming into action. Jimmy and I bought a round baler. All the hay was fed through two compression rolls. You spent more time looking at the hay going in there or the belts than you did ahead. You turned around 90 percent of the time. You needed a chicken neck to
be able to turn your head around backward or to sit in a seat sideways, watching the bales form. It had a manual and a twine tie. When the red slide came up, you knew to hand feed that twine. The baler lasted us ten years or more and did a good job. The only thing about this baler was if it got a stick, rock, corn, bottle, or sweetgum ball, it would not feed it between the rollers. You had to stop and get it off.
Jimmy had a Massey Ferguson 175. We tried to run the tractors on live PTO independently all the time. We found out you could put it on the ground drive when that stick got in the baler, back up just a little bit, and feed that stick out without getting off the tractor. You could then put it back into live PTO and go right back to bailing. It was also handy if the person who raked in front of the baler had a lot of bailing knowledge. It would be better if the hay were raked in the same way it was mowed down.
In the early ‘80s to the mid-’80s, the round baler continued to improve. They were designing them with an open throat. The open throat baler could take that stick, which was a big improvement over the close throat baler. I had seen one operate and decided I was going to have one. I heard about a dairy going out of business just north of Atlanta, Georgia. They were going to have an auction to sell the milk cows and then sell the equipment. There was a baler on it that was less than a year old, just like new.
I made plans to go to the sale. We would go late one afternoon to Mocksville and spend the night with Anne’s sister Verliene and her husband. I would get up early the next morning to head out to the sale and come back and pick them up.
I was waiting for the baler to come up for sale and had made up my mind to bring that baler home. I was the last bidder on it. I came on back by, picked up Anne and Shane in Mocksville, and went on home. I was on I-85 and kept that baler running 5565 mph, coming right on up the interstate just as slick as a whistle. I stopped now and then to check the tires and bearings to
make sure everything was good.
I put this baler to work and ran it for many years. This baler was not only open throat but also had two dials on it to tell you which side of the windrow to go back and forth on. Another yellow light started blinking, telling me it was about full, and then a red light came on, telling me to put the twine on. It also had a hydraulic twine tie.
This past week, we had hay to bale, Shane was finishing up planting and spraying, and Barry was cutting hay. They were calling for showers to come in. The hay needed to be baled, so they let me
bale hay. I was going to be bailing with the baler that has all the bells and whistles. I had baled with it, maybe once, so Shane gave me a refresher course. This baler is as nice of a piece of any equipment you want to run. You don’t even have to look at the baler. It has a screen in the tractor that tells you which side to go on to add the hay to fill up the correct side. It tells you the size of the bale when it’s full or too full, and it tells you automatically when it is putting the wrap on so you can stop the tractor. You can take two fingers and do everything you need to do – one
the chaplain’s corral
By T.W. LAWRENCE Chaplain, Cowboys for Christ
Freedom Through Christ
My buddies, who also served in uniform, like to remind me that Memorial Day is the day when we remember our Armed Forces comrades who died serving their country. That includes my three high school classmates whose names are on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. My friends go on to say that Independence Day on July 4 is the day we celebrate the reason we would take up the fight in the first place. What interests me most about the Declaration is the fact that 52 of the 56 signers were deeply committed Christians. How could that be? How could the followers of a man as gentle and non-violent as Jesus be inspired to fight to the death against a well armed and formidable opponent as England in 1776?
The short answer is that they saw the death of Christ at the hands of Roman soldiers as a sacrifice that gave each of them freedom. Freedom from sin and freedom from the ways of this world, as stated in 2 Corinthians 3:17 - “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
My own introduction to the dual idea of Christianity and serving the country came early to me. As an upcoming ninth grader headed off to high school, I spent the summer lifting weights, running, and doing the exercises that would get me on the local school’s football team. (I found out later that Tommy Nobis played varsity there). But it was not to be. My family informed me that I was going, instead, to
finger to knock the tractor out of gear, the index finger hits a button, and it kicks the bale out, the monitor tells you the bale is out, the same index finger hits another button, and the back tailgate closes, the monitor tells you the back tailgate is closed, and you are ready to go again.
It’s like sitting in your living room at ease. The tractor has an air ride/hydraulic seat, power steering, controls all at your fingertips, and another screen that tells you
the amount of moisture in the hay. I guess the next thing we are going to have is you will be able to sit in your living room and watch the screen on your television and bale hay from that. They may already have it or be here shortly. You may not even have to take the tractor to the field and set it up. Hay bailing has changed a lot in my 60+ years of being in the hay field.
I am looking forward to seeing what is coming out next.
military school. I wasn’t going to either of the noteworthy Texas military schools mere hours away from home but all the way up to the frozen tundra of Wisconsin. There, I was introduced to the Academy’s headmaster, Colonel Jacobson. He was an imposing 6’4”, some 275+ pounds, and had hands the size of a banana bunch. He was a full bird colonel in the state’s Army National Guard. And, importantly, he was a practicing Episcopal priest. I soon found out that he was no mere chaplain but a commander in every sense of the word. He would often remind us that we were chosen to be warriors and, as such, should “fight the good fight.” As an upperclassman later, I would serve as one of his Acolytes in the weekly Communion Services for the Episcopal students and their families. I admired Jake’s huge intellect, his intellectual curiosity, and his ceaseless work ethic. From him, I began to understand how you could be a committed Christian and still serve in the Armed Forces as a dedicated warrior.
That experience at the Academy prepared me for the grueling field training I faced in the USAF at Lackland AFB, the accompanying survival training, flight orientation, and, finally, the deployment to active duty.
On July 4, I like to remember Jake, the Academy, the USAF, all my fellow warriors, and all those in uniform who helped, and continue to help, our country stay free. God Bless America
Clemson Corner
By MAGGIE MILLER & HANNAH MALCOMSON
Winter Grazing in the Southeast — Cool Season Forages
Introduction - In the face of rising hay prices and labor expenses, planting cool season forages for winter grazing can help cut costs while maintaining productivity. By incorporating cool season annuals, we can prolong the grazing period in the Southeast from early winter to spring, bridging the gap between warm season forage peaks. Winter annual forages are a valuable addition to forage-livestock systems in the region, offering high quality forage and substantial biomass that can
reduce the reliance on hay, enhance nutrition levels, and decrease the need for supplementation. Introducing winter annuals into dormant perennial pastures can provide an opportunity for double cropping. Additionally, cool season legumes can complement existing cool season perennial pastures effectively. When managed effectively, this approach can enhance forage quality during the cool season and have long term positive effects on soil health.
Options for Cool Season Forages
Herd Health Management Services, PC
- The following cool season grasses can be utilized to enhance forage mass and quality in the early winter, extending the grazing season. We can choose specific cool season annuals to provide forage when we need it the most. Spring oats will provide grazing before Christmas but may suffer from winter kill. Winter oats and black oats do not provide as much fall grazing but are slightly more cold tolerant. Cereal rye, triticale, and wheat are the most cold tolerant small grains. They are ready to graze in January and February but vary in maturity time. Small grains are in combination with annual ryegrass, which is productive in mid to late spring. Thick annual ryegrass can compete with bermudagrass for light in the spring, so small grains or ryegrass/ small grain mixtures are a better option for bermudagrass sods.
Here are a few tips:
• Soil Testing - Conduct soil tests before planting to determine nutrient needs and to ensure the soil pH is appropriate for the selected forages and legumes.
• Proper Seeding - Use the recommended seeding rates, depths, and methods for each type of forage. This may involve broadcasting, drilling, or a combination of both.
• Timely Planting: - Plant cool season forages at the right time to ensure optimal growth. In the Southeast, planting typically occurs from late summer to early fall. Timing of these plantings can be fine tuned to provide a flush of forage when it is most needed.
• Fertilization - Apply fertilizers based on soil test recommendations. Adequate fertilization is crucial for achieving high forage yields and quality.
• Grazing Management - Begin grazing when forages are between 8-10” and remove animals when forages are 4”. Implement rotational grazing to allow forages to recover and maintain a healthy stand. Avoid overgrazing, which can weaken plants and reduce productivity.
* On-farm aspiration of oocytes via Ultrasound Guided Ovum Pick-Up (OPU).
* Embyos come back in 8 days for placement or direct thaw freezing on-farm.
* Can do on donors aged 8 months and older, up to 120-150 days pregnant Doesn’t interfere with pregnancy.
Conclusion - Incorporating cool season forages into your grazing system offers numerous benefits, including extended grazing seasons, improved forage quality, and enhanced soil health. By carefully managing these forages and incorporating legumes, producers can create a more sustainable and costeffective grazing system. This approach not only supports the immediate needs of livestock but also contributes to the long term viability of the farming operation. Contact your local extension agent for help identifying the best forage species and management practices to be implemented in your operation. Virginia
* Pregnant cows work really well, so the cow doesn’t get out of her production group.
* Can do a donor every 2 weeks.
* NOW AVAILABLE * Small Ruminant Laparoscopic Artificial Insemination (AI) & Embryo Transfer (ET)
Oocytes fertilized at BoviteqUSA in Madison, Wisconsin. www.boviteq.com
For more information, contact: PAT COMYN, DVM 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. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) & Embryo Transfer (ET)
Additional Benefits of Cool Season Forages - By planting legumes such as crimson, arrowleaf, red, or white clover alongside cool season grasses, producers can maximize benefits. The combination of grass and legumes results in higher quality forage, offering increased ground cover to preserve topsoil and reduce erosion. Furthermore, integrating legumes aids in nitrogen fixation in the soil as they grow, ultimately enhancing future forage growth. This combination of cool season forages and legumes enhances the nutritional value of the grazing and contributes to the sustainability of the farming system. By promoting soil health, these practices can lead to more resilient pastures that require fewer inputs over time, ultimately reducing costs and increasing productivity.
Management Practices for Optimal Results - To maximize the benefits of cool season forages, it is essential to follow certain management practices.
By ALAINA PEOPLES N.C. State University -- ANS 402 Beef Management
Battling Biosecurity on the Beef Farm
Biosecurity is a fundamental element of keeping your animals healthy. However, it is not commonly discussed in the beef industry. If your farm does not have an adequate biosecurity protocol, you may be putting your animals at risk of contracting an infectious disease or virus that could cause lasting effects on your operation. According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service sector of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Biosecurity refers to everything people do to keep diseases – and the viruses, bacteria, funguses, parasites, and other microorganisms that cause disease – away from [livestock], property, and people.” 4 Maximizing
efforts to keep cattle safe and disease free is critical for operations working to make a profit. In addition to the monetary loss poor biosecurity can cause, a lack of good protocols can cause farm workers to also be at risk of harm. There are many ways to improve biosecurity protocols on beef farms, keeping in mind that not every beef operation is designed the same way, so some protocols may not be viable for every producer.
Different types of livestock operations handle biosecurity in a variety of ways. Some industries, such as poultry, swine, and dairy, require intensive biosecurity plans. Dairy and poultry (egg) operations are both considered food
processing sites as well as production sites. However, beef operations are only considered production sites. This is because dairy and poultry farms harvest food products on-site, such as milk and eggs, but beef operations do not. Because beef operations are not considered food processing sites, they are less tightly regulated by government agencies such as the USDA. Perhaps this is one of the reasons biosecurity is not often discussed as it relates to the beef industry and is often one of the most overlooked components of herd health plans for beef operations.3 A major part of keeping your herd safe and protected is preventing disease spread on the farm. This can be accomplished by effectively managing visitors, vehicles, pastures, and pests, as seen in Figure 1, and some of the ways producers can do this is by reducing traffic, improving sanitation, keeping records of sick cattle, preventing disease transfer, and knowing the source of new livestock.
When outside guests step foot on a farm, the cattle are exposed to bacteria that are not present in their everyday lives. These bacteria are not necessarily harmful. They are just different and
foreign to bodies the cattle have never been exposed to before. By knowing when guests will be on the farm and not allowing uninvited guests on the farm, producers can reduce the risk of bacteria and pathogens being transmitted from humans to cattle and likewise from cattle to humans.
Improving sanitation is another integral part of a good biosecurity protocol. “Sanitation addresses the disinfection of materials, people, and equipment entering the operation and the cleanliness of the people and equipment on the operation.”1 If producers do not sanitize clothing, boots, equipment, vehicles, etc., they increase the risk of disease spread within their operation. Some producers have taken the initiative by requiring workers and guests to wear boot covers. While this is a good start, it is not always the safest or most biosecure option, as boot covers are made of plastic and can easily tear. It is recommended that boot sanitizer be available for workers and guests to use to prevent the spread of bacteria. In addition to cleaning outerwear, trailers and vehicles should be sanitized after every trip to a sale barn. Not all cattle taken to sale
barns are vaccinated, meaning they could unknowingly carry a disease. By sanitizing vehicles after a visit to the sale barn, producers reduce the risk of bringing pathogens, viruses, and bacteria back to their cattle. Failing to quarantine new or sick animals also contributes to the sanitation factor of biosecurity. Sick animals or animals showing symptoms of disease should be immediately isolated from the rest of the herd and checked by a veterinarian. Any tools or equipment used on these cattle should be properly sanitized to prevent bacteria from spreading to the next person or animal that comes in contact with the equipment. Detailed records should be kept for cattle that become ill. Having these records on hand will make it easier for producers to know what treatments were given, if any particular animal gets sick often, and if animals are up to date on vaccines.
Ensuring that all cattle are up to date on vaccines is one of the main ways that beef producers can prevent disease transfer throughout their herd and maximize biosecurity on a beef farm. Vaccines play a critical role in overall herd health because they provide the first defense for pathogens and bacteria. Having a good relationship with a
veterinarian can make creating a vaccine protocol for your herd easier and more efficient.2 In addition to disease spread between animals, it is also important to prevent disease spread between bovines and people, which are known as zoonotic diseases. Some examples of zoonotic diseases that affect beef cattle include cryptosporidiosis, rabies, E. coli, leptospirosis, and tuberculosis. Many of these infections can be deadly for both cattle and humans if not treated effectively and promptly. Cattle that show symptoms of any disease should be quickly isolated and treated, and records should be updated.
Knowing where newly purchased beef cattle come from is another important aspect of biosecurity. Not every bovine that goes through the sale barn has been vaccinated or checked by a veterinarian. Producers should attempt to know where the cattle came from and their health/vaccination history. This information is only available for some auctioned animals, so producers should take this under consideration when deciding which cattle to purchase. Once new cattle arrive on the farm, they should go through a quarantine period to make sure they are healthy. In addition
2. This figure shows a variety of different biosecurity recommendations for beef farms. It covers everything from how to deal with visitors to pasture management protocols.5
to ensuring that new cattle are healthy, quarantining them will also allow them to get used to their new environment. Adapting to a new environment places significant stress on the entire body system, making cattle more susceptible to disease. By isolating them, producers can “kill two birds with one stone” and significantly improve the biosecurity levels of their farms.
As we have seen, biosecurity is extremely important when it comes to the health and safety of your beef herd. Not having a good biosecurity protocol in place puts your animals and workers at risk of contracting and spreading disease. Implementing safety measures such as improving sanitization, establishing a relationship with a vet, vaccinating and quarantining your animals, and reducing foot traffic can greatly reduce disease transfer and ultimately increase profit on your beef operation. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Veterinary Medicine has developed a Biosecurity Checklist, as seen in Figure 2, for beef producers to use that covers each of the items listed and more.5 It is a great resource that would benefit all operations if taken advantage of and provides a holistic view of biosecurity practices.
References
1 Buhman, M., Dewell, G., & Griffin, D. “Biosecurity basics for cattle operations and Good Management Practices (GMP) for controlling infectious diseases.” (2000) extensionpubs.unl.edu
2Gehrett, S. “Biosecurity on Your Farm Continues to be Important.” (2022) extension.psu.edu
3Renault, V., Humblet, M.F., Pham, P., & Saegerman, C. “Biosecurity at cattle farms: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.” (2021) www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
4 U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Health Inspection Service. “USDA APHIS|Defend the FlockBiosecurity 101.” (2021) www.aphis. usda.gov
5 University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign College of Veterinary Medicine. “Biosecurity. Beef Cattle Biosecurity.” (2022) vetmed.illinois.edu
Have You Herd is written as a portion of the ANS 402 Beef Management course requirement at N.C. State University Department of Animal Science under the instruction of Dr. Carrie Pickworth. The opinions of Alaina Peoples are not necessarily those of N.C. State University or Dr. Carrie Pickworth.
Figure
Figure 1. This figure shows a biosecurity checklist producers can use on their beef farms. It covers everything from marking the entrance gate to implementing disinfection protocols.5
North Carolina Cattle Research Corner
By FELIPE CARVALHO da SILVO, N.C. State University
Implementing a Defined Breeding Season to Optimize Herd Management and Improve Profitability in Beef Cattle
In beef cattle production, establishing a defined breeding season requires producers to remove the bulls from the cow herd for at least 30 days during the year. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2017, approximately 41.3 percent of cow/calf operations had at least one defined breeding season, with the majority of these operations concentrating their breeding season from May to July after a spring calving calendar. 3 Determining the period and the length of the defined breeding season relies solely on the producers, who must consider their marketing options, feed availability, weather, labor, and personal preferences. The main goal of a defined breeding season is having calves born within a short period of time, such as 45-90 days, although calving windows as long as 180 days are still observed in defined breeding seasons.
This publication was developed for beef producers, farm workers, and extension agents who wish to transition from year round breeding to a defined breeding season.
