CC C
arolina attle onnection MARCH 2021 •
Vol. 35, Issue No. 3
Spotlight on
ANGUS
Performance Extra Calf is a very palatable blended feed designed for the producer who wants more texture in their feed product. Cattle start on Extra Calf quicker than with a straight pellet. This product consists of whole cottonseed, soybean meal, and the 16% Performance Extra Pellets.
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Performance Extra 16% is utilized in the development of heifers before breeding season. Feeding Performance Extra 16% prior to breeding will ensure those animals intake adequate energy to cycle properly and lead to a successful bred heifer or cow. This ration also works well in all stages of cattle production where there is a need for a higher protein and energy.
Nutritionally balanced with vitamins and minerals - Promotes development, proper growth, and overall health
….
ONNECTION 45th Annual Clemson University Extension Bull Test Sale, an “Online” Success!, by Steven E. Meadows, Ph.D. ........................................................................................................... page 51 A Message from the CEO — Sustainability. Yes, I Said Sustainability, by Colin Woodall ............................................................................................................................. page 59 Alltech News ........................................................................................................................................ page 57 Amazing Grazing — Raising Environmentally Adapted Cows, by Johnny Rogers ….................. page 21 American Hereford Association News ............................................................................................ page 29 American Simmental Association News ......................................................................................... page 32 Animal Agriculture Alliance News ................................................................................................... page 50 Beef Checkoff News ........................................................................................................................... page 65 Beef Cuts and Recommended Cooking Methods .......................................................................... page 48 Beef Tips — Top Five Genetic Selection Considerations for Cattlemen ….................................. page 24 BioZyme Incorporated News ........................................................................................................... page 68 Boehringer Ingelheim News ............................................................................................................. page 32 Carolina Cooking — Hearty Shepherd’s Pot Roast Pie ................................................................. page 61 Carolina Video and Load Lot Monthly Summary .......................................................................... page 40 Cattlemen’s Beef Board Update — Beef Checkoff - What Have You Done for Me Lately?, by Greg Hanes ................................................................................................................................. page 42 Cattlenomic$ — Back to the Furtures — Part IV, by Bernt Nelson .............................................. page 22 Certified Hereford Beef News — Best Marketing Practices For Premium Meats .................... page 26 Director’s Report — Preparing for Spring, by Travis Mitchell ......................................................... page 3 E.B.’s View from the Cow Pasture — E.B. Might Have Too Much Hair On His Head, by E.B. Harris .................................................................................................................................... page 16 Economist Cautions COOL Could Come with Added Costs, by Tyne Morgan ............................ page 70 Farm Credit News ............................................................................................................................... page 55 Fred Smith — Newly Elected NCBA Policy Regional Vice President ......................................... page 34 From the Desk of the SCCA President, by Roscoe Kyle ..................................................................... page 3 Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef .......................................................................................... page 70 International Brangus Breeders Association News ...................................................................... page 50 Jerry Bohn is Committed to the Future of Beef ............................................................................. page 58 N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council Annual Report ........................................................................ pages 35-38 N.C. Forage & Grassland Council Forage Spotlight — Building on Small Successes, by Brad Moore .................................................................................................................................. page 16 N.C. Weekly Livestock Report ......................................................................................................... page 69 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association News ................................................................................ page 44 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President’s Report — Cattle Producers - Constantly Driving Forward, by Marty Smith ...................................... page 49 New NCCA Members for 2021 .......................................................................................................... page 40 North Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ...................................................................... page 45 On the Edge of Common Sense — Marginal Quotes, by Baxter Black ........................................... page 19 Purina News ........................................................................................................................................ page 62 S.C. Beef Council News, by Roy Copelan .......................................................................................... page 42 S.C. Charolais News, by Georgeanne Webb ...................................................................................... page 30 SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available .............................................................................. page 52 South Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ...................................................................... page 60 The Simmental Trail, by Jennie Rucker .............................................................................................. page 33 Trending in Food & Beef ..................................................................................................................... page 64 Valley Vet News .................................................................................................................................. page 30 You Decide!, by Dr. Mike Walden ....................................................................................................... page 18 Zoetis News ......................................................................................................................................... page 60
ANGUS 2020 N.C. State Fair Junior Angus Show ….. page 15 American Angus Association News ….. page 15
Hill Angus Farm — A Western North Carolina Farm with Deep Roots in the Angus Breed, by Gary Hill & Sharon Rogers ….. page 4 Justin Wood Serves on the National Junior Angus Board, by April Bowman ….. page 8
Moffitt Cattle Company — Making Successful Cattle and People ….. page 10 N.C. Angus Association Prepares for the 37th Annual Spring Fever Sale, by Sharon Rogers ….. page 13
Smith Angus Farm — A Fourth Generation Farm Focusing on Producing Angus Genetics for the Real World, by Sharon Rogers ….. page 6
N.C. Cattlemen’s Association
President JEREMY LEE 5153 Battle Run Drive • Catawba, NC 28609 Vice Presidents KARL GILLESPIE 860 Corbin Road • Franklin, NC 28734 BURON LANIER 2877 Piney Woods Road • Burgaw, NC 28425
The Carolina Cattle Connection Vol. 35, No. 3 MARCH 2021 Sales & Publication Office 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
SCOTT WEST 489 Panacea Springs Road • Littleton, NC 27850
Phone: 919-552-9111 Fax: 919-552-9216 Email: mail@nccattle.com Website: www.nccattle.com
Immediate Past President MIKE COX P.O. 1317 • Elon, NC 27244 NCBA Policy Division Director - FRED SMITH, JR. NCBA Federation Division Director RALPH BLALOCK, JR. Beef Board Director - ROBERT CRABB Secretary/Treasurer - EVERETT JOHNSON Directors At Large MATT POORE • NEIL BOWMAN • TODD SEE
The Carolina Cattle Connection
is printed on 30 lb recycled newsprint by BN Printing in Benson, N.C.
Manager, N.C.
STAFF
BRYAN BLINSON
Executive Director Manager, S.C. TRAVIS MITCHELL BRYAN K. BLINSON 2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 Editor & Advertising Director N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council Director of Consumer Information ASHLEY W. HERRING Administrative Assistant - KIM BURDGE
S.C. Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director TRAVIS MITCHELL P.O. Box 207 • Saluda, SC 29138 Phone: 803-609-2828 Email: twmitch@clemson.edu
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Assistant Editor & Proofreader KIM BURDGE N.C. Circulation
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S.C. Circulation
To Be Announced
Material in The Carolina Cattle Connection is not to be reproduced in total or in part without the written permission of the Editor. All Website: www.sccattlemen.wildapricot.org submissions become property of The Carolina Executive Committee Cattle Connection, but we make every effort to President - Roscoe Kyle return items such as photographs and artwork as 1st Vice President - Timmy Benton requested. nd 2 Vice President - Joe Oswald IV Secretary - Carol Hendrix Treasurer - Eric Seymour Past President - Thomas Legare
William Brigman, Latta • Joe Oswald, IV, Allendale Roscoe Kyle, Inman • Terry Kirkland, Batesburg Eddie Evans, Easley • Cecil Eaddy, Manning Thomas Legare, Johns Island • Richard Sox, Lexington Carol Hendrix, Westminister • Clay Alexander, Starr Timmy Benton, Walterboro • Michael Bailey, Lancaster Bonnie Cann, Abbeville • Thomas Jones, Marion Lee Haddon, Gaffney • Jack Ferguson, York Drake Yon, Ridge Spring • Gene Crim, St. Matthews
S.C. Beef Council
Executive Director ROY COPELAN P.O. Box 11280 • Columbia, SC 29211 Phone: 803-917-1119 Email: scbeef@scda.sc.gov Website: www.sccattle.org
The Carolina Cattle Connection, the official publication of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association and the S.C. Cattlemen’s Association is published monthly by the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association. A complementary subscription is included with membership to each state’s association. Nonmember subscriptions are $30 per year.