Why should I implement a defined breeding season? Establishing a defined breeding season helps producers increase the efficiency and profitability of their operation.2 For example, the nutritional management of the cow herd can be tailored according to physiological status (open, early pregnancy, or late pregnancy). This is important because the protein requirements are greater for suckled cows immediately after calving compared to non-suckled cows during their last trimester of gestation. In addition, there are other advantages of a defined breeding season:
• Uniform calf crop – A short
breeding season results in uniform sized calves, which increases their marketability. At the same time, producers have the ability to increase the proportion of older, heavier calves at weaning when working on the calving distribution with synchronization protocols, which will increase the number of females pregnant at the beginning of the breeding season. Females that breed earlier will also calve earlier and have more time to recover for the following breeding season.
• Concentrated labor – Calf management activities such as vaccination, castration, and weaning can be done on the same day for the entire calf crop.
• Closely monitored calving – Cows and heifers in late gestation can be moved closer to the working facility so that calving can be monitored.
• Enabling of culling decisions
– Producers can conduct pregnancy diagnoses after the breeding season is over to cull open cows.
• Adopting pre-breeding management strategies – Important management strategies such as pre-breeding vaccination of the cow herd, reproductive tract scoring of heifers, and breeding soundness examinations of bulls can be conducted at the appropriate time. These management strategies directly affect the pregnancy outcomes in cow/calf operations.
The adoption of a defined breeding season optimizes management practices in cow/calf operations and enables producers to plan activities accordingly. Management practices such as culling decisions influence profitability because open cows that remain in the herd will incur costs without generating revenue from producing calves. It is estimated
that feeding costs will range from $450$1,200 per cow per year. Therefore, it is important that producers conduct a pregnancy diagnosis after the breeding season to cull open females, as well as females that are not desirable to stay in the herd. For example, cows with bad disposition.
Despite these known benefits, it is common for producers to fear the transition from year round to a defined breeding season. Fears include potential revenue loss from the decreased number of calves produced and greater culling rates caused by cows not falling in the defined breeding window. To avoid a detrimental economic impact on the operation, we suggest in this publication a phased transition created by Triplett in 1977 and established over the course of four years.
When should I start my breeding season, and how long should it be?
The final decision on the season and the length of the breeding season relies solely on the producer. The decision depends upon feed availability, weather patterns, marketing options, labor availability, and
personal preferences. Thus, the breeding calendar varies among operations. Local characteristics can play an important role when planning for breeding. For example, fescue toxicosis is a major issue for producers located in the fescue belt in the southern states. This leads to decreased reproductive outcomes and producers who must follow a fall calving calendar to minimize issues.
Since fescue toxicosis is generally observed during the summer and fall, conducting the breeding season over the winter months can decrease the negative impact of fescue toxicosis on reproductive outcomes. For example, the scenario depicted in Figure 1 represents a 90 day breeding season beginning in December. By applying this management strategy, the breeding season overlaps with the period when there is a decreased concentration of toxins in the forage. This is beneficial because fescue toxicosis has been shown to impair the concentration of circulating reproductive hormones, ovarian function, calving rate, and milk production in beef cattle.1 If the goal is to be close to a 12 month calving interval,
Figure 2: Schematic of a four year transition from a year round breeding to a 90 day breeding season. Source: Adapted from Triplett 1977.
Figure 1. Schematic of a 90 day breeding season conducted in the winter to minimize detrimental effects of fescue toxicosis on reproduction. Credits: Felipe da Silva.
then producers must keep their breeding season to 90 days or shorter.
How to transition from year round breeding to a defined breeding season? The transition from year round breeding to a defined breeding season must be done in phases to avoid aggressive culling, which leads to financial burdens. In general, cow herds in a year round breeding season naturally concentrate calving in specific seasons or months. We suggest that producers include some of those months in the defined breeding season. We propose a four year implementation strategy for transitioning to a 90 day breeding season, as seen in Figure 2.
• Year 1 - Pull the bulls from the herd on June 30 and conduct a pregnancy diagnosis either by transrectal ultrasonography 30 days later or by rectal palpation 45-60 days later. At this stage, all open cows without calves and open cows with calves that are at or over five
months of age should be culled. Bulls must be kept in a secure pen to avoid breaking into the cow herd paddocks during the off season.
• Year 2 - Put the bulls in the herd from January 1-June 30. Conduct a pregnancy diagnosis as done in year 1. At this point, all open cows should be culled.
• Year 3 - Put the bulls in the herd on February 1-June 30. Conduct a pregnancy diagnosis and cull all open cows.
• Year 4 - Put the bulls in the herd from April 1-June 30. Conduct a pregnancy diagnosis and cull all open cows.
• Year 5+ - Continue the same management strategy as year 4. Beginning in year 5, you will have a 90 day calving season with your herd. Take Home Messages
1. Establishing a defined breeding season increases efficiency and profitability in beef operations.
2. Transitioning from year round
to a 90 day breeding season can be implemented in four years, which will decrease aggressive culling.
3. Contact your area livestock agent for further assistance with the planning and implementation of a defined breeding season.
References
1 Poole, R.K. and D.H. Poole. “Impact of Ergot Alkaloids on Female Reproduction in Domestic Livestock Species.” Toxins 11, no. 6 (2019): 364. doi.org/10.3390/toxins11060364.
2 Ramsey, R., D.G. Doye, C.E. Ward, J.M. McGrann, L. L. Falconer, and S.J. Bevers. “Factors Affecting Beef Cow-Herd Costs, Production, and Profits.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 37, no 1 (2005): 91-99. ageconsearch.umn.edu/ record/43687?v=pdf
3 USDA–APHIS–VS−CEAH–NAHMS. 2020. Beef 2017: Beef CowCalf Management Practices in the United
States. Fort Collins: USDA. www.aphis. usda.gov/sites/default/files/beef-2017part2.pdf
4Triplett, C. M. 1977. “A Controlled, Seasonal Cattle Breeding Program.” In Southern Regional Beef Cow/Calf Handbook. North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service. SR-1005.
NOTICE
Letters to the editor are welcome and we appreciate your input.
HOWEVER, letters that are not signed will not be considered for publication.
You Decide!
By DR. MIKE WALDEN
William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus N.C. State University
You Decide: Will We Soon Have a Four Day Workweek? The common five day workweek has been around since 1940. That was the year the five day, eight hour workweek became standardized by the federal government. The legislation required companies to pay overtime wages for workweeks longer than 40 hours.
Prior to this, companies were free to set their own workweeks. The move to a standardized work week actually got started in 1869 when President Ulysses S. Grant guaranteed eight hour workdays for government employees. Then, in the 1920s, auto manufacturer Henry Ford brought the five day, eight hour daily workweek to his auto factories, where he reduced workers’ hours but maintained their pay. Ford concluded that longer workweeks yielded little benefit to auto production.
We may have entered a new debate about the workweek. Recently, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a bill in Congress to reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours. The bill would motivate business adoption by requiring time-and-a-half pay for work days longer than eight hours and requiring double time pay for workdays longer than ten hours. The bill would also prevent firms from reducing current hourly pay and benefits with the shorter workweek.
Sanders argues that some European countries — specifically Norway and Denmark — have already adopted workweeks shorter than 40 hours. He also argues many studies show workers are happier and less “burned out” with the shorter workweek, and employers are
happier, too.
Why has this issue suddenly popped up? I think you know the answer — the COVID-19 pandemic. Remember the labor shortage during COVID-19? Massive business shutdowns occurred. Plus, the federal government provided significant income support for furloughed workers. The return of workers to jobs was slow. As a result, there was more competition for workers, and businesses used incentives such as higher wages and better working conditions to fill their job slots.
COVID-19 also made people think more about their lives and future. The term “work-life balance” became popular and motivated workers — especially young workers — to put more emphasis on their lives outside of work.
The rise of remote work has also been another factor raising the profile of the workweek. How so? Remote work has allowed workers to spend more time at home, where they can interact with their family, integrate household chores with their work, and enjoy more flexibility to schedule necessities like medical appointments and shopping.
A final factor is the ongoing prospect of labor shortages. The country’s birth rate recently reached a record low. If continued, this change may result in a smaller future workforce. With employers competing to hire from a smaller number of people, companies will look for more ways to appeal to workers as well as to attract more people — such as senior citizens — into the workforce.
The conclusion is that the power
between employers and employees may have shifted toward employees in recent years. Offering a guaranteed shorter workweek but with the same pay as the longer workweek is one way of attracting and keeping workers.
So, is a shorter workweek a winwin? Advocates answer yes. Workers will have more time to relax, spend time with their family, handle obligations like doctors’ appointments, and simply enjoy a better work-life balance. For two working spouses with children, childcare expenses will be reduced. Also, commutes to work will drop 20 percent, thereby helping reduce traffic congestion and pollution. Some studies also find less stress and better mental health for employees working fewer days and hours.
Advocates say businesses will also benefit. Operating a firm four days rather than five days a week will lower costs. Several studies have found worker productivity — meaning the amount of work accomplished per hour increases with the shorter week, so much so that some businesses will realize increased revenues.
But before you start shouting, “32 hours, 32 hours,” recognize that not everyone is on board for the shorter week. Some studies report worker stress increases with the shorter workweek as employees try to accomplish in four days what they previously did in five. Critics also point out that if all firms go to the shorter week, the total amount of business transactions could fall and shrink the economy. If all businesses are, for example, closed on Friday, then how does that help families schedule appointments? Then there’s also the same concern as heard for remote work — the shorter workweek would reduce the time available for worker collaboration, something that is extremely important in many companies.
There are two viewpoints about where the workweek debate should go next. One says legislation — like that proposed by Senator Sanders — should be passed with the four day, 32 hour workweek being accepted as the standard in the country.
2024 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts
Backers say the benefits of the shorter workweek are too great to ignore.
The second viewpoint doesn’t reject the shorter workweek, but opposes having the government impose it. Instead, why not allow individual businesses to decide for themselves whether to keep the 40 hour week or go to something shorter? Those supporting this viewpoint ask a simple question: if workers and businesses both benefit from the 32 hour, four day week, then wouldn’t we expect them to willingly make the switch?
I look for the workweek debate to heat up. One reason is because of the emergence of artificial intelligence, which has the capacity to take over many worker tasks. In this case, the workweek may shrink simply because there’s less work for people to do.
So, will we soon be working fewer hours each week? You decide.
You Decide: Should We Worry About the Declining Birth Rate? One of the benefits of aging is that you often see problems completely turn around. In the 1990s, there were worries about the declining national debt — yes, I said declining debt. Now, of course, the surging national debt is a major issue. Also, in the early 2000s, prices were falling — yes, falling — and economists worried about the implications for worker wages and business investment.
Today, there’s been another turnaround in a major factor. For most of the post-World War II period, there have been worries about overpopulation. Indeed, in the 1970s, there were proposals to limit the number of births per family. To add some humor to the issue, I’m reminded of former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller’s response to a constituent’s suggestion that families be limited to two births. Rockefeller replied, “I was the third child!” But now, the concern for many countries is depopulation.
What has created this worry? It’s the dramatic drop in the birth rate. In both the nation as well as in North Carolina,
birth rates have fallen below replacement levels, meaning there are not enough births to replace deaths. Without other changes, such as immigration, longer life spans, or, at the state level, in-migration of people from other states, both the population and labor force will decline.
Globally, the population is not yet falling, but it is projected to begin retreating in 2080. However, several European countries, Japan, and China are already losing population. Demographers predict population reductions could start in the U.S. in 2080, but due to the importance of immigration, there is uncertainty about this forecast.
What is behind the big drop in birth rates? Because the reasons can vary from country to country, I’ll focus on possible answers proposed for the United States. Beware that some of the offered answers can be considered controversial, so use your judgment.
One answer is a perceived increase in individualism, particularly among young people. The notion is that many young people have made their career and personal satisfaction top priorities, hence reducing their interest in having and raising children.
On a more practical note, the rising cost of raising children can be a deterrent to having children. The federal government annually estimates the cost of raising a child to age 17, and the current amount is $233,000.
With life spans increasing, some young families may perceive a tradeoff between devoting time and money to raising children or using those resources to care for aging parents. If they can’t do both, then a choice has to be made.
Last is an answer I frequently hear from my young friends. It is that young people are fearful of the future, and consequently, they question if they should bring children into the world.
Being trained as an economist, I look at issues from a benefit and cost perspective. So what are the benefits and what are the costs of a lower birth rate that could ultimately mean a reduced population?
The benefits could be less of many things we don’t like: pollution, climate change, waste, traffic congestion, and numerous others. There’s even the possibility of some lower prices. For example, one of the reasons costs for shelter have risen so fast is that we
have more people competing for good locations to live. Land at preferred locations is fixed in supply. With a slower-growing population, but especially with a population that is declining, price pressures on land and housing would lessen. There would also be less conversion of farmland to housing developments, thereby preserving land for growing and producing food.
But what would be the costs — or downsides — of slower population growth or even negative growth? A big one would be higher dependency ratios, meaning more older and retired people compared to younger and working people. This would mean relatively more money spent on medical care and retirement support, especially from publicly funded programs such as Medicare and Social Security. These systems rely on working individuals to contribute to the support of older people. Indeed, the major reason Social Security is facing a solvency problem in the next decade is because of a rising dependency ratio. In summary, there could be a shortage of workers to support the older generation.
Also, since saving is typically done by younger people, some economists
think stagnant or declining population growth would lead to lower savings and, hence, higher interest rates for borrowers.
There’s also the viewpoint that the young inject creativity and vitality into the economy, often because they look at the world differently and are willing to take more risks than older individuals. Hence, in a no-population growth country, would we have less innovation?
These are weighty topics and questions to consider. It’s also important to note there are many moving parts to the question of population growth. Birth rates are one, but so too are immigration, worker productivity, and technology. New workers can come from foreign countries, existing workers can be trained to produce more output, and advances in technology can be tapped to fill worker shortfalls. A.I. (artificial intelligence) is a good example of the latter.
The argument can be made that everything in a society begins with population and population growth. Population is fundamental. Will we have a future of fewer people? If so, should we consider it a plus or a minus? This could be one of the most important “You Decide” questions ever!
Contact these RAAC members to learn more about Red Angus genetics and how they can fit into your herd.
Jonathan & Jacob Presnell 368 Whitaker Road • Shelby, NC 704-473-2627 (Jonathan) • 704-616-8775 (Jacob)
BULL HILL RANCH
Jim & Alvina Meeks • Raymond Prescott, Manager 1986 Trinity Church Road • Gray Court, SC 864-981-2080 bullhill2@prtcnet.com • www.bullhillredangus.com
COUNTRY BOY FARMS
David Miller
316 Key Road • Edgefield, SC 706-840-3709
ANGUS NEWS
Angus Sire Evaluation Report updates implemented in May. American Angus Association to release routine update, improving annual, biannual, and weekly reports. This spring, alongside the routine annual updates of economic assumptions and genomic scores, significant enhancements were implemented in the Sire Evaluation Report and National Cattle Evaluation. These updates became effective on May 24 and aim to refine the accuracy and performance of the American Angus Association’s genetic evaluations.
The Sire Evaluation Report is the biannual report run to update the main and supplemental sire lists, breed averages, percentile ranks, and more.
Carcass weight, ribeye area, and fat - The enhancements include updates to the carcass model and its genetic
parameters, including heritability estimates and genetic correlations.
This carcass model update involves modeling of the ultrasound fat thickness and ultrasound ribeye area records in the evaluation. Previously, records for animals of different sexes (bulls, cows, and steers) were modeled as separate traits. In 2017, cows and steers were condensed into one trait, and now the Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) team will condense the ultrasound traits again by placing all three sexes into one singular ultrasound phenotype. This reduces the model from nine traits to seven traits.
“Our research shows accounting for the sex within a contemporary group yields the same prediction accuracy as the previous model while reducing the model’s complexity, which is important for an on-time delivery of the weekly
genetic evaluation,” said André Garcia, senior geneticist with AGI.
An updated model also means an update to the genetic parameters inside this genetic evaluation.
“This is necessary because we are changing the makeup of the model, which warrants updated variance components. Not to mention, over time the population changes and evolves due to selection,” Garcia said. “As more phenotypes are collected, the variances, heritability estimates, and genetic correlations change. By updating genetic parameters regularly, we can accurately estimate the genetic variation in the population and the relationships between traits.”
“In multiple trait models, as is the case with the carcass evaluation, accurately estimating the genetic correlations between traits is crucial to take advantage of the accuracy that correlated phenotypes bring. This is particularly true of ultrasound records,” Garcia said.
Continuous research and the implementation of regular updates ensure accurate and unbiased genetic evaluations are delivered on time. These updated estimates will be seen online and in the 2024 Fall Sire Evaluation Report.
Core update - Also taking effect on May 24, the core update is related to how genomic relationships are calculated inside of the genetic evaluations.
“This is not a new update, and the most recent core update was implemented in May 2021,” said Kelli Retallick-Riley,
AGI president. “Since then, genotypes of more than half a million animals have been added to the weekly evaluation. With the 2023 addition of Angus Australia’s genotypes to the World Angus Evaluation, that number has increased by more than 800,000 for a total of over 1.8 million genotyped animals.”
With all genotypes being used in the evaluation, Retallick-Riley said the core update ensures a good representation of the genotyped population and provides optimized convergence for the models and computing time efficiencies, allowing AGI and the Association to maintain timely delivery of weekly genetic evaluations.
More information about the motivation behind core updates can be found on Page 62, “A Good Problem to Have,” of the Angus Journal’s May issue.
Economic assumption updatesAnnually, the bio-economic model driving the Association’s $Values undergoes annual updates, utilizing data from CattleFax. Economic assumptions are averaged over the previous seven years for stability, with the 2024 assumptions based on data from 2017 to 2023.
“This long term perspective mitigates market volatility and aligns with the average cattle cycle,” said Esther Tarpoff, director of performance programs.
The May 2024 updates account for rising weaned calf sale prices and ration costs. In May 2023, the average weaned calf price was $167 per cwt. for steer calves and $152 per cwt. for heifer calves. The update increases the average calf
2024 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show
EBS Miss Diamond 070R-422 won reserve grand champion phenotype and genotype female at the 2024 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show, held on June 7-9 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Madalyn Carpenter of Ansonville, N.C., owns the October 2023 daughter of Connealy Craftsman. She earlier won Division 1 champion. Britney Creamer, Montrose, Colo., judged the females, bulls, cow/calf pairs, and steers; and David Dal Porto, Anselmo, Neb., judged the phenotype and genotype females. There was a total of 239 entries. Photo by Next Level Images.
price to $182 per cwt. for steer calves and $164 per cwt. for heifer calves.
Ration costs in the feedlot also increased from $199 to $225 per ton, affecting feed costs in the cow/calf sector. These changes influence the outcome of the maternal weaned calf value ($M), where calf price relative to cow cost stays the major revenue driver.
The average price per hundred for a fed steer delivered and dressed increased from $192 per cwt. to $206 per cwt. from 2023-2024. This shift redirects economic weight in beef value ($B) towards weight traits like carcass weight and postweaning gain and away from grid premiums, which only saw a slight increase. Despite the significant increase in fed cattle prices and minimal changes in quality premiums, overall changes in $B are minimal.
“Changes in $Values will be less likely due to economic assumption updates and more likely due to changes in individual EPDs from other evaluation updates,” she said. “Overall, updates didn’t substantially alter individual $Values, with economic assumption updates resulting in correlations above 0.99.”
Annual genomic scores update - Genomic scores are also updated annually. This process involves updating SNP effects for each trait based on additional phenotypes and genotypes from the previous year.
The May 2024 update includes a larger reference population (n= 1,593,532) which genomic scores are ranked against. With an increased number of genotyped animals, the reference population grows, leading to re-ranking. Genomic scores are a by-product of genetic evaluation and are updated alongside EPDs.
“It’s preferable to use genomically enhanced EPDs for selection decisions, with genomic score updates not affecting
“Producers might notice a slight re-ranking favoring cattle excelling in feedlot value $F over those at the top of the $B ranks to their $G,” Tarpoff said. Some individual animals experienced changes, with the largest decreases in $M, $B, and $C being -$4, -$6, and -$9, respectively, across the 4,146 current sires.
EPDs themselves,” Retallick-Riley said.
For more information about updates specific to phenotypic traits, read the “By the Numbers” column in the Angus Journal’s May issue.
Phenotypic trait updates - Since 2021, phenotypic traits submitted to Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR) were listed in a variety of places, including the performance registration certificate and EPD/Pedigree Look-up. Adding these traits provides visibility to members submitting phenotypes on animals and continues to fuel genetic evaluation.
Taking it one step further, starting on May 24, some phenotypes will be bolded in the list while others are not. This differentiates what phenotypes are included in the genetic evaluation and which traits are not. The phenotypes included in the genetic evaluation helped to inform the predictions for EPDs.
Heifer Pregnancy contemporary groups - Updates made to the heifer pregnancy contemporary groups aim to better characterize weather and environmental conditions that could affect
heifer pregnancy outcomes.
“Contemporary groups play a significant role in any genetic evaluation, accounting for non-genetic sources of variation that affected an animal’s phenotype,” Garcia said. “This update leads to a more accurate and less biased heifer pregnancy genetic evaluation.”
The “By the Numbers” column in the Angus Journal’s April issue dives into further detail about updates to the heifer pregnancy genetic evaluation.
Angus Media names Benjie Lemon as President. Veteran media expert to lead American Angus Association’s marketing entity. The Angus Media board of directors recently named Benjie Lemon as president of the organization to guide the company as it delivers industry leading information and marketing to the beef industry.
An agricultural media veteran, Lemon has spent 18 years helping the equine industry advance their media offerings and improving the ways they
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can connect.
“Benjie will be a great fit in the Angus family. He is an experienced leader, has significant knowledge in delivering innovative media solutions, and has strong cattle industry roots,” said Mark McCully, vice chairman on the Angus Media board of directors and chief executive officer for the American Angus Association.
Most recently, Lemon was group publisher with the Equine Network, the largest subscription and membership based organization for equine enthusiasts, delivering content, competition, commerce, and community for the equine world through both print and digital media.
“In particular, Benjie has extensive experience with integrating different business units and media solutions into a seamless customer experience and this will be a great asset for customers of
Angus Media,” McCully said.
Lemon said he is eager to help advance the mission of Angus Media.
“I look forward to capitalizing on my experience helping Angus breeders,” Lemon said.
Lemon has deep roots in the cattle industry. Prior to working with Equine Network, Lemon held two different roles at the North American Limousin Foundation. He was a Director of Member Relations and Director of Commercial Industry Relations.
“It’s great to come full circle and be able to once again serve the beef industry in a professional capacity,” Lemon said.
“The future is so bright with the Angus breed and I’m excited to be joining the Angus family.”
Lemon also has additional membership association experience, having worked for both the Colorado
USDA Abattoir and Processor
Livestock Association and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. He is a native of Colorado and a graduate of Colorado State University in animal science.
He and his wife, Laurie, have a daughter, Kallie, who attends college in Nebraska. They will be relocating to the St. Joseph, Mo., area and began his role on June 24.
Angus Media provides cutting edge marketing services to the cattle industry, including publishing Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin and producing hundreds of sale books and websites annually.
AngusLink releases Maternal Score as marketing tool for replacement heifers. AngusLink’s Genetic Merit Scorecard (GMS) adds a fourth score option, Maternal, to demonstrate the maternal weaned calf value to aid in the selection of replacement females. As the cattle industry prepares for herd rebuilding, a new tool for objectively describing the genetic potential of replacement females hits the market, and with it, an opportunity for producers selling replacement females to market their added genetic value. The AngusLink Genetic Merit Scorecard (GMS) draws on the industry’s largest database to evaluate the genetic merit of a pen of feeder cattle, and starting in June, its new Maternal Score demonstrates an enrollment group’s maternal weaned calf value to aid in the selection of replacement females.
“The Maternal Score is becoming available at a perfect time with herd expansion on the horizon,” said Troy Marshall, director of commercial industry relations with the American Angus Association. “Maternal traits are generally more difficult to quantify because of the need to match cows to their environment, so it’s going to be a valuable tool for producers marketing or purchasing replacement females.”
The Maternal Score will be displayed alongside other scores – Beef, Feedlot, and Grid – on the GMS as females are marketed.
Marshall continued, “This new tool provides a reliable way to compare cattle’s performance potential across our industry and rebuild with better genetics that are more closely aligned with targets that the marketplace has clearly defined: increase in efficiency and increase in the consumers’ eating satisfaction, primarily through increased marbling and quality grade.”
John Dickinson of Parnell Dickinson Inc. in Auburn, Calif., is one of the Association’s board members.
“I see the same evolution coming with the Maternal Score that we have witnessed the past few years with Beef, Feedlot, and Grid scores already on the GMS,” Dickinson said. “In today’s marketing landscape, reputation and historical data are still very important, but buyers also want more tools they can use to mitigate risk.”
Information about individual component traits, specifically for mature size and milk production, will also be shared alongside an enrollment group’s Maternal Score so producers can better understand how a group of cattle would match with their environmental conditions. Dickinson said this appeals to both buyers and sellers because they can dive into individual maternal components.
“This is really exciting as the GMS Maternal Score is not only the first predictor of its kind in the industry, but also can you think of a better time for this tool to become available than when we have the smallest inventory numbers in over 50 years?” Dickinson said. “We will see a re-build and retention soon, and the Maternal Score can play a large role in moving you to the front of the market.”
To enroll, a producer must be AngusVerified through IMI Global, providing a list of sire registration numbers. Unique to the Maternal Score, the cattle must also have a predominantly Angus cow base.
There is no additional cost associated with the GMS program or AngusVerified, aside from IMI Global’s Age and Source verification enrollment, which includes an EID tag.
“There’s a lot of science behind this scorecard,” said Rafael Medeiros, a geneticist with Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI).
Scores are determined by the average EPDs of the bulls used to sire the current enrollment group and the cow herd’s genetic makeup. To raise cattle’s Maternal Score, a producer would want to select for higher Maternal Weaned Calf Value ($M) on registered Angus sires.
Medeiros, who led the technical development of the new score, said this prediction tool uses similar rationale to other genetic prediction tools managed by AGI, and is supported by Angus sire data and data from the USDA’s U.S. Meat Animal Research Center breed averages.
“If you’re not genotyping, this is the best estimate and the best value,” he said.
Medeiros added that it is important to know that, like the other GMS values, the Maternal Score characterizes the enrolled group, not individual animals.
In this way, the program can also serve as an instrument to track a herd’s genetic progress to make sure the next calf crop is better than the last.
As a seedstock producer, Dickinson said he sees the Maternal Score as another profit-minded program he and other members of the Association can offer their customers.
“This is yet another service we are providing for our commercial customers and those continuing to pay a premium for registered Angus bulls,” he said. “We are committed to their success and profitability being a pathway to our own. When they build back, we want them to build back with Angus – not necessarily because of reputation or nostalgia, but because we can provide them with the highest quality and most accurate tools for production and management in the industry today.”
For more information or to enroll cattle, call 816-383-5100 or contact AngusLink via email at anguslink@angus. org. IMI Global can also be reached to help start enrollment at 303-895-3002, or producers can complete its contact form at www.imiglobal.com/contact
Angus Means Business. The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving nearly 22,000 members across the United States, Canada, and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by more than 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers, and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers. For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org
National Grazing Management Survey
The U.S. beef industry protects natural resources and biodiversity, all while feeding the world. But as you know, the world does not realize all the great work producers are doing on the landscape, with activists and others creating a negative impression on our consumers. To assist in correcting that impression, we need your help. You are invited to complete a short, anonymous survey designed to gain new information on the current use of grazing management plans in the United States beef industry.
Participation in the survey is both entirely voluntary and highly encouraged. All responses will be kept in strict confidence, with the data analysis being released in summary form only and no identifying information included. Information collected during this survey will not be used or distributed for future research studies. The survey should take approximately ten minutes to complete and includes questions related to your cattle operation and grazing management practices. The study is being conducted by Kansas State University faculty and graduate student researchers.
Thank you for your valuable assistance with this important project. With your help, the industry will be better positioned to communicate its efforts of producing beef in a sustainable, efficient manner. If you have any questions or comments, you may contact Merri Day at Kansas State University at meday@ ksu.edu. If you have ethical concerns about this research, please contact Dr. Lisa Rubin at rubin@ksu.edu
Please visit kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ezbQpStC1YbtIxM or the QR code below to access the National Grazing Management Survey.
Certified Angus Beef news
Feeding Quality Forum Registration Now Open. This year’s topics cover market dynamics, management technologies, and the changing role of genetics. As we approach a herd rebuild, you need confidence to navigate today’s cattle market dynamics. This year’s Feeding Quality Forum (FQF) theme is just that, so attendees can leave ready to make more informed decisions at the ranch and feedyard to get more value for their cattle.
FQF will be hosted at the Boot Hill Casino and Resort Conference Center in Dodge City, Kan., on August 20-21. Save your seat online at FeedingQualityForum.com.
“Each year, Feeding Quality Forum is designed to bring attendees timely and relevant information,” says Kara Lee, director of producer engagement at Certified Angus Beef (CAB). “We are excited to host some of the industry’s most qualified experts to talk through topics that matter at
the ranch, the feedyard, and on the rail.”
What to expect? Returning for the 15th time, Dan Basse, AgResource Company, will kick off the event with a Global Market Update. Then Paul Dykstra, CAB, will discuss why Choice is an outdated quality goal for fed cattle and examine data from packing plants, followed by CAB Meat Scientist Daniel Clark talking about what carcass specifications are the most at-risk for disqualifying cattle from earning premiums. Tuesday’s sessions will wrap up with Insight from the Packer on procurement strategies.
The evening program will celebrate the 2024 Industry Achievement Award recipient, Glen Dolezal, from Cargill Protein. Called the “father of instrument grading,” Dolezal oversaw the implementation of Cargill’s tenderness claim and adoption of camera grading. His career tenure includes more than 20 years in the packing sector — focusing on quality beef production,
sustainable practices at the plant, and sales — following 16 years in academia.
“Today’s market of tight supplies and the long term prospect of a herd rebuild brings new challenges for producers and opportunities they can capitalize on,” Lee says. “At Feeding Quality Forum, attendees will gain top notch insight into both details.”
Wednesday morning is dedicated to practical management topics aimed at enhancing profitability and efficiency in the cattle industry. Beginning with Pete Anderson of Midwest PMS, attendees will learn about the importance of strategic management and marketing strategies. Following this, a panel of industry professionals will delve into the crucial role genetics play in maximizing profits. Then, Randall Spare, veterinarian with Ashland Veterinary Service, will discuss forward thinking strategies for rebuilding cow herds.
As the morning progresses, A.J. Tarpoff, Kansas State University, and Justin Gleghorn, Cactus Feeders, will talk about the power of current technologies for optimal management. The sessions will conclude with Bob Smith, Veterinary Research and Consulting Services, highlighting the significance of Beef Quality Assurance, offering a comprehensive overview of industry standards.
New this year is a post event session at Hy-Plains Feedyard. Attendees can see inside the research facility while participating in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) training. The BQA training is sponsored by Sysco and CAB as part of the Raised with Respect cattle care initiative. This training will also be offered in Spanish. Find the full agenda and speaker list, and register for the event at FeedingQualityForum.com
Feeding Quality Forum is hosted by Certified Angus Beef. This year’s sponsors include Alltech, AngusLink, Cattlemens Education Series and National Corn Growers Association, Diamond V, Farm Journal, Feed Lot , High Plains Journal , Micronutrients, Select Sires, Selko, and Rabo AgriFinance. Who is Certified Angus Beef? At Certified Angus Beef, we know people want to put great meals on the table. Our employees work across the beef supply chain to ensure chefs and home cooks find and prepare the best Angus beef. Led by our culinary, beef, and marketing experts, our team provides consultation, marketing materials, training, market insights, and tools that help businesses like grocery stores and restaurants thrive. Our team is also dedicated to sharing the story of family farmers and ranchers who supply the brand.
By CORTNEY HOLSHOUSER, NCAA Executive Secretary
Starnes Family Named 2023 Outstanding N.C. Conservation Farm Family of the Year
On May 9, hundreds gathered in Salisbury, N.C., to celebrate the accomplishments of a very dedicated family. Kim and Connie Starnes and Jason and Robin Starnes operate 4S Farms in Salisbury, where they farm 800 acres and raise Angus cattle, poultry, wheat, corn, soybeans, and hay.
conservation practices, are actively involved in conservation education, and have demonstrated strong community involvement. The Starnes family exemplifies exactly what this award means.
There were representatives from all areas of the Starnes’ lives there to support
The Starnes family is dedicated in every aspect of their lives, so it may not have come as a surprise to anyone that they were awarded the 2023 N.C. Outstanding Conservation Farm Family of the Year. This program recognizes farmers/farm families who have achieved a high level of natural resource stewardship by applying and maintaining innovative and cost effective
them as they received recognition for this accomplishment. Their pastor, former and current employees, family, neighbors, friends made through organizations, and agriculture industry leaders were all in attendance to celebrate.
Special guests included program emcee Bruce Miller with Rowan County Soil and Water Conservation; Rowan County Commissioner Greg Edds;
Vance Dalton, CEO of Ag South Farm Credit; Jimmy Gentry, President of the N.C. Grange; Bryan Evans and Billy Kirkpatrick with the N.C. Association of Soil and Water Conservation District; and N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler.
In his address, Commissioner Troxler commended the Starnes family for implementing conservation practices on their farm. Troxler says that North Carolina agriculture is a $3.2 billion industry, and it is more important now than ever that farmers work to preserve farmland. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, North Carolina ranks 15th nationally in the amount of farmland lost from 2017 to 2022, with a decrease of 302,386 acres.
always tried to do the right thing and does his research concerning the practices he does on the farm and does what he feels is right for the family, the farm, and the environment.”
As Kim took to the stage to receive this award, he said he was very humbled by the recognition. He says he only tries to do the right thing every day in his work. Of course, he thanked others for their part in the farm’s success, most importantly the Lord.
Kim recalled how he had a passion for farming early on in his childhood, even though his family didn’t farm. He kept the dream of farming on his own alive and bought his first tractor at 17, which has been restored and was proudly on display for this event. Kim and Connie
Troxler also noted that to earn this prestigious award, Kim and the Starnes family didn’t just clean up the farm for one day. It is a mindset that is instilled in everyone involved with the operation and something they do every day. He emphasized that they have integrity, pride in the land, and always do the right thing, whether it is popular or costly.