All address changes for NCCA members to: The Carolina Cattle Connection 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 All address changes for SCCA members to: The Carolina Cattle Connection P.O. Box 207 Saluda, SC 29138
Our
breed Spotlight special sections are excellent forums to reach producers and cattle i ndustry i nsiders i n th e Carolinas and throughout the Southeast. Advertisers also receive a special discount for placing their message in the Spotlight. The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
Director’s Report By TRAVIS MITCHELL, Executive Director, SCCA
“DESIGNED FOR CATTLEMEN BY CATTLEMEN”
Preparing for Spring As I write this month’s report, winter is still in full swing in the Carolinas. Cold and damp conditions have been a common theme across our region for several months now. Spring will be here soon, and we, as cattlemen and cattlewomen, will once again shift our focus to another growing season. Spring is always one of the busiest times on our operations. Milder weather presents an opportunity to catch up on many tasks that were neglected during the winter months. We shift our focus from feeding stored forages to growing them in preparation for the next cold season. Producers will be busy spreading fertilizer, preparing for hay harvest, and preparing for the spring grazing season. Fall calving operations are busy with spring vaccinations and
wrapping up breeding season, while spring calving operations are in full swing with newborns. As we navigate through 2021 as an industry, we will face a number of unforeseen challenges. While the challenges may vary from one operation to another, keep in mind our common goal is the same. We all strive to produce the safest, most wholesome protein in the world. Demand for American beef remains high because of its quality and the trust the worldwide consumer has in our product. Thank you to all of our members who make up the S.C. Cattlemen’s Association. Your membership provides us with a unified voice that will keep our industry strong.
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From the Desk of the SCCA President By ROSCOE KYLE What a way to start off the New Year. If the first few months of this year are an indicator of what is to come, we may be in for a heck of a year weather wise. I have always said that California would either burn up due to wildfires or fall off into the Pacific Ocean, and as of late, I am sure that both are happening! I wish those people out there the best of luck. For our state, especially the Upstate and Midland areas, I honestly don’t think we can handle much more RAIN, or we will slide down to the Low Country area. Even though we are still in the winter time frame, some of us are experiencing a little spring, for which we are thankful and taking advantage of it. It is the time for fertilizing, so don’t forget to get a soil sample to assure that you are not wasting money on something you don’t need and not getting something you do need. Also, ensure that all the equipment is in operating order. On that note, bill H.3221 is being introduced to the S.C. House Agriculture Committee
regarding farm trailers being tagged and taxed to some degree. I assure each and every one of you that the SCCA, along with the S.C. Farm Bureau, are opposed to it and have been in contact with the members of said committee requesting they oppose it. I have personally touched base with several of the members I know. Along with that bill, there is another one that references hogs. I am told bill H.3539 has a little more verbiage that needs to be worked out, and it will pass. This is addressing the damage feral hogs have on our state. Even though we have been limited on having events, your SCCA is alive and well and still actively keeping an eye on the legislative events in the State House that directly and indirectly affect our industry and way of life. Being the President of the SCCA, I am also NCBA’s state representative, and during the first week in February, I was involved with the Winter Management Conference of NCBA. There were several state members who assisted in this conference as it spanned over three days. As soon as I receive their input on the different sessions they attended, it will be posted
on the association’s website. Please remember that if you have not paid your yearly dues for the state, please do so ASAP, and if you are not an NCBA member, please think about joining. NCBA is for the cattlemen and women of the industry. Even though we may have some disagreement with some ideas, as a whole, we can better resolve the problems than if we are separate. NCBA has new leadership, and I feel that with the key people in place, we are set to deal with whatever the new federal administration may throw our way. At the current time, the new Strategic Leadership Plan is being finalized, and I will get it out as soon as I receive it. I feel that several subjects regarding WOTUS, endangered species, COOL, and livestock marketing transparency are all going to be on the front burners this coming year. There are still several sales going on around the state. Several that have occurred since the first of the year have been virtual. The one I have information on is the Clemson Bull Sale that took place on February 6 via Zoom. According to Dr. Steve Meadows, there was an
outstanding set of animals that went under the gavel. Of course, in my years of knowing “Dr. Steve,” I have never known him to say any different. There were also approximately 25 heifers sold at the same time – trying a few new things for the sale. The bulls averaged just shy of $3,900, with most going for between $3,500 and $5,000. I believe the high was close to $7,000. As the last animal was being loaded, it was snowing to beat the band. Hopefully, the sale will be repeated next year on the first weekend in February. For information, please contact Dr. Steve Meadows at Clemson or your local livestock agent at the local extension office. I realize that we are all still dealing with COVID-19, which appears to be hanging around longer than expected, so please be careful and stay safe. If I can be of any assistance, please reach out, and we will try to help. Remember the words of William Penn, “Knowledge is the treasure of a wise man.” Respectfully yours.