All the presenters for the day had the same theme in their messages: Kim and the Starnes family have a strong work ethic and rely heavily on their Christian faith. As a result, this award only seemed natural. As Vance Dalton said, “Kim
started farming in the mid-’70s and have progressed to what the operation is today. Kim retired from Duke Energy 18 years ago and is now full time on the farm. There was never a doubt that his son, Jason, would farm this land with his Dad. Among the accolades the Starnes family has received is the N.C. Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Ranchers Achievement Award that Jason and Robin earned in 2009. The achievement recognizes farmers in the program whose farm practices are judged to be the most outstanding in production efficiency, innovation, improvement, and environmental stewardship.
NORTHCAROLINAANGUSASSOCIATION
The Starnes family has a beautiful farm, and it was the perfect day to showcase it.
Kim thanked his family for their constant support.
This award is quite an honor and certainly a reason to celebrate.
The Starnes family with Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler.
The outpouring of support for the Starnes family on this day was a true testament to the kind of people they are. Kim is involved in the N.C. Angus Association and is always willing to serve in whatever capacity is needed. He has served multiple terms on the Board of Directors and as President. He currently serves as the Treasurer and continues to
be innovative and a strong leader for the organization. Kim also serves on the Ag South Farm Credit Board of Directors, serves his church faithfully as the chairman of the deacons, and is involved in many other committees.
Congratulations to the Starnes Family and everyone at 4S Farms for this well deserved honor.
was able to celebrate with Connie and Kim.
Annual Five County Beef Tour
The popular and long running educational beef tour has been scheduled for July 16, with Wake County serving as host county this year. The tour will feature three stops. Check–in at the first stop, Wood Angus Farm in Willow Springs, is scheduled from 7:30-8:00 a.m.
The first stop will take a look at Angus cattle, discussing their genetics for production and show animals. They also will discuss their farm’s event venue barn and how they market their farm’s beef and pork.
The second stop will be at Southern Wake Cattle Company in FuquayVarina. George Broadwell will discuss his rotational grazing, and a guest speaker will showcase regenerative agriculture on their 40 acres of pasture. This farm, a veteran owned partnership, will also discuss their marketing of their beef quarters and meat bundles to the public. Refreshments will be served at this stop.
The third stop will be at the NCSU E. Carroll Joyner Educational Beef Unit off Lake Wheeler Road in Raleigh. Three types of shade structures for smaller operations will be showcased in addition to summer grazing management for cattle herds demonstrated.
The guest speaker, NCDA & CS Meat Marketing Specialist Jack Nales, will outline how beef producers can get “Assistance with Marketing your Meat Products” with NCDA & CS and other organizations.
A delicious beef brisket lunch will be served by Strickland Farm Catering from Bunn at the Beef Unit. A mini trade show will also be held for participants to visit vendors along with door prizes given out.
If you plan to attend, the deadline to register is July 12 by contacting Martha Mobley at martha_mobley@ncsu.edu or 919-496-3344. An Eventbrite link will be set up for registration with a $10 per person fee to attend and participate. Contact us for details.
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
Richard D. Kirkman, DVM Siler City 919-742-5500 • rdkirkman@spectrum.net
BACK CREEK
Joe & Robin Hampton Mt. Ulla 704-880-2488 (Joe); 704-880-3572 (Robin) robinbackcreek@att.net
WINDY HILL FARMS, LLC Michael A. Moss Will Moss - Manager Ramseur 336-460-7451 • windyhillfarmsllc@gmail.com
WINSLOW GENETICS
Ben & Kathleen Winslow Halifax 252-578-5487 • bensbulls@gmail.com
WOOD ANGUS FARM, LLC Russell Wood Willow Spring 919-275-4397 • rwood4400@gmail.com www.woodangus.com
Cortney Holshouser
Preparing for the 50 th N.C. Simmental Celebration. This year has already been a very busy one for everyone on the 50th N.C. Simmental Celebration Planning Committee. We have been Zoom meeting every month and working to present an educational and fun opportunity for all cattlemen. Everyone is welcome, and we also welcome cattle producers from out of state. All we ask is that you give us an indication of the number attending so we will have plenty of delicious beef brisket provided by Fred Smith Company Ranch in Clayton and all the fixings provided by Bear Creek Beef in Bear Creek. You can contact us by email at ncsa@yadtel.net, phone at 336468-1679, or the Google form through
By JENNIE RUCKER Executive Secretary N.C. Simmental Association
the N.C. Simmental Facebook page or our website www.ncsimmental.com. Please let us know! We want everyone to enjoy this free meal provided by our sponsors.
The field day on September 6 will begin at noon with the Fall Harvest Sale cattle available for viewing. This will be an extra special group of cattle because most producers have been planning to consign their very best for this sale. Sale manager Doug Parke from Paris, Ken., will be on hand to answer any questions about the cattle, as will most of the consignors. We hope to have a continuous running video with each consignor giving an overview of their program so buyers can select the most perfect fit for their own herds.
Really nice item made by the Davie County FFA students for our silent auction at the 50th Simmental Celebration.
We are not providing a noon meal, but there will be food trucks available to get your lunch.
We will have Sydney Tuckweilder from Neogen to talk about the genomics that they can provide and what they can do to improve your herd. We will have Dr. Ruffin Hutchison, a large animal vet from Cleveland County, give a demonstration on breeding soundness exams. We plan to have Brooke and Marcus Harward to talk about what Simmental genetics can do for commercial cattle in the southeast. We hope to have other speakers also, but our headline speaker is Dr. Wade Shafer from the American Simmental Association. He is the Executive Director of the national organization, and we are pretty sure this is his first trip to North Carolina, so we are proud to have him attend our historic event.
Of course, the main event we are actually celebrating is our Fall Harvest Sale. This is the 50 th consignment sale hosted by the N.C. Simmental Association. We believe it to be the longest running state Simmental
consignment sale. You will have a chance to select cattle for your program from some of the very best producers in North Carolina and in surrounding states. We hope you can make plans to attend or watch the sale online through DVAuction. For a sale catalog, you can contact the NCSA office through all the same channels listed above.
Half Price Membership Drive. For the first time, we are holding a half price membership drive in conjunction with our 50th Celebration. Through September 6, membership dues in the N.C. Simmental Association are only $25, half off the regular $50. If you are considering consigning to our Fall Harvest Sale and have not paid your dues yet, you must pay them before the sale to get the half price deal. We welcome anyone who wishes to join. You can just send your check for $25 to N.C. Simmental Association, 1341 Highway 21, Hamptonville, NC 27020. Of course, you are welcome to pay at our 50th N.C. Simmental Celebration. If you pay this summer, you can be listed in our breeders directory.
Simmental News
Registration is open for Fall Focus 2024 in Amarillo, Tex., hosted by the American Simmental Association. The American Simmental Association (ASA) has opened registration for Fall Focus 2024. The event offers a unique opportunity for beef industry producers and enthusiasts to learn about the latest updates on industry issues, technology, science, and more straight from the experts themselves. This year’s event is completely free to attend, but registration is required for planning.
The 2024 event will be held in Amarillo, Tex., on August 23–27. The Texas Panhandle is an epicenter of beef production and is also home to industry leading educational institutions like West Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University.
August 23 will include a tour of West Texas A&M University’s research feedlot, an ultrasound demonstration, a panel discussion about trends in the beef industry, a meat laboratory tour, a beef sensory panel, a tour of the PanhandlePlains Historical Museum, and a Sod Poodles baseball game. August 24, industry leading experts will cover topics including yield grade challenges and
tallow value, beef on dairy, understanding consumer demand, the Ogallala Aquifer and water challenges, and labor. Attendees will also have the opportunity to attend a dinner recognizing the 2024 Golden Book Award and Lifetime Promoter recipients, and retiring ASA Board of Trustees members.
The event will also include an ASA Board of Trustees meeting, which is open to participants and will include several opportunities to ask questions and share feedback.
Registration for Fall Focus 2024 is free but required for planning. To see the whole schedule and learn more, head to www.fallfocus.org or read the July/ August issue of The Register magazine.
About the American Simmental Association. Founded in 1968, the American Simmental Association is headquartered in Bozeman, Montana. ASA is committed to leveraging technology, education, and collaboration to accelerate genetic profitability for the beef industry. In keeping with its commitment, ASA and its partners formed International Genetic Solutions — the world’s largest genetic evaluation of beef cattle. Learn more at www.simmental.org
4B FARMS, LLC
Shelby, NC
Bryson Westbrook Ed Soto (Manager) 980-230-4868 - Bryson 704-974-1407 - Ed brysonw@thewestbrookco.com
1 MILE OF PASTURE MANAGEMENT FENCING SUPPLIES AWARDED TO THE NCCA COUNTY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
RECRUITING THE MOST NEW MEMBERS IN 2024
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MACON COUNTY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION
2023 MILE OF FENCE WINNER
MILE OF FENCE PROGRAM
Members
County in 2024
Carteret 0
Caswell 0
Catawba 12
New N.C. Cattlemen’s Association Members for 2024
In 2007, the NCCA Membership Committee passed a resolution to recognize all NEW members, defined as someone who has never been a member or has rejoined after a break in membership, in The Carolina Cattle Connection. Below are NCCA’s new members for the last month:
Out-of-State
Brandon & Christina Gayle – Virginia
Alleghany County
Janelle Cheston
– Bottomley Cattle Company
Buncombe County
Michael Atkinson
Abby Fusco
Grecia Gomez
McKinley Holcombe
Jordan Kelly
Megan Mullinax
Burke County
Bryant Baker – Baker Farm
David Baker
Heather Baker
Dean Beck – Beck Ranch
Ben Brockland – McGimpsey Farm Property
Kaleb Nicholson – 4N Farms
Catawba County
Shelby Eades
Matthew Holtsclaw
Evan Howard – Howard Services
Tucker Little – Sipe Angus
Sadie Sterrett
Brett Wimberly
Chatham County
Stephen Ashby – Ashby Cattle Company
Cleveland County
Zach & Tabby
Marks
David Walker – Walker Farms
Jordan Walker – Walker Farms
Tonya Walker – Walker Farms
Edgecombe County
Jeremy Catagnus
Haley Driver
Kyra Jilcott
Jaileea Knight
Khamari Whitaker
Forsyth County
Justin Castle – Castle Livestock
Franklin County
Rosalino Juarez-Solorio – Juarez Farms
Granville County
Linda Sturdivant – L&S Farm
Guilford County
Eloisa Blake – Blake Farm
Jamiya Brand-Chapman
Kenly Brown
Emma Claire Carpenter
Benjamin Childress
Joyel Coleman
Bailey Gray
Emily Harris
Elliaan Jehlicka
Kahlani Jenkins
Alexandra Johnson
Azianne Lynch
Valentina Mata-Martinez
Maleia McCoss
Asaiah McIntyre
Leslie Mendoza-Rodriguez
Marwah Raja
Kamori Robinson
Avery Rogers
Joselyn Smith-Petty
Astou Sougou
Peter Thi
Sasha Verdugo Herrera
Chasidi Westmoreland
Nkauj Hli Tina Yang
Halifax County
Summer Butler
Henderson County
Will Cox
Garrett Dennis
Nathan Klepp
Shaylynn McKenzie
Lincoln County
John Little
McDowell County
Paul Taylor – Sunalee
Montgomery County
Kristian Lynthacum
Gregory F. Phillips
Nash County
Reagan Faulkner – Black Dog Farm & Pet Care
Pitt County
Ayla Abernathy
Ke’Monei D. Whitehead
Randolph County
Alane Anderson
Nicholas Bradley Kirkman
Charles Luke Lambert
Levi Latham
Sarah Mae Majors
Trey Musgrave
Alexandra Neito Padron
Hannah-Elizabeth Faye Prada Garrido
Carmen Pavon
Gavin Hunter Powers
Johnathan Sams
Alexis Marie Sawyer
Kelton Shoptaw
Savanna Stapleton
Katrina Weaver
Rutherford County
Margaret Laughter
Stanly County
Kadence Mullis
Stokes County
Brianna Bennett
Nate Bowman
Patrick Chaney
Rebecca Dickson
Carson Martin
Riley Neal
Ivan Payne
Alanna Slate
Hunter Smothers
Transylvania County
Elijah Casey
Jessica Chappell
Pheonix Chastine
Joseph Cole
Rachel Lawrence
Peyton Mackey – Edgewood Farm
Calida Martinez-Hernandez
Lori Phillips
Roberto A. Resendiz
Maya Rivas
Delaney Tucker
Judson Weaver
Union County
Ryland McClain
Vance County
David & Stephanie Vick – Circle V Farms
Warren County
Philip Haskins Jr. – Hillbilly Heaven
James Maynard – Hillbilly Heaven
Watauga County
Gragg Farms – Paul, Chris & David Gragg
Wilkes County
Caleb Bryant – CB Farms
Wilson County
Sarah Cowley
Amanda Durham
James Gardner – Gardner Farms/TNT Cattle
Electronic Identification and BQA
By LAUREN LANGLEY N.C. State University
There is a lot of buzz around in the cattle industry right now when it comes to the 2024 update to the 2013 Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Rule. The major change is going from requiring metal ear tags to electronic tags (EID), specifically the 840 tags. This rule change is coming from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and will become effective on November 5. Not only did the tag requirement change but so did the animal requirements. The rule reads that sexually intact cattle over the age of 18 months, all dairy cattle (which includes cattle born on dairies regardless of breed or classification), and all show/exhibition/rodeo cattle will be required to be electronically identified prior to interstate movement. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stressed in their communications that, outside of the dairy industry, the rule does
not change the requirements for the types of cattle that must be officially identified but rather changes the specifications of the official identification.
The use of electronic tags is nothing new. In fact, according to the 2022 Beef Quality Audit, electronic tag usage has increased 74 percent from 2016-2022. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) promotes biosecurity, individual identification, and other aspects that improve the dayto-day management of beef cattle. At a recent BQA training, participants learned about EID tags, premise identification, and biosecurity. Dr. Thomas Van Dyke, Clinical Assistant Professor Ruminant Production Medicine, N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine walked participants through where and how to place the EID tag in the cattle’s ear. It is important that the tag can be read and placed in the middle of
the ear ideally but can also go ⅔ of the way into the ear from the edge of the ear towards the skull. Tags that are applied too close to the tip of the ear may become snagged and pull out more easily. This also leaves room for a larger visual tag to be present or a fly ear tag. Furthermore, participants were made aware of BQA’s new biosecurity resources, including a fillable biosecurity plan.
It is important as an industry that we are able to quickly pinpoint disease, contain it, eradicate it, and keep animals moving to market. By transitioning the ADT system to EID tags, it strengthens
our ability to respond to disease situations with minimal disruption to producers. In order to implement the tag change, EID tags will be available at no cost through the N.C. Department of Agriculture office once producers enroll in the N.C. Farm ID program, which includes state and national premise identification for that farm.
If you have any questions regarding the ADT rule changes, obtaining EID tags, or enrolling in the N.C. Farm ID program, please contact NCFarmID@ ncagr.gov or 919-707-3250. For more information about BQA and biosecurity, please visit bqa.org.
Recent BQA training at Butner Beef Cattle Field Lab.
NEWS
Positive lifelong impacts from quality cattle mineral supplementation. Research finds link between gestational nutrition from minerals and higher weaning weights. The concept of fetal programming has been evolving in the beef industry for several decades as more research is done.
“Fetal programming is the time when tissues and organs are created during embryonic and fetal development,” says Jason Sewell, Ph.D., cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition. “During this time, improper nutrition can permanently alter various metabolic and physiological functions of the fetus as it grows into an adult.”
Recently, Purina Wind and Rain mineral was featured in a gestational nutrition research study by N.D. State University.1 The study aimed to illustrate the importance of providing minerals and vitamins during gestation and its impact on fetal programming.
Study design - Replacement heifers
were synchronized and bred with sexed semen to create heifer calves. The resulting heifer calves were grown to a breeding age of 15 months upon conclusion of the study.
“The only difference between groups was in the gestational nutrition of the dams, where Wind and Rain mineral was fed to the study group at a rate of 4 ounces per head per day. The control group didn’t receive any supplemental mineral during gestation,” says Sewell.
Throughout the study, both groups of dams were fed a basal diet of silage, hay, and dried distillers grain to gain 1 pound per head per day. The basal diet wasn’t deficient in minerals compared to National Research Council requirements for cattle. Liver biopsies of both the control and study heifers were adequate for trace mineral profiles.
“Following calving, both the study and control groups received mineral supplementation,” says Sewell.
Research results - The
Large Animal Grants Program Accepting Applications
Large animal veterinarians in North Carolina are eligible to apply for up to $25,000 in funds to help support their large animal practice. This $125,000 fund was created by the N.C. General Assembly in 2023 and will be administered by the N.C. Ag Finance Authority. The funding opportunity is available to veterinarians who practice in one of the 70 North Carolina counties with a population of 100,000 or fewer and who spend 30 percent or more of their patient care involved in large animal veterinary care.
“North Carolina, like many other states, has a deficit of large animal veterinarians. In many areas of the state, a single veterinarian may be the only option within 100 square miles,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “These funds can be used for repayment of educational loans related to the recipient’s veterinary degree, to purchase equipment or technology for use in the practice, or any additional uses the advisory committee determines is appropriate to promote and develop large animal veterinarians to practice in the designated counties.”
The application period runs through August 16. Applications are available online at https://fs4.formsite.com/QopHZM/4llcxkovj4/signup . More information on the grant program can be found in frequently asked questions.