The Carolina Cattle Connection
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Spotlight on
ANGUS
Section f
Hill Angus Farm – A Western North Carolina Farm with Deep Roots in the Angus Breed By DR. GARY HILL & SHARON ROGERS Hill Angus Farm is located in Flat Rock, N.C., three miles south of Hendersonville and the city where I was born. Today, this is not “cattle country,” with apples being the main crop in our county, with limited corn, hay, and vegetable production. Much of the area has become a haven for people building houses across the mountains, drawn by attractive views and four distinct seasons of the year. Our 40 acre farm is small; consequently, our 20 cow herd is restricted because of limited land availability. Parts of the farm have been in our family for 95 years, other parts for 65 years. In its early years, our family farm mainly focused on vegetable crop production, but with a few cattle and hogs.
Gary & Liz Hill
management to improve the herd. Liz and I were married in 1968, and we have recently celebrated our 52 nd wedding anniversary. Today we have three children and eight grandchildren. Starting at age 9, my son Evan Hill showed steers and heifers in numerous shows at fairs, 4-H/ FFA shows, and Georgia Angus shows in Georgia, continuing through high school.
Station, Tifton Campus. There, my beef research included grazing management, grazing in support of new forage varieties released at the station (including Tifton 85 bermudagrass, Tifleaf II, and Tifleaf III Pearl Millet), and feedlot finishing of cattle. I was promoted to full professor of animal and dairy science in 1994. In addition to my postweaning research at Tifton Campus, I was put in charge of 400 beef cows, including registered Angus, Polled Herefords, and commercial cows in 2004. Research literally included most aspects of breeding, reproduction, nutrition, and finishing taking cattle from birth to slaughter, including both feedlot and forage finishing experiments. During my career, I authored or co-authored over 450 publications and have traveled to all 50 states and 12 countries.
Welcoming farm sign at Hill Angus Farm
My father, Seldon R. Hill, purchased two registered Angus heifers for me in 1957 at a registered Angus weaned heifer sale in Asheville, North Carolina. From that introduction to Angus, I continued to read and study any and all information I could acquire. I attended several junior and NCAA events in our area. As our little herd increased, I participated in a few shows and sales as a teenager and served as president for two years of the N.C. Junior Angus Club in the mid-1960s. This opened some avenues for travel to larger farms in other parts of the state. I was acquainted with Howard Gentry and his father and uncle, NCAA Executive Secretary Hans C. Rhodenburg, Charles Bryson, and many others. For a young man growing up on a farm, the paths that were taken from humble beginnings with two Angus heifers were interesting. No matter what I was doing or where I was, the little Angus herd was always on my mind. Little progress was made with the herd until 1987, when I moved some cows to Tifton, Ga., and began using A.I. and intensified
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Several cows grazing pastures no-till planted with jumbo ryegrass. The ryegrass was planted in the protocol for renovating an old fescue pasture with novel endophyte rescue.
I majored in animal science at Clemson University, earning a B.S. degree in 1969. After two years in the U.S. Army, including a year in Vietnam, I returned to the family farm for a few months in 1972. Later in 1972, I was accepted into the University of Kentucky Animal Science Department to begin graduate school, where I completed my M.S. in 1974 and Ph.D. in 1977 with degrees in animal science, ruminant nutrition. Next, I was hired as an assistant professor at Louisiana State University Iberia Research Station, Jeanerette, where I conducted cow/calf, feedlot, and forage research from 19771983. There I was in charge of 400 beef cows and the management of the beef farms. In 1983, I joined the faculty at The University of Georgia Animal and Dairy Science Department - Coastal Plain
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
A very attractive yearling bred heifer sired by EXAR Upshot.
I retired from The University of Georgia in 2008, but the economic downturn delayed our return to North Carolina from Georgia because we could not sell our house and farm in Tifton. We returned to North Carolina in 2015 after living in other states for 45 years. The transition has been interesting. Trying to restore our family farm to a functional cattle farm has been a challenge. Almost all pastures have been converted to novel fescue over the last six years. With limited land available, I purchase all of the hay for the herd from local producers, strictly specifying second or third cutting KY-31 Fescue. With no seed heads, the effects of the toxic endophyte in the hay on cattle are reduced, and it prevents contamination of novel endophyte pastures with toxic endophyte seed. Pastures are rotated on a limited basis, and attention has been paid to the timing
of fertilizer applications and liming of pastures. White clover does very well in our environment, and some novel fescue pastures have been overseeded. Jumbo ryegrass and Tifleaf III Pearl Millet or Excede Pearl Millet have been grown in protocols for renovating KY-31 pastures to novel fescue during the last five years.