The Large Animal Health Enhancement Advisory Committee will make the determination on grant dispersal based on eligible applications. This committee includes the N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture; the State Veterinarian of North Carolina; the Executive Director of the N.C. Agricultural Finance Authority; one designee from the Food Animal Scholars Program, N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine; two practicing large animal veterinarians; two representatives of the livestock industry; one designee by the Commissioner of Agriculture of North Carolina; and one designee by the State Veterinarian of North Carolina.
supplementation of Wind and Rain mineral significantly increased colostrum volume and weight compared to the control heifers. The dams supplemented with Wind and Rain mineral produced 50 percent more colostrum than the control dams. The test calves received 1.5 times more trace minerals via colostrum because of the increased volumes, helping ensure they would get off to a good start.
At weaning, the heifer calves born from dams receiving Wind and Rain mineral had larger ribeye area, chest, and abdominal circumference than the controls. Weaning weights for the study calves were 36 pounds higher.
“It can be theorized that the calves from dams fed Wind and Rain mineral could be more reproductively mature because of those improvements,” says Sewell.
Additionally, the study calves carried out the weight advantage from weaning until the study stopped at 15 months of age.
“An advantage in weight gain and ribeye area could also be expected if those calves had been utilized for terminal production, yielding more pounds of beef produced,” says Sewell.
Importance of research - Third party, university research is vital to help validate the findings from Purina’s own research at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center and on-farm or ranch research done with producers. Purina didn’t sponsor this particular study, but there have been many other university research studies Purina
has sponsored to help verify findings.
“The significance of mineral and vitamin supplementation is often overlooked. Something as small as feeding 4 ounces of a mineral and vitamin product per head per day profoundly impacts the offspring’s performance and productivity,” says Sewell. “This study does a fantastic job of quantifying the benefits of feeding a mineral and vitamin supplement during a critical development period.”
See the difference mineral supplementation can have by doing a Proof Pays feeding trial. Visit proofpays. com or contact your local Purina dealer to get started.
Reference
1Hurlbert, J. 2023. Trace Mineral Supplementation in Beef Cattle During Gestation. Master of Science, NDSU.
About Purina Animal Nutrition. Purina is a national organization serving producers, animal owners, and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers, and other large retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company is an industry leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients, and specialty technologies for the livestock and lifestyle animal markets. Purina Animal Nutrition is headquartered in Arden Hills, Minn., and a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc. For more information, visit www.purinamills.com
S.C. CharolaiS NewS
By GEORGEANNE WEBB S.C. Charolais Association
I did some online shopping a few weeks ago and bought two bred heifers. We were not able to go to Alabama, so we watched online. I had seen Dennis take bids over the phone at our sales, but I had never done that. It was exciting as I upped my bid while watching online. I got the heifers home the next day, and they fit in perfectly. I waited a week and then put them with the herd. I moved the herd a week later, and they moved with no problem. I will let old Atomic breed them next fall after they calve and see what ‘tank and Atomic make.
Not much is going on with Charolais breeders except cutting hay between rainstorms. It sure has been tough figuring out when to cut to avoid the next rain. We are also weaning calves, so it is
noisy with tractors running and calves screaming.
I hope everyone got out and voted in South Carolina. We all need to keep track of the candidates since China is trying to buy all the farmland. I get calls just about every week, and I can tell from the accent that they are not from U.S. citizens.
I do have some sad news to report. The cattle industry lost a great matriarch recently with the passing of Jane DeBruycker in Montana. Please keep the DeBruycker family in your prayers for comfort.
Cattle prices are staying up so far. Let’s hope that continues all year. When you say your prayers every night, don’t forget your neighbors and the agriculture community.
A MessAge froM the Ceo
By COLIN WOODALL National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Beef and the Boys and Girls of Summer
Ah, yes, summer is here, and like many Americans, I have had my grill out and hot for weeks. As those last few spring snowstorms came through Colorado, I was itching to pull my grill out and cook without worrying about my drink of choice turning into a popsicle. The aroma and taste of beef cooked outside are just hard to pass up. People light up when they smell a burger or steak cooking on their favorite grill, griddle, or smoker. The whole backyard beef grilling experience is a quintessential part of summer. As I have said in years past, beef IS summer. Another quintessential part of our American summer experience is baseball, our national pastime. Beef and baseball are a perfect pairing, and that is why we are partnering with Little League during this year’s summer grilling season.
Little League was established in 1939, and today, more than two million boys and girls aged 4-16 play in the world’s largest organized youth sports
program. Yes, you read that right, the world’s largest. That was something I did not know until we started to explore this partnership as a way to get the Checkoff funded Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand in front of a new generation. Through this partnership, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. will be the official sponsor of Little League’s “Perfect Home Plate.” It is a catchy tagline that allows us to show that beef hotdogs and burgers are great for that post game meal at the ballpark and for any meal at home during the week.
We love to talk about our summer beef eating experiences, and our Little League partnership will help amplify the fun and enjoyment that comes with beef. However, it is important to remember the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans highlighted that many children and adolescents are not getting enough high quality protein, iron, zinc, choline, and vitamins B6 and B12. These nutrients are
essential for childhood development, and beef can deliver them all in a nutrient dense and tasty meal.
As a contractor to the national Beef Checkoff, NCBA develops and executes marketing campaigns to drive awareness of the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand, build loyalty to the brand, and increase consumer trust in our product. This summer, the Little League partnership will drive mass exposure to the brand since there are 130,000 teams that play in all 50 states. In addition to the two million youth players, there are more than 2.2 million parents, volunteers, and fans who help or watch Little League games. From Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. signs
at the ballfields to our broadcast and digital media work, we can capitalize on getting beef and the beef message in front of all the participants and fans.
Later this summer, we will host a Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. themed meal for the more than 240 participants in the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. This meal will bring players from around the world to savor and enjoy beef and the camaraderie that comes with playing baseball. Sending the international teams home with a taste of the best beef in the world is not a bad extra benefit either. The Little League World Series attracts more than 330,000 attendees in Williamsport, and 151 million viewers will watch the broadcasts on ESPN and ABC.
We are proud we can take two legendary American brands and bring them together this summer. Little League is about having fun while learning about teamwork, sportsmanship, and competition. These are life lessons that will help each of these players better themselves. Couple that with a nutrient packed protein that helps them develop physically, and you have a winning combination to help America’s youth get prepared for life. Add a whole lot of fun and some great tasting beef, and we have a project we can all be proud of.
So, as you enjoy your outdoor cooking experiences this summer, know that your Checkoff dollars and the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand are working to capture and develop a new generation of beef eaters who, in a few years, will also get really excited about pulling their grill out and cooking beef for their friends and families. Eat beef and play ball!
NCBA
PresideNt’s rePort
By MARK EISELE National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Building International Partnerships
When I think about the value of NCBA, “partnership” comes to mind. When I first started in the cattle business, NCBA was my partner and helped me through challenging regulations and activist attacks that threatened my ranch. Since becoming NCBA president, building on partnerships has been a top priority, and those partnerships don’t stop at our borders.
Recently, I traveled to Australia and Mexico to meet with local producers and build international support to address some of our industry’s top challenges. Whether you raise cattle in the United States, Australia, Mexico, Canada, or the European Union, farmers and ranchers face similar threats. Radical environmental groups continue to push the false narrative that raising cattle is destroying the planet, our way of life continues to face threats from foreign animal diseases like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and lab grown meat companies are pushing for making factory copies of our real beef.
These international threats are the reason why NCBA is reaching out to cattle producer organizations in other countries. In Australia, I joined the producer led group Cattle Australia and signed a joint statement with their president. The statement reflected our shared interests in bolstering animal health programs to protect our industry from FMD, urging our governments to strengthen oversight and labeling requirements for lab grown protein, and continuing to tell the cattle industry’s sustainability story and the value we provide to the environment.
After Australia, I headed to Mexico for the Confederación Nacional de Organizaciones Ganaderas, or CNOG, convention. CNOG represents Mexican cattle producers, and we have worked closely with them and the Canadian Cattle Association on animal health issues in North America. Both CNOG and the Canadian Cattle Association
joined our joint statement with Australia and committed to addressing these same issues.
On the animal health front, beef imports from Brazil remain a consistent concern. Brazil has been home to several cases of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). While these cases occur spontaneously, all countries are required to report BSE cases within 24 hours to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). This system ensures transparency and keeps every country playing by the same rules. The U.S. has upheld this 24 hour requirement continuously, but Brazil has often delayed reporting cases from anywhere between 35 days to nearly two years. That delay is extremely concerning, and it makes Brazil an unreputable trading partner. NCBA has raised this concern repeatedly with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but in Mexico, we took another step by leading a letter with CNOG and the
Canadian Cattle Association to top trade officials of our respective countries — U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Mexican Secretaria de Economía Raquel Buenrostro Sanchez, and Canadian Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng — explaining our concerns once again.
I firmly believe standing up for what is right as an individual is a good thing but standing up as a team is even better. It sends a powerful signal that cattle producers across North America are united in our concern with Brazil, and we keep pushing to block their beef imports. It is similarly important producers around the world are united in confronting
these other threats we face — foreign animal disease, lab grown protein, and environmental activist attacks.
We in the cattle industry have an incredible story to share. Our farms and ranches are testaments to the value of hard work, family, and perseverance. We steward millions of acres of open land, protect wildlife habitat, clean air, and healthy soil, and harness the incredible upcycling ability of cattle to produce a delicious, wholesome protein that feeds our local communities and the world. There is no better way to make a living than that, and NCBA is strengthening our partnerships abroad to make sure that story is told everywhere. Thank you for trusting NCBA to be your partner.
NCBA News
NCBA Commends House Agriculture Committee for Passing Farm Bill. Recently, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) thanked the House Agriculture Committee for passing the next Farm Bill, known as the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. This Farm Bill includes top priorities for cattle farmers and ranchers, including cattle health, voluntary conservation, and food security provisions.
“Cattle producers are thankful that the
House Agriculture Committee has advanced a Farm Bill that delivers on the needs of rural America,” said NCBA President Mark Eisele. “This Farm Bill protects the cattle industry from foreign animal disease, supports producers’ voluntary conservation efforts, and safeguards our food supply, recognizing that our food security is national security. On behalf of cattle farmers and ranchers across the country, thank you to Chairman Thompson and the House Agriculture Committee for passing
this bill. I hope the full House will take the next step and pass this bill soon.”
NCBA Welcomes Republican Senate Farm Bill Framework. Recently, NCBA welcomed the Farm Bill framework released by Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Arizona). Included in the framework are top priorities for cattle producers, similar to the bipartisan House Farm Bill, such as funding to protect the U.S. cattle herd from foreign animal disease, continued support for voluntary conservation programs, and other critical food security provisions.
“Thank you to Ranking Member Boozman for building on the successful, bipartisan work of Chairman G.T. Thompson to put forward a Farm Bill that cattle producers across the country can proudly support,” said Mark Eisele. “This Senate Farm Bill framework understands
the full threat of a foreign animal disease outbreak on U.S. soil and acknowledges that cattle farmers and ranchers carry out vital work, through voluntary conservation programs, to preserve our Nation’s natural resources. NCBA welcomes this positive step forward and urges the Senate to follow the Ranking Member’s lead, as the policy ideas in this framework have already received bipartisan support in the House.”
NCBA Responds to FDA’s Longitudinal Study on the Yuma Valley Leafy Greens Growing Region. On June 5, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released preliminary findings from a multi-year study investigating the spread of bacteria to leafy greens being grown in Yuma County, Arizona.
The study was undertaken after a 2018 E. coli outbreak that was linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Ariz., growing area. The investigation into that outbreak found samples of canal water that tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli. However, that strain of E. coli was not found at a nearby cattle feeding operation, and the investigation ultimately found “no obvious route for contamination” from the feeding operation.
“Despite those 2018 investigative findings, we are concerned that some have erroneously interpreted the new FDA study as suggesting that the cattle industry is responsible for the outbreak, even though the scientific evidence does not support such a conclusion,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “In fact, FDA has expressly stated that the multi-year study did not identify the specific source and route of contamination that contributed to the 2018 outbreak.”
On the surface, cattle operations appear to be an easy target, but cattle and beef producers are already subject to countless local, state, and federal regulations that govern their operations to minimize the environmental impact and ensure that the food supply is safe.
“The cattle and beef industry takes its responsibility for food and consumer safety seriously. Clearly, more scientific data is needed, but we must not allow ourselves to get ahead of science and play the blame game,” said Woodall. “Farmers and ranchers dedicate significant resources toward identifying and implementing practices that protect the environment, while also supporting food safety.”
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
Five Steps to Simplify Genetic Testing Sample Collection and Submission. As commercial cow/calf producers drive through their pastures evaluating their spring calf crop and contemplating which heifer calves will make the short list of future herd replacements, now is the time to think about genetic testing. Genetic testing is a practical, proven tool that provides dependable genetic predictions and actionable insights about individual animal performance. In situations where resources are limited or herd inventories need to be tightly managed, information from genetic testing can be used to confidently confirm pasture observations and to inform and validate selection, breeding, and marketing decisions.
As a genetics sales representative with Zoetis Beef Genetics, Kori Soutter guides customers in the step-by-step process of genetic testing their cattle and sends producers the sampling equipment they need.
“While working with customers, I’ve learned that collecting tissue samples to submit for genetic testing is half the battle and a critical first step toward unlocking powerful insights,” Soutter said. Whether producers are ready to jump into genetic testing with two feet or are still exploring the possibilities, Soutter explained that it’s never too soon to collect tissue samples and offered five key considerations for simplifying genetic testing sample collection and submission.
1. Keep sampling supplies at the ready. Having the necessary supplies on hand to collect tissue samples enables producers to grab samples when they’re handling cattle. For cow/calf operations, the best times are at birth, weaning, while vaccinating, or during branding season. Order tissue sampling units (TSUs) and applicators today so you have the supplies
you need the next time you work cattle.
2. Know what a successful sample looks like. The best way to take a tissue sample is to collect the sample from inside the hairline, about an inch from the edge of the animal’s ear. Simply squeeze the applicator and take the sample. After collecting the sample, make sure there is tissue in the vial and that the vial is closed. This will help visualize if a successful sample was collected.
3. Match the TSU barcode with the animal ID for each sample. Each TSU comes with a unique barcode. For each sample collected, write down the ID of the animal sampled to match the sample barcode. This information must be included on the order submission form (in addition to gender, breed, and an estimated birthdate) in order for the samples to go through the lab successfully.
4. Store samples in a cool, dry place. After samples are collected, you do not have to put them in the refrigerator or freezer. Simply store the samples in a cool, dry place after collecting them. Putting all the animal data in the order form could take a little bit of extra time, and it may be a few days before you are able to ship them back to the lab. A critical point is to make sure none of the TSU vials are cracked or leaking.
5. Prepare samples for shipping. One of the most common questions customers ask is, “How do I send in my samples?” Soutter recommends putting the samples in a sealed plastic bag, placing them in a box, and padding the samples with tissue paper or paper towels to protect them from extra movement during transport. Don’t forget to place the completed order form on top of the samples inside the shipping box, and always ask for a tracking number.
Ongoing Support from Zoetis“From sampling support from sales representatives to the team of beef genetics experts helping interpret results and developing actionable insights for your herd, Zoetis is there to help producers have a successful genetic testing experience,” Soutter said.
Regardless of operation size or goals, producers can implement genetic testing to help build an efficient and profitable herd by using genetic testing insights to speed up genetic progress for future calf crops. Having the tools on hand to genetic test is the first step in making better breeding and
selection decisions to build a better herd.
Zoetis offers support and resources to help producers select the right genetic test, determine which heifers to test, and develop best practices for sample collection and submissions. Visit BeefGenetics.com and click on “book a call” to schedule time with a Zoetis rep to learn more.
About Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals.
After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide – from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock farmers and ranchers. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Zoetis generated revenue of $8.5 billion in 2023 with approximately 14,100 employees. For more information, visit www.zoetis.com
Beef Improvement Federation NEWS
BIF Selects New Board, Officers.
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) announced new directors and officers on June 12 during the group’s annual symposium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Gordon Jones, Lafayette, Tenn., was introduced as the 2024-25 BIF president during the Wednesday awards luncheon. Gordon Hodges of Hamptonville, N.C., is the new vice president.
Directors elected to serve on the BIF board were breed association representatives Lindsay Upperman of the Red Angus Association of America and Bruce Holmquist of the Canadian Simmental Association. Matt Woolfolk of the American Shorthorn Association was reelected to serve another term as a breed association representative. Casey Worrell of Harper, Tex., was elected to the board as a central region director, and Brad Wolter of Aviston, Ill., was elected as an at-large director.
More than 500 beef producers, academia, and industry representatives attended the organization’s 56th Annual Research Symposium and Convention in Knoxville. BIF’s mission is to help improve the industry by promoting
greater acceptance of beef cattle performance evaluation.
For more information about this year’s symposium, including award winners and video archives of the symposium, visit BIFSymposium.com Mark your calendars for the 2025 BIF Symposium, which will be hosted June 9-12 in Amarillo, Texas.
About the Beef Improvement Federation. The BIF is an organization dedicated to coordinating all segments of the beef industry — from researchers and producers to retailers — in an effort to improve the efficiency, profitability, and sustainability of beef production. The organization was initiated almost 70 years ago to encourage the use of objective measurements to evaluate beef cattle. Continuing the tradition, BIF is now the clearinghouse for developing standardized programs and methodologies for the recording of performance data for all traits, from birth weights to carcass traits. Its three leaf clover logo symbolizes the link between industry, extension, and research. Information about the organization can be found online at www. BeefImprovement.org
Don’t get caught napping! Deadline is 5th of month prior to issue!
Federation oF State BeeF CounCilS update
Finding Common Ground. Where do outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists, and cattle farmers and ranchers intersect?
A video series developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, aims to demonstrate how these seemingly different groups have a lot in common. “Voices of the Outdoors” shines a light on how cattle producers across the country are conserving natural resources for future generations and protecting landscapes for hikers, climbers, and other outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
There are many shared values in both the beef and outdoor recreation communities, including a passion for caring for animals and preserving land for all to appreciate. “Voices of the Outdoors” was created to foster communication between these groups, combat misinformation, reach new audiences, and encourage future partnerships. One of the first videos in the new series highlighted how open space brought a Colorado cattle producer and an avid hiker together.
As exponential development shrinks the distance between Denver and Colorado Springs, an oasis of green pastures dotted with cattle remains unspoiled in Douglas County, Colorado. The county is committed to preserving open spaces, which includes the land where Welch Cattle Company grazes their cattle.
“Most of the land that I raise our cattle on is owned by Douglas County, preserved forever as open space,” explains Bob Welch, owner of Welch Cattle Company. “Because there is both a grazing program and a system of trails for the public to use, we intermingle with the public as we’re raising our beef.”
Cattle grazing is a natural part of the ecosystem that helps with wildfire mitigation, reduces invasive noxious weeds, increases grass varieties, and sequesters carbon in the soil, creating an environment conducive for hikers.
“I really just want to help people recreate responsibly, take good care of the outdoor spaces, and make sure that they stay looking beautiful,” said hiker Myranda Hausheer.
Relationships between ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts are built through partnerships, including those with local governments, such as Douglas County, which is committed to bringing groups together for everyone’s benefit.
“It is really a great combination of
using cattle as a tool to help manage noxious weeds, which reduces the amount of chemicals that we spray on land, making it better for everyone,” said Scott McEldowney, Deputy Director, Douglas County Open Space and Natural Resources.
Kristen Welch with Welch Cattle Company credits the county for creating opportunities for her community.
“This land was so close to being developed for housing, and I’m grateful to the county for maintaining it so we have more wildlife opportunities,” she said.
Finding common ground may not always be easy, but as producers and outdoor enthusiasts come together and agree that preserving natural resources benefits everyone, cattle quickly become a unifying force.
“If we don’t take care of this land, then we’re out of business,” concluded Welch.
Hosted on BeefItsWhatsForDinner. com , the “Voices of the Outdoors” videos are promoted through social media channels and shared by outdoor enthusiasts, reaching a new audience with positive beef stories. So far, the videos have generated three million views and have inspired viewers to share positive comments about the beef industry. Followers appreciate knowing that ranchers are conserving land and working hard to provide a nutritious product everyone can feel good about eating.
Not only is “Voices of the Outdoors” creating a positive image of the beef industry and reaching new audiences, but its success is being recognized nationally, receiving first place honors in the Region 2 Awards of the National Agri-Marketing Association.
Visit www.beefitswhatsfordinner. com/raising-beef/voices-of-the-outdoors to watch the “Voices of the Outdoors” series.
Faces of the Federation. For more than 60 years, grassroots producer engagement has driven the demand for beef through the Federation of State Beef Councils. States voluntarily invest in the Federation to build beef demand by inspiring, unifying, and supporting an effective and coordinated state and national Checkoff partnership. Ultimately, it is cattle producers from coast to coast who direct the Federation’s work, and we celebrate their dedication. These are the
“Faces of the Federation.”
Nancy Jackson
Nancy Jackson and her husband, Gary, are fulfilling their dreams by returning to their roots and owning Southern Cross Farm, a cow/calf operation in Eupora, Mississippi. As a family farm, the Jacksons have developed their operation to be a model farm for environmental and economic sustainability. Part of creating economic sustainability, not only for her own farm but for the cattle industry as a whole, is serving as a volunteer leader. Jackson, a veterinarian by trade, and the current Federation of State Beef Councils Vice Chair, believes the Federation’s strength lies in its volunteer leaders.
How does the Federation of State Beef Councils impact the beef industry?
As a grassroots organization made up of producers who serve as volunteer leaders, we represent cattlemen and women from around the United States who are producing this product we are so proud of. I take that responsibility seriously, and it is critical for those volunteer leaders to bring their enthusiasm and perspective.
What I really want people to know about the Federation of State Beef Councils is that it’s a volunteer led organization, and we work so hard to be effective stewards of producer dollars. Those funds are used to share how beef is nutritious, beef is wholesome, and beef is safe.
The Federation is critical because we have states with more cows than people, and then we have other states where there is a high human population. By pooling our money under the Federation of State Beef Councils, we can accomplish more. The Federation supports so much research and promotion, more than individual producers or states can do on their own.
What are some of the benefits of investing in the Federation? All Federation funded programs positively impact states, but for my state specifically, one of the things we use most is accessing food photography and recipes under the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.
brand. In Mississippi, we don’t have the money for professional photography or to develop triple tested recipes. But as a member of the Federation of State Beef Councils, we’re able to use what they develop at a national level in the advertising, promotion, and education we conduct in our state.
Why do you think the Federation continues to be vital? The Federation was formed in the year I was born, so I reflect on how it’s vital in the things I was taught in high school, things about nutrition, and some of the animal welfare practices I learned through Beef Quality Assurance and my veterinary education. The work of the Federation has been such a huge part of my life professionally.
When I think about the last 60 years, I think about how the Federation continues to move our industry forward, promoting beef as the protein of choice around the world. This grassroots organization brings us together to work as a team and leverage every producer dollar to do the most good.
I think sometimes producers don’t realize how far the Checkoff dollar goes. Based on investment studies, the rate of return is nearly $12 for every Checkoff dollar invested in programs. If we didn’t have those dollars to fund nutrition research, share sustainability information, and manage other promotion programs, beef wouldn’t be the protein of choice for so many consumers.
What is the most important message you’d like to share about the Federation? My message is that your dollar counts, and it is used wisely.
Together, we can share resources and accomplish more by reaching consumers in areas where they are in a way individual states can’t do by themselves. The Federation is definitely grassroots, and we’re putting our resources together to educate people across the country about beef.
Watch the Faces of the Federation segment on Cattlemen to Cattlemen at www.youtube.com/user/ Cattlementocattlemen
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Beef Promotion and Research Program
PRIVATE
TREATY
SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM
Information is required by (7 CRF 1260.201). Failure to report can result in a fine. Information is held confidential (7 CRF 1260.203).
Today’s Date: ________________
Seller’s Name: ____________________________
Address:
City: ________________ State: ____ Zip:
Seller’s Signature: _________________________
Buyer’s Name: ____________________________
Address:
City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: ______
Buyer’s Signature: _________________________
Both the seller & the buyer are responsible for making sure that the $1.50 per head assessment is collected and remitted to the Beef Promotion & Research Board.
Total Number of Cattle Sold: ___________________ x $1.50 Per Head = $
* State of Origin of Cattle: * If the cattle purch ased came from another state within the last 30 days, indicate from which state the cattle were purchased.
Cattlemen’S BeeF Board update
By JERI HANSON
Beef Checkoff’s Investment in Consumer Research Provides Invaluable Promotional Roadmap
Cattle have always been a part of my life. My three older sisters and I grew up on a dairy farm. I’ve worked as a veterinary medical technician and spent almost six years as a dairy herd improvement supervisor. For the past 18 years, I’ve worked beside my husband, tending our cattle herd near Comfrey, Minnesota.
It’s no surprise, then, that the beef industry is also very important to me. I’m truly passionate about it. I’ve been involved in the industry for many years on the local and state levels, and now as a member of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), which administers the national Beef Checkoff program. It’s allowed me to help an industry I love continue to thrive. As a part of the CBB’s Consumer Trust Committee, I work with other members and our contractors to help consumers feel good about choosing beef.
In my role on the Checkoff Evaluation Committee, I help gauge the effectiveness of Beef Checkoff programs and whether they’re achieving our goals.
Much of our work on the CBB boils down to ensuring we’re promoting beef in ways that resonate with consumers. Years ago, I had the privilege of working in a sales department for a promotional products company. There, I learned that to sell something, you must be passionate and knowledgeable about your product, and perhaps even more importantly, you must understand your customers. What are they looking for? What do they need? What drives their behaviors?
These sales principles also apply to the beef industry. That’s where Checkoff funded consumer research comes in. Without research, we could only guess what today’s consumers are looking for at the grocery store or on the restaurant
menu. We wouldn’t have insight into their shopping habits, recipe trends, or nutritional needs. By researching today’s consumers, we can obtain that data and reach out to consumers with specific messages that encourage them to purchase beef, whether it’s for a family dinner at home or a celebratory meal out on the town. Consumer research helps us invest Checkoff dollars in ways that will drive beef demand, which is our ultimate goal.
For example, we’re currently entering the peak of summer grilling season, when around 30 percent of all beef products are sold annually in the United States. Recent research tells us, however, that increasing food costs, a decreased ability to save, and a decline in consumer sentiment may cause consumers to focus more on value in 2024 than in previous years. While 96 percent still plan to grill this summer, they are more likely to buy cheaper cuts like ground beef, use more coupons, and look for deals. So, it makes good sense to promote less expensive beef cuts and develop new recipes for those cuts this summer. That information has manifested into a widely distributed press release on National Beef Burger Day and recipes for “Beef on a Budget,” along with grilling tips at www.Beef.It’sWhat’sForDinner. com
Something else to watch for this summer is Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner’s partnership with Little League baseball. Little League is a great “brand fit” with Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., and it hits on known consumer demand drivers that we’ve uncovered with Checkoff funded research, like health, nutrition, and convenience. The Little League regional championships happen from June to August, right during the heart of summer grilling season. Furthermore, this partnership will allow us to communicate beef’s benefits to one of our core audiences – parents – in all 50 states.
Grocery shopping research also reveals that approximately 57 percent of consumers currently purchase at least some of their groceries online. To reach those consumers, the Beef Checkoff has initiated e-commerce partnerships with national grocery chains across the United States. Through these partnerships, the Checkoff’s Channel Marketing team can track a consumer from when they see a beef ad to when they purchase beef, showing a direct return on investment. In 2023, every $1 invested in these e-commerce campaigns resulted in $47 in beef sales, a tremendous ROI.
Other examples of Checkoff funded research include a study about evolving consumer behavior and preferences related to the growing movement
toward sustainability and environmental stewardship. That research has led to promotions like “Rethink the Ranch,” an interactive map with links to stories about how beef producers are implementing their own environmental efforts, as well as a video series and a press release. There’s also been a publicity push for the Beef Quality Assurance program called “The Right Way Is the Only Way” to show consumers how farmers and ranchers are caring for their animals and their land.
Clearly, without consumer research, investing Checkoff dollars would be like going on a trip with no destination or plan in mind and no roadmap. By investing in consumer research, we can uncover emerging trends, educate consumers and gain their trust in beef, develop effective promotions, and squeeze more from every producer dollar. I see research as key to keeping the beef industry strong for future generations – along with the dedicated producers who make it all happen.
How Critical Production Decisions Affect the Fate of Our Cow Herd Numbers
By BRYAN SANDERSON Alltech
The talk among economists and producers this year seems to center around the decreasing beef cow herd. The 28.2 million head of beef cows posted in the USDA biannual cattle inventory report is the smallest in decades. When considering factors like feed and equipment cost, supplemental nutrition and mineral decisions, continued dry and drought conditions in many areas, regional lack of feed inventory, age of the average producer, complex considerations in herd management decisions, and elevated interest rates, we need to consider: Is that cow number only going to get smaller?
Last year saw higher prices — at record or near record levels — for feeder cattle and calves, along with cull cows and bulls selling for over $1 per pound. Some producers are sharing that they are getting more for their cull cows than those cows originally cost. With the smaller cow herd leading to tighter feeder cattle numbers, some are predicting even higher prices this year and for years to come.
The key to success during this uncertain time is getting the information you need to make savvy decisions about the health and productivity of your herd. Could there be an opportunity for the herd to expand? Could the prediction of higher prices change the tides? With the current production costs, the outlook for higher prices has some producers thinking there is opportunity and it may
be time to expand their herds.
The conversation with these producers tends to lead to important questions:
• Should I keep my heifer calves back this year and develop my own?
• Should I wait that long?
• Should I buy bred cows or bred heifers now?
• Should I wait and buy higher-priced pairs right before grass turnout?
• Should I do some or all of the above?
As they start to find answers for what will work best for their financial, labor, and feed situations and what makes sense for their facilities and land base usage, I offer a few things to consider.
Is it a cost or an investment? What is your mindset when it comes to deciding to purchase cows or heifers versus developing your own? Are you looking at that animal as a cost or as an investment? There’s a big difference. Cost is simply the amount paid to buy something, but investment is the action of paying money today in order to reap greater rewards later. Producers often look at these herd decisions as simply a cost instead of an investment, but if you invest in that cow or heifer today, she may give you back more in the long run.
A few questions to ask yourself:
• Is the cow or heifer the better investment to maintain your cow herd and keep production high?
• Is your supplementation program, including minerals, a cost or an investment?
• Do you know the return on a given bag of minerals?
• If you don’t currently supplement with minerals, would adding that to your nutritional program pay off well?
• If you are already supplementing, would a better quality mineral and/or a year round program return you more?
• What about protein supplementation when appropriate?
• Is your vaccine program up to date? Could an updated program pay dividends later?
Good supplementation is an investment and a worthy one - Fetal programming research shows that cow nutrition and mineral status can directly impact the longevity and productiveness of offspring. A good mineral program for the cow herd contributes to more productive and profitable heifers that stay in the cow herd longer. The data shows that a heifer whose dam received a good mineral program year-round tends to reach puberty earlier, breed earlier in the cycle, and stay in the cow herd longer.
As you look to invest up to $3,000 for a commercially bred heifer, consider this:
• Do you know how the dam of that heifer was supplemented and what she was supplemented with?
• Was the heifer given the best
opportunity from the start to work for you?
• Will she be ideally equipped to breed back and to do so in a timely manner?
• Will she raise a calf every year and stay in the cow herd long enough to pay for herself?
And what about the home raised heifer calf you want to retain and develop? You will have invested a lot of time, effort, and energy by the time she calves. How can you give her the best chance to give you a high return on that investment?
In short, when it comes to the decision of breeding versus buying, are you consistently investing so as to maximize your return?
Data and insights vs. “what we’ve always done” - Consider what criteria you are using to make your decisions. Do you have the records to justify your decisions, or is it a matter of “well, this is what we’ve always done?”
Recently, I was talking with a banker who works with a father/son operation. The father and son were considering expanding their herd and were debating on buying young bred cows or bred heifers. The father was leaning toward buying heifers because he felt that they were the better value.
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The banker reviewed their purchase and sale records and then advised them, “Don’t spend more than $2,600 for a bred heifer, because that heifer will never pay for herself.” He explained that in their operation, heifers tended to “fall out” in 3-4 years due to management constraints; namely, the operation didn’t have the facilities or labor to keep the heifers separate from the cows. In this particular operation, cows returned more money because they stayed in the cow herd longer.
What data do you have, and what data do you need to make the best decisions?
Tough decisions will determine the direction of the cow herd - With current prices and the price outlook, producers have some tough decisions to make about whether to get out now or try to expand. If they decide to expand, they need to know how to make the most informed decisions along the way. Those who see the opportunity to expand, if they use their data wisely and invest where they are most likely to get the biggest returns, stand the highest chance of success.
Is That Ag Technology Worth It? Ask These Questions To Be Sure. Before purchasing a new ag technology, put the technology to the test and know its potential impact on you and your operation.
Swapping the familiar pencil and notebook record keeping system for digital technology might feel intimidating. However, due to increasingly tight margins, expensive inputs, and overwhelming time demands, technology may offer a way to stay profitable.
Making technology decisions - Tom Field, director of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, believes two important factors are foremost in technology decisions, aside from cost.
“First, since so much diversity in marketing methods of size and scale exist, (the technology) must provide data and information a producer can turn into decision making tools,” Field says. “If it checks this box, I’d suggest taking a hard look.”
Some technologies offer data but not data that can be easily used to make decisions. If data doesn’t translate into actionable insights, it’s likely not right for an operation.
“Second, does a technology deliver market access due to improved and more detailed information?” Field says. “If it opens the door to an interesting supply chain opportunity for higher premiums or increased average prices, it may have the margins to
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validate the choice to bring on a new layer of management and data collection.”
How the pieces fit together - New technology fitting these criteria must still make a positive difference on the farm. Goals, management, labor, and time should all be considered.
“Ultimately, a fit is determined by profit,” Field says. “If it positively affects my break even, I need to seriously consider it. Admittedly, potential profit is hard to establish early on.”
Next, a technology’s ability to simplify or automate manual labor by simplifying or automating a multi-step paper process or removing repetitive manual data entries could add value.
“Time and frustration levels are major players,” Field says. “If we can complete one step instead of three, it makes my team’s lives better. It’s likely not immediate for return on investment, but there’s something to be said for the value of stress reduction and added efficiency.”
Field recommends producers approach technology providers with three key questions:
• Can you demonstrate that it works?
• Is your technology better than what I’m using now, and why?
• Will you outline the increased profitability and improved efficiency timeline?
Once you’re satisfied with the answers, Field suggests looking to trusted sources, including consultants, friends, or peers with knowledge, expertise, or experience.