Bull Tag 59 on the Tifton Bull Test — this bull finished as the top gaining and highest Sale Index Angus of the 70 Angus bulls at 112 days. This bull will sell in March 2021 in Tifton.
The herd is now split into winterspring calving and fall calving cows. My goal is to produce as many A.I. sired calves as possible. Therefore, I strive to keep cows and heifers in good condition for breeding. This often requires feeding cows more supplements than most commercial cattlemen might employ. Cows are synchronized for breeding and then bred A.I. to promising popular bulls. During the last decade, our cows have been A.I. bred following the Select Synch + CIDR and Timed A.I. Protocol, but I am now using the new 7 & 7 Synch with Timed A.I. Protocol, in which CIDRs remain in the cow for 14 days, instead of the normal seven days. If cows do not conceive from these protocols when first administered, I watch cows 1823 days later because many will exhibit estrus at this time. Current A.I. bulls being used include Deer Valley Growth Fund,
Cow 0616 nursing a six-month-old Quaker Hill Rampage bull calf. The cow was sold in the 2017 N.C. Angus Spring Fever Sale.
e Special Jindra Acclaim, GAR Inertia, GAR Bonfire, Baldridge 38 Special, AAR 10X 7008 S A, Quaker Hill Rampage 0A36, Deer Valley All In, and Ferguson Trailblazer 239E. After two A.I. chances, cows are exposed to bulls. My current herd bull was purchased through the 2019 Waynesville Bull Test, where he was one of the high performers. He is Williams Acclaim 603-920 (AAA 19233533), a Jindra Acclaim son, with a maternal grandsire of Quaker Hill Rampage 0A36. His EPDs as of 1/7/2021 are CED +7, BW 1.7, WW 85 (2%), YW 157 (1%), Milk 26, $B 189 (2%), and $C 291 (4%). This bull has four bull calves born this autumn that look competitive with A.I. bull calves of the same age.
Calves with grandson Brayden Hill, five years old at the time. Cows are fed commodity pellets and hay on fescue pastures.
A major marketing tool has been my participation in various university bull tests and sales in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee since 1988. I have consigned bulls to one or both UGA tests almost every year since 1988 and to the other tests less frequently. Although I have a small herd, I had three bulls finishing tests in the top ten bulls in Tifton and Wytheville Tests in 2019. At Tifton, one bull sold second and had the highest test ADG and highest weight off test over all breeds. Another bull sold sixth out of about 150 bulls at Wytheville, Va., in 2019. In 2020-2021, four bulls were in the Tifton Bull Test, and three of the four bulls sired by Deer Valley Growth Fund ended the test February 2, ranked first, third, and seventh by index (Test 112 day ADG + WDA) out of 70 Angus Bulls on the Test. Tag 59 had the highest test ADG of 110 bulls of all breeds (5.09 lb/day), a final weight of 1,598 lbs at 14 months of age, and balanced EPDs of BW 1.4, WW 78, YW 143, with a 16.8 square inch ribeye. Cows and heifers have been consigned to the NCAA Spring Fever Sales in recent years and to Georgia Angus Association sales for several years in the past. A small number of bulls and females are sold at the farm.
Spotlight on
ANGUS
This is 520, an eight-month-old daughter of Deer Valley Growth Fund, from a Rito 9Q20 of Rita 5F56 GHM. Her mother has produced two outstanding bull calves that were sold at Tifton Bull Test, and she is highly fertile, with her fourth calf, all born from A.I. breeding in the month of January. This Growth Fund Heifer could do well as a show heifer. She is very correct on her feet and legs, a lot of length and volume, thick over the top, but still with a long neck, feminine features.
Half of the cows in my herd came from Lemmon Cattle Enterprises in Woodbury, Ga., or are descendants of cows originating in that herd. The late Harvey Lemmon was a close friend for over 30 years, and I learned a lot about Angus cattle, breeding selection, and marketing from him. Several cows are daughters or granddaughters of Plattemere Weigh Up K360, Sitz Upward 307R, AAR 10X 7008 S A, SS Objective T510 0T26, Sitz New Design 458N, Quaker Hill Rampage 0A36, and Deer Valley All In. Some younger cows are sired by Lemmon New Design 5050 Z35 and Lemmon Satisfaction B106. My cow herd has frame scores ranging from 5.57. Most cows may be a little larger than those in some Angus herds. Larger cow size means more hay and supplemental feeding, adding to the already elevated feed requirements for herds in western North Carolina (WNC). When a goal is the production of high performing bulls, cow EPDs, cow size, cow depth of rib, growth, and maternal traits are important. With a small herd, one wrong choice of A.I. bulls to use can be devastating.
Section f
Every location has specific challenges, and farming in WNC has a lot of them. Weather is an issue, with all time record rainfall occurring in each of the last two years in Flat Rock. Because of our location in the mountains, we have unofficially recorded 20-40 inches higher annual rainfall than at the Asheville Regional airport located on a plateau eighteen miles away. Mud is a winter nightmare to contend with. Land prices are very high in Henderson County because of development pressure from houses, apartments, and people migrating to the area. Our location in WNC increases travel expenses and costs of transporting feeds, grains, and cattle to or from other parts of the state or region. It also makes it harder to communicate or visit with other producers located further east of our location.
A good disposition is very important at Hill Angus Farm. Here you can see this gentle heifer calf sired by a Sitz Upward 307 son from a 10X sired cow.
After being away for 45 years, since 2015, I have been adjusting back to fescue production, longer feeding intervals in winter, and rain/temperatures of WNC. I plan to continue adjusting my feeding and grazing procedures over time as I become more familiar with the soils, weather, and cattle performance in WNC compared with Tifton, Ga., 340 miles south, with
Three eight-month-old bull calves that were weaned and put on the 2019-2020 Tifton Bull Test.
different forages. Since I am retired, and getting older, with limited land available to lease or purchase near the farm, major expansions of herd and facilities are not anticipated. Since my three children will not be returning to the farm, and probably not to WNC to live, when I can no longer manage the herd, it will be liquidated after 63 years and counting...
This 1952 IH Super C tractor was purchased new by Gary’s dad in 1952. It was used heavily until about 1986. The tractor was restored and painted in 2020, and today it runs like a top.
The success of our farm has been sustained and enhanced by our faith in God, appreciating the blessings of family, good health, and knowledge of the beef industry. Many times over the years, I have wondered what I am doing. Having had Angus since age eleven, staying abreast of trends in the breed over the years, and working with large university herds during my career, I know that I am supposed to raise cattle. My nutritional training, career as a cattle researcher, and major responsibility for large herds in Louisiana and Georgia have prepared me to handle the tasks of raising Angus cattle. A friend recently told me that I “overthink” some situations and problems. That is probably correct. I often know more about cattle or grazing management than I can accomplish because of limited funds, available land, hired labor, time, and physical ability. But my hard work and attention to detail help to make the small herd competitive. I am constantly giving a lot of thought to bull selection, feeding programs, and reproductive management. With limited resources, willingness to take advantage of sales, advertising, and participation in breed sales and bull tests have helped establish some reputation as a breeder of performance based Angus in North Carolina. The application of the knowledge I have acquired helps, but I am still learning! To learn more about Hill Angus Farm, you can contact Dr. Gary Hill at 229-848-3695.
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Spotlight on
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Section f
Smith Angus Farm – A Fourth Generation Farm Focusing on Producing Angus Genetics for the Real World By SHARON ROGERS Randall Smith is the fourth generation of his family to live and work the farm in Snow Camp, N.C., now known as Smith Angus Farm. Randall’s great grandfather purchased the farm in 1910. Over the years, the farm has seen some transition in ownership of adjoining property, but Randall has purchased much of the original farm back into the family. By successfully acquiring those adjacent farms, Smith Angus Farm currently operates on two hundred acres of owned and 150 acres of leased land. The farm has seventy head of registered Angus cows and also runs a few SimAngus for recipient cows. Today, the farm successfully combines poultry and Angus cattle production to make it sustainable.
A group of cows at Smith Angus Farm grazing ryegrass.
Randall’s father built their first poultry houses in 1977 at an adjacent farm, and Randall built four on the property he had in 1986. Randall currently grows organic broilers for Pilgrims. I had to ask some questions about the chickens just for my interest, and I hope you find it interesting too. Randall told me the birds he produces
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The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
are usually market ready at seven weeks old, weighing about six pounds, and all of them are sold in Costco. All four houses are in and out on the same schedule, and they are empty about four weeks in between flocks. With the organic birds, he does have more documentation to maintain on the flocks, but now he is experienced at keeping up the paperwork, so he does not consider it any extra work. Randall called the poultry his 9 to 5 job, with the cattle being an excellent companion enterprise. So since he graduated in 1985, Randall has been working on the farm, and he would not have it any other way.