Support and usability tied to success“If it’s not user friendly, I’m not interested,” Field says. “A program requiring a ton of support or adding a boatload of complexity to an already complex environment isn’t the answer. As Einstein said, ‘Make things as simple as possible but no simpler.’”
Technology also must work without extra hours dedicated to refinement or solving problems.
“The frustrations of busy, time constrained owners will happen quickly,” he warns. “If I need to invest extra time I don’t have, it won’t be successful.”
Practical concerns - Karl Fox, Iowa custom cattle feeder, outlines three honest questions to consider before investing:
• Do I have the cash available?
• Does it make tasks easier?
• Will it help me identify ways to make better decisions?
Fox was one of the original
adopters of Performance Beef, a cattle management software. When reviewing available options, he was spending numerous hours per month invoicing up to 20 pens to six different customers.
“I decided on Performance Beef because it helped me do a better job of tracking and managing my numbers, improving my health records, and fine-tuning how I manage my cattle on an individual basis,” Fox says. “As we’re primarily grid sellers, it provides better information to predict harvest dates, maximize revenue per animal and avoid penalties.”
Another key factor was that the company’s personnel proactively kickstarted his installation and onboarding process, yielding almost immediate results.
“The right technology will quickly confirm that we can’t afford not to have it,” Fox adds. “Once we discover a technology or practice works with noticeable improvement in a short time, demonstrates a reduction in mistakes and quickly covers costs, it’s an obvious choice.”
Field agrees. Technology’s ability to help reduce or eliminate repetitive and redundant tasks allows people to spend more time on other priorities.
“If it’s accurate, works quickly, reduces labor, demonstrates a verifiable ROI, makes for better decision making and takes away aggravation, give it serious consideration,” Field says.
The first step in evaluating new technology is talking to peers, researching online, or testing a product. Hear from customers or try a digital demo of Performance Beef to learn more.
About Performance Livestock Analytics. Performance Livestock Analytics is a technology company that simplifies data and analytics for the livestock industry. Our team used practical insights from producers and data engineers to create the industry’s first cloud based platform. We provide livestock producers with powerful analytics to make better marketing and management decisions, improve sustainability, and boost profitability.
2024 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 2024. 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.
2024 Reserved Spotlight Issues
JANUARY CHAROLAIS FEBRUARY FORAGES
MARCH ANGUS
APRIL PIEDMONTESE MAY BRAHMAN
JUNE HEREFORD
JULY GELBVIEH
AUGUST SIMMENTAL SEPTEMBER SANTA GERTRUDIS
OCTOBER WAGYU
NOVEMBER BRANGUS
DECEMBER RED ANGUS
For more information about your breed’s Spotlight Issue, contact:
The Carolina Cattle Connection 2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 919-552-9111 • mail@nccattle.com
NEWS
By HARRISON SMITH, Ridley Block Operations
Your Blueprint for Fly Control
February 18 was the day I saw the first few flies on the set of sale heifers we are getting ready for this spring. Man, I feel like I start seeing these nuisances earlier and earlier each year. I think we all have seen the astonishing numbers on the economic impact that flies have on our industry. Losses from just horn flies are estimated at $1 billion each year due to the stress they inflict and the cattle disease they spread.
Because of these numbers, the production livestock industry has developed a huge portfolio of tools a producer can use to combat flies. The popular options available are ear tags, pour-ons and sprays, back rubbers and dust bags, and feed throughs. Feed throughs will utilize some form of larvicide affecting the larvae in the
manure of the treated animals; the other options contain adulticides that affect adult flies. Due to these products affecting flies at different stages of their life cycles, it might be beneficial to utilize multiple methods in your strategy.
I always say that the silver bullet has not been created yet, so deciding which type of solution works best is unique to each operation. Producers need to understand their current situation to get the results they are after.
Ear tags - Pesticide ear tags are a popular option for many cattle. There are multiple brands and chemical combinations to choose from. Most producers will put in these tags when working cattle for spring vaccinations/ branding. When using ear tags for fly control, it’s important to rotate the active
ingredient to limit insect resistance.
Pour-ons and sprays - The quick hitters of the options. You can see an immediate effect, but the control only lasts for a short time (1–21 days). Sprays are typically applied to the whole animal and must be used more frequently than pour-ons, requiring a producer to have easy access to the animals. Pour-ons are typically applied down the animal’s back and last a touch longer, but multiple reapplications will be required throughout the fly season. For easy application, cattle will need to be brought into the pens.
Back rubbers and dust bags - Back rubbers and dust bags are treated with pesticide chemicals and are applied when cattle physically brush against the applicator. In pastures where cattle must travel through a gate/gap to get to water, feed, or hay, these are awesome tools. In larger pastures, where consistent visits to the applicator cannot be assured, back rubbers and dust bags are less effective.
Feed throughs - Feed through fly control uses an insect growth regulator (IGR) to treat the manure and prevent new flies from emerging. The two types of IGRs we use in our formulas are ClariFly (for horn, house, face, and stable flies) or Altosid (for horn flies only).
Feed through is one of the most
popular options producers incorporate into their fly control programs. Why? Because it allows them to “double dip,” getting the benefits of additional supplements along with the benefits of fly control.
You can find some blended or pelleted feeds with feed through fly control, but the most common option is through a self fed supplement, such as a Crystalyx low moisture block (LMB), or in the form of loose mineral, as our sister company Sweetlix offers. Loose mineral delivery for IGRs has continued to grow in popularity over the years. Having the supplement out constantly in front of the cattle in smaller groups or larger pasture situations is a big help. Plus, in situations where you would like higher phosphorus levels, you have a touch more formula flexibility.
However, an IGR only works if it is consumed and passes through the digestive tract — and loose mineral consumption can be lower. Research out of Montana State University tracked the percentage of cows consuming a loose mineral supplement versus cows consuming Crystalyx. Results showed that whether cattle are in a grazing scenario or being fed hay, 86 percent or more will consume a Crystalyx mineral supplement, compared to 55–63 percent consuming a loose mineral.
Preventing Cattle Health Issues Through Proactive Nutrition
By DR. CADRA KRUGER Alltech
Health issues can result in significant economic losses for cattle producers. By taking a proactive approach to preventing health problems, producers can reduce the monetary loss associated with treating sick animals.
Meeting cattle’s nutritional requirements is the first step. The second step is maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal tract (gut). With 70 percent of the immune system being located within the gut, it plays a crucial role in animal health. With this knowledge, we can develop proactive supplementation strategies to prevent animal health issues before they become a problem.
Dietary nutrients required to maximize immune health - For an animal to respond properly to an immune challenge, we must meet the nutrient requirements needed for the immune system to function optimally, including dietary protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals.
Protein and energy are required in the largest quantities. Protein provides the necessary amino acids needed for the production of immune proteins such as cytokines and also antibodies that mediate immune response. Energy is required for every system in the body, but an immune challenge increases energy demand. Therefore, enough dietary protein and energy must be available for the animal to both meet its maintenance requirements and respond to a health issue.
Micronutrients such as copper, zinc, selenium, and vitamins E and A are also necessary for proper immune function. They are important components of the antioxidant system and are required for enzymes to function properly in the immune system. The forms in which copper, zinc, and selenium are supplemented play a role in how well the minerals are utilized. Alltech offers two solutions in the ideal forms for mineral uptake and efficacy:
• Bioplex trace minerals, including copper, zinc, manganese, and cobalt, are
part of the Alltech mineral management program. Bioplex minerals are trace minerals that are bound to amino acids and a range of peptides. They are easily absorbed and readily metabolized, optimizing immune health and thus improving performance.
• Sel-Plex is Alltech’s proprietary organic form of selenium. The selenium in Sel-Plex supports metabolic processes, acts as an antioxidant, supports against infection, and boosts overall immune health.
Benefits of a healthy gut - Much focus has been aimed at maintaining rumen health. Although the rumen of cattle is the main site for microbial fermentation and energy production, the entire digestive tract needs to be considered when discussing gut health.
The small and large intestines contain a single lining of cells protecting the body from infection, and this lining is susceptible to damage when the gut is unhealthy. A healthy microbial ecosystem aids in maintaining the gut lining. In addition to digestion, absorption, and production of nutrients, gut microbiota contribute to the regulation of energy homeostasis, prevention of mucosal infections, and modulation of the immune system. A healthy gut microbial ecosystem and lining will prevent colonization by potentially pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli, cryptosporidium, clostridium, and coccidia. Preventing damage to the gut lining will prevent pathogenic bacteria, toxins, and other harmful substances from entering the bloodstream and the lymphatic system. This reduces the animal’s susceptibility to diseases such as bovine respiratory disease (BRD).
What causes gut damage, and how can it be prevented? Many factors can compromise gut health. The main ones are associated with periods of stress. This can include illness or injury, weaning, transportation, challenged feedstuffs, weather, feed changes, poor management,
and quality of feed and water. In addition, disturbances in gut microbiota can have severe effects on the digestive system, including metabolic disorders such as bloat, ruminal acidosis, and scours. These can have profound effects on health.
The right feed additives, supplied in the most effective forms, can make all the difference in protecting gut health. Alltech’s leading-edge research and technology is the basis for the Alltech Gut Health Management program, which includes such solutions as:
• Bio-Mos 2, a unique product derived from a select strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast using Alltech’s proprietary process. Bio-Mos 2 promotes beneficial bacteria and builds natural defenses, helping to build a
foundation for performance by reinforcing a healthy gut microbiome without antibiotics at all stages of production.
• Integral A+ protects animal health, performance, and reproduction during feedstuff challenges caused by molds and toxins, which are increasingly common — and increasingly dangerous — due to more extreme weather patterns and changing agricultural practices.
Summary - The best way to support animal health and productivity is to be proactive, not reactive. Preventing health problems before they occur starts with providing the nutrients necessary for immune function in a form the animal can metabolize. This should be followed by supplementation with feed additives that aid in maintaining gut health.
J&J Farms of Estill SC Inc. Earns BioZyme Master Dealer Status. J&J Farms of Estill SC Inc. in Luray, S.C., has recently completed the necessary training to complete the BioZyme Master Dealer Training Program.
As a Master Dealer, J&J Farms had at least one of its employees complete multiple online training modules to further his or her education about the brands and product lines BioZyme offers. The Master Dealers will be able to share expanded knowledge of the BioZyme products with potential customers.
“We are excited to call this dealer a Master Dealer, knowing it excels in knowledge about our product lines and will be an excellent resource for all product needs and questions,” said Samantha Albers, BioZyme Marketing Brand AdministratorDealers. “J&J Farms has taken the time to complete our vigorous training program,
NEWS
and is committed to ordering several of our product lines. Feel confident that they are one of the most informed dealers that our company works with.”
Master Dealers will receive special designation on the online dealer locator, signage for their store, and apparel that indicates their Master Dealer certification so customers can easily identify those who have gone the extra mile to provide excellent knowledge and service. For each chapter they complete, they receive additional recognition.
When are the Best Days to Wean Calves? Gather around the local coffee shop to visit with a long time farmer or cattle producer. Topics of conversation will jump from the weather, news from uptown and the neighborhood, planting season, and the best days to wean calves. You will likely get as many opinions as there are coffee cups sitting on the tables.
One of the great things about
production agriculture is that it’s great to have opinions and various management practices. Agriculture and cattle production is not a one-size-fitsall profession. Depending on your herd size, available labor, operation goals, and resources available, everyone likely approaches weaning slightly differently.
Although weaning calves from cows is a stressful time for all involved, with proper planning and preparation, you can reduce the stress for the calves, cows, and you.
The Best Days to Wean CalvesThe best days to wean calves depend on various factors, including the management practices of the operation, the nutritional status of the cow/calf pair, current market conditions, and the availability of forage resources. The old timers around the coffee shop might even suggest a few of their opinions, like following the moon signs or reading the Farmer’s Almanac. We will get into that a little later.
However, there are general guidelines to consider when determining the optimal timing for weaning:
• Weather Conditions - Weather conditions should always be considered
when planning the timing of weaning. Extreme weather, such as hot and dry conditions or cold and wet conditions, can increase stress on newly weaned calves. Therefore, try to avoid weaning during adverse weather whenever possible.
• Health Status - Calves should be weaned when they are healthy and free from any significant health issues. Weaning during periods of stress or illness can compromise the immune system and increase the risk of disease.
Chris Cassady, Ph.D., BioZyme Director of Beef Technical Sales, suggests giving calves their proper vaccinations or vaccine boosters about a month prior to weaning. Because each geographic location and situation is slightly different, consult with your veterinarian on what exactly your calves need.
Most pharmaceuticals offer a 7-way or 5-way vaccine to treat multiple bugs. You will also want to warm calves when you vaccinate them. Ensure calves are vaccinated and in good health before weaning to reduce stress and disease risk. It is imperative to keep these young calves as healthy as possible prior to weaning.
“If you wait until weaning to vaccinate, that will cause extra stress on the calves. Their immune system is going to be compromised in the first place, and the extra stress will impact the effectiveness of the vaccine, so plan ahead,” Cassady said.
• Age of Calves - Calves are typically weaned when they are around 6-8 months old. By this age, they have developed sufficiently to transition from a diet consisting primarily of milk to one based on forage and supplemental feed.
However, some research shows that spring born calves can eat and digest specific native grasses at just 45 days. Weaning calves this early should only be done in rare cases where the cows are thin and you want them to breed back with the rest of their contemporaries.
• Market Conditions - If you are not retaining ownership, the current market could influence when you decide to wean. As fall weaned calves continue to jump in price, you might decide to wean a little earlier rather than later. Recently, our team saw 550 pound steers bringing $3.6 per pound. If you can bring in nearly $2,000 for a fresh weaned calf, chances are you are going to wean and take advantage of the market conditions.
• Forage Availability & Nutritional Status - Calves should be weaned when they are consuming enough solid feed to meet their nutritional needs without relying heavily on milk from the dam. They should be eating a significant amount of forage or supplemental feed and showing independence from the cow.
Weaning is often timed to coincide with the availability of ample forage
resources. This ensures that calves have access to nutritious feed to support their growth and development after weaning.
Calves also need access to quality minerals found in Gain Smart, a line of vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle that promotes healthy, economical pounds.
• Follow the Moon Signs - Some cattle producers will follow the signs of the moon – and not just for weaning. They also follow moon signs for shearing cows, vaccinating, and other jobs on their operation.
Seasoned producers will tell you that the best days to wean calves are when the moon is in the signs of:
• Sagittarius
• Capricorn
• Aquarius
• Pisces
These signs are said to rule the thighs, knees, ankles, and feet.
• Go with the Farmers’ AlmanacThe Farmers’ Almanac has been guiding agriculturalists for more than a century. Today, cattle producers still claim that if the Farmers’ Almanac lists a date for weaning, you need to trust it. They claim calves will wean off healthier, with less stress, and continue to grow better on those dates. The best, most immediate dates to wean include:
• June 1, 2024
• June 28, 2024
• July 25, 2024
• July 30, 2024
Wean the Gain Smart Way - No matter how you decide your weaning day, we know you will select the best day to wean calves that works for you! And when you do, remember the key is to ensure the health and well being of both the cow and the calf while aligning with your operational needs.
Research shows that calves fed just 4 ounces of AO-Biotics Amaferm daily are likely to increase gains by ¼ of a pound per day. More efficient gains lead to faster gaining, healthier calves.
Follow our 3-step approach with VitaFerm products with the Vita Charge Technology and complete the program with one of our Gain Smart minerals.
Gain Smart Offers 3-Step Approach
- “Besides birth, this is the time that will really set a calf up for performance potential for the rest of its life. Keep them on a positive plane of nutrition. If too much damage is done, you’ll always have a chronically sick calf. You will constantly be behind and be spending money on more feed for it. That is where Amaferm’s technology is so crucial and helpful in that transition period,” Cassady said.
• Step 1: VitaFerm Cattle Drench
- VitaFerm Cattle Drench with the Vita Charge Technology is the first step to successfully weaning your calves. This drench for cattle is designed to
support digestive health before, during, and after challenges. It contains AOBiotics Amaferm, a prebiotic research proven to enhance digestibility. Cattle Drench also contains MOS (mannan oligosaccharides), which helps normalize the gut microflora and supports the immune system and enzymes to generate a more rapid digestive response.
Using this drench as you process the calves at weaning helps keep their gut healthy and functioning. We know that 70 percent of the immune response starts within the digestive system, so a healthy gut will lead to a healthy animal.
• Step 2: VitaFerm Stress Tubs with the Vita Charge TechnologyVitaFerm Stress Tubs with the Vita Charge Technology help eliminate stress when offered to calves 14-21 days post-weaning. This tub for cattle is designed to support digestive health and intake and contains Vita Charge Technology, including Amaferm and MOS. It also contains a probiotic to help restore the gut microbiome. The Stress Tubs are not minerals but can work along with your mineral program.
The Vita Charge Technology, found in the Cattle Drench and Stress Tubs, is comprised of a unique blend of ingredients to help support animal health before, during, or after the stress. Every product with Vita Charge Technology contains an exact amount of B vitamins, vitamin E, potassium, zinc, MOS, and Amaferm.
In addition, a precisely defined salt-tosugar ratio was developed and incorporated into the technology to support hydration.
This combination provides an undeniable impact on livestock under stress.
• Step 3: Gain Smart - Gain Smart is a line of free choice vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle that promotes healthy, economical pounds. With four different formulas based on your management scenarios, this mineral is designed to maximize efficient gain.
Gain Smart contains Amaferm, organic copper, iodine, and zinc for maximum bioavailability and hoof health. It also provides nutritional support for a healthy immune system.