The barn at Smith Angus Farm. Randall said the original barn was built in 1945 by his grandfather, and he has added onto it over the years, making it the main barn where he does all his cattle work.
For as long as Randall can remember, the farm has had cattle. Initially, Randall raised commercial cattle, but in 2001 he began to transition his herd into registered Angus. He decided to start his registered herd because he felt the commercial cattle were too commodity driven. He wanted to produce a product where he could be more in control of the marketing opportunities available to him. Randall selected the Angus breed because of the strong presence of the American Angus Association and the growing popularity of the breed at the time. He saw most of the cattle in his area were “turning black,” and he wanted to have cattle to meet the strong demand. Randall’s plan was right because today, he has a very strong demand for his Angus genetics. In addition to being able to use his time for both farm enterprises, the poultry also offers the benefit of supplying poultry litter for fertilizing the pastures. Randall uses the litter on both pastures and hay fields. He considers the litter a
Bull SAF Enhance 1815, a SydGen Enhance son, from Smith Angus Farm that sold in the Pounds and Profit Sale in 2019. Today this bull ranks in the top 15% or higher for all of his $Value indexes. With top 1% $C and top 10% $M.
good natural fertilizer. He likes that it is a slower release than commercial fertilizer and also saves him money. Randall partners with a neighbor to make haylage from the forage grown by using the litter. He is a proponent of haylage because he feels there is a lot more flexibility in timing when putting up the crop, and the cattle get much better utilization of the whole bale. So in 2020, they transitioned to wrap most all of the bales they produced. His pastures are predominantly fescue, but he does plant some winter and summer annuals, which he uses for both grazing and haylage. Over the last few years, crabgrass has become one of his favorite forages for grazing. Randall noted that he has a registered Angus cow herd but tries to manage them like any commercial producer in his area. He feels this helps him to have cattle, especially bulls, which will perform in many environments. Smith Angus Farm has three priorities for all their cattle. They must shed their hair and be slick in the
This group of bulls was waiting their turn for “picture day” in preparation for the last Pounds and Profit Sale. You can also see Smith’s new concrete feed bunks and feeding area in the background. Randall has been very pleased with the new feeding area, especially this year because it decreased the muddy areas.
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summer, they must have good feet, and they must have a good disposition. The farm has a fall calving season from September to November. The calves are weaned in May, and some calves are sold through the BQA sale at the Stanly County Livestock Market. The bull calves selected to be part of the Pounds and Profit Sale are developed on the farm with a feed from CPC, and they receive one percent of body weight of the feed, fescue pasture, and haylage. His goal is for the bulls to gain three pounds per day. The heifer calves are hand fed to acclimate them to people and make them easier to gather for breeding time.
This bull sold in a recent Pounds & Profit sale.
Randall utilizes the 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR for his mature cows, and for the heifers, he utilizes the 14-day CIDR protocol. He has found the heifers have a much higher conception rate on the 14 day program, but he admitted it does take some extra planning. Each female is bred A.I. once, and then bulls are turned in for cleanup. Some of the Angus sires he has used include Deer Valley Growth Fund, Hart Hercules 7017, and BCA Patriarch 4113. For the 2021 breeding season, he also used Diablo Deluxe 1104, Musgrave 316 Exclusive, Musgrave 316 Stunner, and Poss Rawhide. When selecting his A.I. bulls, he often talks with other breeders to get their feedback. He looks for bulls with balanced EPDs, and now he is paying close attention to the $M maternal weaned calf value index. He prefers to stay away from Angus bulls with negative birth weight EPDs because he does not want to give up the extra pounds on the calves, and he feels a mature cow should be able to have a good size calf without assistance. Randall says his bull customers want bulls with a 6-6.5 frame score, so he takes overall size into consideration as well. Smith Angus Farm has just recently started incorporating embryo transfer into the herd’s reproductive plan. Today, Randall has three females in his donor lineup for 2021. URF Sarah 1614, a Rampage x Sarah Y79 daughter, from
f
Uwharrie Ridge Farms. A SydGen Enhance daughter, SAF Lady 818, with all her $Value indexes in the top 15 percent of the breed or higher, including top 2 percent for $C. SAF Miss Pearl 1816, a SydGen Black Pearl 2006 daughter, raised on the farm. Randall selected Miss Pearl based on her performance within his herd and her $M and $C indexes being in the top 1 percent of the breed. For the last five years, Smith Angus Farm and Uwharrie Ridge Farms have worked together to host the Pounds & Profit Bull Sale the first Saturday in December at the Alamance County Cattlemen’s Facility in Snow Camp, North Carolina. The focus of the sale is to supply bulls to meet the needs of commercial cattlemen by helping them select genetics that will work in the real world. They want to build long term relationships with their customers, so they offer a customer loyalty program and assist bull buyers with marketing their calves. Their 2021 sale will be on December 4.