It can be fed as a loose mineral or mixed into a ration.
To learn more about BioZyme and its product lines or to locate a dealer in your area, visit www.biozymeinc.com
About BioZyme. BioZyme Inc., founded in 1951, develops and manufactures natural, proprietary products focused on animal nutrition, health, and microbiology. With a continued commitment to research, BioZyme offers a complete line of feed additives and high density, highly available vitamin, mineral, trace mineral, and protein supplements for a variety of animals, including cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. BioZyme brands include AO-Biotics, VitaFerm, Gain Smart, Sure Champ, Vitalize, DuraFerm, and Backyard Boost. With headquarters in St. Joseph, Mo., the company reaches a global market of customers that stretches into countries across five continents. For more information about BioZyme, visit www.biozymeinc.com
Become a Better Client for Your Veterinarian in Five Steps
“Veterinarians only have so much bandwidth. If you don’t want your vet to burn out, you probably need to implement some of these things we’re going to discuss,” urges Lacey Fahrmeier, DVM, Valley Vet Supply technical service veterinarian.
In light of Mental Health Awareness Month, our attention is laser focused on the shortage of rural veterinarians, combating soaring levels of burnout, and navigating the ongoing mental health crisis affecting the veterinary profession.
“There is a lack of rural veterinary services and people wanting to come into our industry. It’s a crisis. We have to change the mentality and culture of our industry in order to make it a profession that people want to be a part
of again,” says Dr. Fahrmeier, who also is a practicing veterinarian/owner at Stillwater Veterinary Clinic in Montana and represents the Private-Practice Predominantly Food Animal interests of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Veterinary Service.
The rural veterinary shortage is greater than ever before. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported 237 rural veterinary shortage areas across 47 states. Couple these statistics with the stark reality that veterinarians experience a suicide rate four times higher than the general population. To reduce unintentional daily stressors regularly faced by veterinary teams, let’s delve into insights from Dr. Fahrmeier to help
foster stronger connections and mindful adjustments.
1. Have a “daylight relationship” and a true partnership with your veterinarian. “This is very important so that the only time a veterinarian sees you isn’t just for emergencies. This allows for a true veterinary-client-patient relationship where your veterinarian really understands your operation and promotes the development of good herd health prevention plans. View your veterinarian as an asset to provide you with another set of eyes, someone to brainstorm ideas with about how to improve your operation – from not only a health perspective but also nutrition or technologies that could benefit your operation. I think that clients will find that it’s well worth the investment to have that strong relationship with your veterinarian.”
2. Implement healthy boundaries and better communication. “Because of the deep desire that veterinarians typically have to help animals and people, I think that lends itself to having difficulty with maintaining healthy boundaries. The results of that, unfortunately, can be seen in the high level of burnout in the veterinary profession. As with any good
relationship, whether that’s personal or professional, it does require (a) solid communication from both partners, (b) understanding healthy boundaries, (c) having mutual respect for one another, and (d) sharing some common goals. Taking those principles and applying them to the relationship that you have with your veterinarian, making them a key team player, can better assist you with your operation. There are only so many hours in a day, and veterinarians only have so much time and energy. Concise communication on non-urgent items through channels like email is often really appreciated.”
3. Understand that with inflation, there may be potential increases in clinical services. “Veterinarians are not trying to price gouge anyone, but with inflation and the cost of doing business, prices for veterinary services have had to go up to continue providing services in those communities. Historically, veterinarians have not been very good at making incremental price increases. Clinics seek to have technicians who stay in the profession and veterinarians who are able to afford to purchase their own home and support their families. These aspects are made possible with
support for your local veterinarian and understanding.”
4. Prioritize safety for your veterinarian and their staff, always. “Anything you can do to ensure the safety of the veterinarian and their team is really appreciated and crucial for them to be able to do their job and continue to serve the community. Do a walk through of your handling facilities days before the appointment to ensure that all gates, chutes and any restraints you’ll be using are working properly. Make the veterinarian aware if there is something in particular that an animal is averse to or that frightens them, so that we can do the best we can to prevent them from being fearful and have a positive outcome to what we’re trying to accomplish that day.”
5. Give potential emergency situations great thought. “I recommend assessing the situation and asking yourself, ‘Is this truly an emergency?’ As a client, if you can try to respect your veterinarian’s time and avoid afterhours communications, unless absolutely necessary, this will help decrease the level of burnout and make sure that veterinarians are available and have the energy should an urgent health issue need to be addressed. In this case, acting quickly and calling your veterinarian
before things are at a catastrophic level will result in a better outcome for both the animal and the people involved.”
In closing, Dr. Fahrmeier thoughtfully shared, “As a veterinarian, sometimes you just run out of resources in a day, and that’s where being flexible and understanding really does go a long way. We want to take care of the animals and our communities. And, if veterinarians can feel that you appreciate that we gave it our best effort, it really means a lot.”
Consider these best practices to help make a meaningful impact. Continue learning about animal health and more at ValleyVet.com
About Valley Vet Supply. Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians to provide customers with trusted animal health solutions. Building on over half a century of experience in veterinary medicine, Valley Vet Supply serves equine, pet, and livestock owners with thousands of products and medications. With an in-house pharmacy that is licensed in all 50 states and verified through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), Valley Vet Supply is the dedicated source for customers’ horse, livestock, and pet needs. For more information, please visit ValleyVet.com
Carolina Cooking
Al Pastor Glazed Beef Flat Iron Steak
Total Time - 40 minutes
1 beef Flat Iron Steak (about 1 pound)
Marinade and Sauce
¼ cup barbecue sauce
¼ cup canned crushed pineapple
2 tablespoons ancho chile powder
1 tablespoon minced sweet onion
1 garlic clove
4 bolillo rolls, sliced lengthwise, toasted
Garnish
Combine barbecue sauce, pineapple, chile powder, onion, and garlic in a blender or food processor container. Cover; process 1 minute or until smooth, scraping the sides of the container as needed. Pour half into a bowl, cover, and refrigerate.
Place steak and remaining barbecue marinade in a food safe plastic bag; turn the steak to coat. Close the bag securely and marinate in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to 2 hours. Place steaks on a grid over medium, ash covered coals. Grill, covered, 12-16 minutes for medium rare
Grilled fresh pineapple slices, pickled onions, shredded lettuce (optional) (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning occasionally. Keep warm. Spread the reserved barbecue mixture evenly over the cut sides of each roll. Thinly slice the steak. Place slices on the bottom of the rolls. Top with pineapple, onions, and lettuce.
Cook’s Tip: You may substitute 1 French baguette, sliced lengthwise and toasted, for 4 bolillo rolls. If the bread is too thick, scoop out the middle and save it for another use.
Makes 4 servings.
Al Pastor Glazed Beef Flat Iron Steak
PUBLIC LANDS COUNCIL NEWS
Bipartisan, Bicameral NEPA CRA will Provide Relief to Ranchers. Recently, NCBA and the Public Lands Council (PLC) praised the Senate and House introduction of paired Congressional Review Act resolutions that would nullify the Biden Administration’s Phase 2 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) rule.
“The Biden Administration blatantly ignored Congressional authority and took NEPA processes to new levels of inefficiency with their Phase 2 rule. This bicameral, bipartisan resolution will help prevent further weaponization of the federal rulemaking process and allow ranchers to complete critical conservation projects in a timely manner,” said Kaitlynn Glover, NCBA Executive Director of
Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director. “Thank you to Representative Graves, Senator Manchin and Senator Sullivan for sending a clear message to the Administration that their efforts to stymie environmental reviews and add regulatory red tape are unacceptable.”
Background - On May 1, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) published the final rule implementing new NEPA regulations, styled as “Phase 2” of the ill advised repeal-and-replace strategy. This rule is the product of the Biden Administration’s efforts to rollback NEPA reforms the previous administration that made NEPA processes more streamlined and allowed ranchers to be able to make range improvements sooner. Congress directed
CEQ to include several provisions that would streamline NEPA as part of the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) in June 2023. In this final rule, CEQ largely ignored the FRA requirements and added so much additional process that the clarity sought by the FRA is nearly unrecognizable. The final rule will be effective on July 1.
Livestock Industry Fights Misguided Grazing Impacts from Greater Sage Grouse Management Plan. Recently, PLC and other livestock groups filed comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and draft Resource Management Plans (RMP) related to Greater Sage Grouse habitat management.
“The Greater Sage Grouse has been a political football for decades and it needs to stop. The science clearly shows that livestock grazing on public lands helps sage grouse populations by protecting important habitat and increasing available forage,” said PLC President and Colorado rancher Mark Roeber. “Instead of fully embracing grazing as a management tool, BLM proposes huge restrictions on grazing and range improvements, and instead seems
more willing to draw arbitrary ACEC lines on a map and call it a day. Ranchers have cared for America’s western landscapes and wildlife since the 1800s – we are a conservation solution, not an inconvenience to be removed from the landscape.”
Background - Over the last 90 days, BLM repeatedly denied requests for comment extensions, including one submitted by PLC and our partners, despite uncertainty in other rules that will have a direct impact on these sage grouse plans. As a result, PLC’s comments raise significant issues about the apparent burden BLM expects grazing to bear regarding habitat indicators and mitigation, potential land designations totaling more than 11 million acres, and unclear language that would result in loss of grazing activity.
About the Public Lands Council. PLC represents 22,000 cattle and sheep producers who operate with federal grazing permits in the West. The PLC advocates for these western ranchers who preserve our nation’s natural resources while providing vital food and fiber to the nation and the world. Learn more at www.publiclandscouncil.org.
Transforming Livestock Nutrition for Performance and Sustainability
By TIEN LE, Alltech
In the dynamic landscape of beef and dairy production, achieving optimal performance while prioritizing sustainability is paramount. Enter Optigen, a consistent and reliable source of rumen available nitrogen developed by Alltech. Optigen is a high quality nutritional technology that is designed to further advance ruminant nutrition and address the dual challenges of performance enhancement and environmental stewardship.
Let’s explore how Optigen serves as a catalyst for progress in the beef and dairy industries by integrating data and insights from recent research findings.
Maximizing feed efficiencyOne of the key pillars of sustainable farming is maximizing feed efficiency. Optigen plays a pivotal role in this endeavor by enhancing diet flexibility thanks to a reduced need for the inclusion of plant protein sources, which helps create space for more energy dense diets.
According to a meta analysis
conducted by Alltech, the inclusion of Optigen in the diets of dairy cows resulted in a remarkable 23 percent reduction in the use of plant protein sources. This reduction translates to improved feed conversion rates and reduced feed costs, which helps contribute to the overall profitability of the operation while minimizing the waste of natural resources.
Supporting rumen health - The health of the rumen is crucial for efficient nutrient utilization and animal performance. Optigen supports rumen health by promoting the activity and growth of rumen bacteria. This, in turn, fosters a more sustained availability of ammonia to the rumen environment, ensuring that rumen bacteria have continued access to this essential food source. These improvements encourage more optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients from the diet, leading to enhanced animal performance.
Along with its ability to help optimize rumen function in beef and dairy cattle, Optigen also works to minimize the environmental impact of dairy and beef farming, as it facilitates the more efficient utilization of dietary resources.
Reducing nitrogen excretionExcessive nitrogen excretion poses a significant environmental challenge in dairy and beef production systems. Optigen addresses this issue by improving dietary nitrogen efficiency, thereby helping reduce the excretion of nitrogen into the environment by livestock.
In one recent study, the utilization of Optigen in dairy diets led to a 4 percent increase in nitrogen utilization efficiency, which resulted in a 14 percent reduction in the total carbon footprint of milk production diets. This reduction in nitrogen excretion not only helps mitigate the environmental impact of beef and dairy farming but also aligns with widespread regulatory standards and the shared goal of improving sustainability in agriculture.
Promoting balanced diets - Well balanced diets are essential for optimizing animal health and minimizing the environmental footprint of beef and dairy operations. Optigen enables the formulation of more balanced, lower protein diets without compromising performance. One meta analysis of beef production, for example, showed that the
partial replacement of vegetable protein with Optigen resulted in an 8 percent increase in live weight gain and feed efficiency. This highlights the potential of Optigen to promote sustainable beef production while reducing the environmental footprint of feedlot operations.
Utilizing Optigen to achieve more sustainable livestock production - Optigen serves as a unique innovation in the realm of livestock nutrition, offering producers a holistic solution for enhancing both the performance of their animals and the sustainability of their farming practices. By maximizing feed efficiency, supporting rumen health, and reducing nitrogen excretion, Optigen empowers producers to achieve their production goals while minimizing their environmental impact. As the agricultural industry continues to evolve, Optigen remains at the forefront of innovation, driving positive, long term change toward a more sustainable future for livestock farming.
BLACK GROVE
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
ANGUS
Aug. 3 — Edisto Pines Female Production Sale, Leesville, S.C.
Sep. 28 — Biltmore Livestock Sale, Asheville, N.C.
Oct. 19 — Fred Smith Company Ranch
Extra Effort Fall Sale, Clayton, N.C.
Oct. 19 — Wolf Creek Farms Second
Annual Angus Bull Sale, Hawkinsville, Ga.
Oct. 25 — Yon Family Farms Maternal Roots Fall Female Sale, Saluda, S.C.
Oct. 26 — Yon Family Farms Maternal Roots Fall Bull Sale, Saluda, S.C.
Nov. 2 — TJB Balancer Maternal Magic XIII Bull Sale, Chickamauga, Ga.
Nov. 16 — Southeast Bull Expo & Sale, Asheboro, N.C.
Dec. 7 — 49th Annual Union County
Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.
Dec. 14 — Brushy Mountain Genetics Sale, Taylorsville, N.C.
Feb. 13 — 32nd Edition of the UGA Focus on Genomics Enhanced EPDs Bull Sale, Athens, Ga.
Feb. 15 — Yon Family Farms Spring Bull & Female Sale, Ridge Spring, S.C.
Brangus
Oct. 25 — Yon Family Farms Maternal Roots Fall Female Sale, Saluda, S.C.
Oct. 26 — Yon Family Farms Maternal Roots Fall Bull Sale, Saluda, S.C.
GELBVIEH
Nov. 2 — TJB Gelbvieh Maternal Magic XIII Bull Sale, Chickamauga, Ga.
Dec. 7 — 49th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.
IGHTER IDE
A young couple is on their honeymoon. The husband is sitting in the bathroom on the edge of the bathtub saying to himself, “Now how can I tell my wife that I’ve got really smelly feet and that my socks absolutely stink? I’ve managed to keep it from her while we were dating, but she’s bound to find out sooner or later that my feet stink. Now how do I tell her?”
Meanwhile, the wife is sitting in the bed saying to herself, “Now how do I tell my husband that I’ve got really bad breath? I’ve been very lucky to keep it from him while we were courting, but as soon as he’s lived with me for a week, he’s bound to find out. Now how do I tell him gently?”
The husband finally plucks up enough courage to tell his wife and walks into the bedroom. He walks over to the bed, climbs over to his wife, puts his arm around her neck, moves his face very close to hers and says, “Darling, I’ve got a confession to make.”
She says, “So have I, love.”
To which he replies, “Don’t tell me, you’ve eaten my socks!”
In class one day, Mr. Johnson pulled Johnny over to his desk after a test, and said, “Johnny, I have a feeling that you have been cheating on your tests.”
Johnny was astounded and asked Mr.
HEREFORD
Sep. 14 — N.C. Hereford Association Field Day at Mitchem’s Farm 3C, Vale, N.C.
Dec. 14 — Brushy Mountain Genetics Sale, Taylorsville, N.C.
2025
Mar. 22 — 57th Annual N.C. Hereford Classic Sale, Union Grove, N.C.
santa Gertrudis
Sep. 7 — Santa Gertrudis Breeders of the Carolinas Field Day at Creech Farms, Zebulon, N.C.
SIMMENTAL
Aug 23-27 — American Simmental Association Fall Focus 2024, Amarillo, Tex.
Sep. 6 — N.C. Simmental Association Field Day, Union Grove, N.C.
Sep. 7 — N.C. Simmental Association Fall Harvest Sale, Union Grove, N.C.
Oct. 19 — Fred Smith Company Ranch Extra Effort Fall Sale, Clayton, N.C.
Oct. 25 — Yon Family Farms Maternal Roots Fall Female Sale, Saluda, S.C.
Oct. 26 — Yon Family Farms Maternal Roots Fall Bull Sale, Saluda, S.C.
Dec. 7 — 49th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.
WAGYU
Johnson to prove it.
“Well,” said Mr. Johnson, “I was looking over your test and the question was, ‘Who was our first president?’ The little girl who sits next to you, Mary, put ‘George Washington,’ and so did you.”
“So. Everyone knows that he was the first president,” said Johnny
“Well, just wait a minute,” said Mr. Johnson. “The next question was, ‘Who freed the slaves?’ Mary put Abraham Lincoln and so did you.”
“Well, I read the history book last night and I remembered that,” said Johnny.
“Wait, wait,” said Mr. Johnson. “The next question was, ‘Who was president during the Louisiana Purchase?’ Mary put ‘I don’t know,’ and you put, ‘Me neither.’”
A buyer of a new, multi-million dollar yacht liked to invite potential clients to his boat for a cruise.
In order to make sure nobody would turn down his invitation, he would say, “You’ll love my new boat! You must come out to see it. As a matter of fact, I named it after you!”
No one could resist the pitch. It was only after they came down to the boat that they realized that they had been had. The letters printed on the stern of the boat read, “AFTER YOU!”