North Carolina Angus Association ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS Backed by the world’s largest and most reliable genetic evaluation program. Registered Angus genetics deliver better calving ease, more growth, and superior marbling. 4K FARMS/TARHEEL ANGUS Richard D. Kirkman, DVM Siler City 919-742-5500 info@tarheelangus.com 455 GORE FAMILY ANGUS Mark & Lori Gore Tabor City 702-401-8005 455goreangus@gmail.com www.455farms.com BACK CREEK Joe & Robin Hampton Mt. Ulla 704-880-2488 (Joe); 704-880-3572 (Robin) robinbackcreek@att.net Facebook: Back Creek Angus BB ORGANIC FARM NC, LLC Bob & Elissa Miller Louisburg 919-414-7753 BILTMORE ESTATE Kyle Mayberry - Manager Asheville 828-768-1956 livestock@biltmore.com www.biltmorelivestock.com BRIDGES BEEF CATTLE Eddie, Cindy, John, & Crystal Bridges Shelby 704-692-2978 bridgesbeefcattle@gmail.com BRITT FAMILY FARMS James Britt Calypso 919-738-6331 jrb4070@hotmail.com C-CROSS CATTLE COMPANY Duane Strider Asheboro 336-964-6277 ccrosscattle@yahoo.com www.ccrosscattle.com
SAF Lady 818 is a September 2018 daughter of SydGen Enhance. This heifer not only excels in her phenotype, but her EPDs are off the chart, so Randall has plans to incorporate her into his ET program.
As we were finishing up our discussion, I asked Randall what were three things that help to make Smith Angus Farm a success, and here is his response. “First, I have a really great wife. Kelli is a big part of our success and always willing to help me. Second, I have good neighbors and I live in a community where everyone is willing to lend a hand to help each other. Third, the combination of the cattle and the poultry farms working together. I was blessed to have very forward thinking parents who taught me a good work ethic and made it possible for me to be here on the farm.” If you would like more information on the Smith Angus Farm herd or the Pounds & Profit Bull Sale, you can reach Randall Smith at 336-516-4558 or visit the farm located at 1957 Cleve Road in Snow Camp, North Carolina.
FOUR S FARMS Kim & Connie and Jason & Robin Starnes Luther Lyerly - Manager Salisbury 704-640-5875 kim-4sfarms@carolina.rr.com G&G FAMILY FARMS Darren & Paul Gore Tabor City 843-458-2970 goreangus1@gmail.com goreangusfarms.com GENTRY HOMEPLACE ANGUS Howard & Donna Gentry King 336-413-6698 whgentry@windstream.net H&H FARMS Buddy & Jennifer Hamrick - Owners Bly Hamrick - Manager Boiling Springs 704-472-1912 jennham@bellsouth.net HILL ANGUS FARM Dr. Gary M. Hill Hendersonville 229-848-3695 gmhill@uga.edu JACK KNOB FARMS Karl, Janet, & Logan Gillespie Franklin 828-371-2220 karl@jackknobfarms.com www.jackknobfarms.com
The Carolina Cattle Connection
KNOLL CREST FARM The Bennett Family Red House,VA 434-376-3567 knollcrest@knollcrestfarm.com www.knollcrestfarm.com LANE ANGUS Roger & Bundy Lane Gates 252-357-1279 ritalane@embarqmail.com PANTHER CREEK FARMS John C. Smith, Jr. Pink Hill 252-526-1929 JohnSmith3982@embarqmail.com S&J Farms Steven & Julie Lung Nathan Lung - Manager Carthage 910-947-3414 sandjfarms2013@gmail.com SMITH CREEK ANGUS FARM Marty & Lynne Rooker Norlina 252-213-1553 mrooker@mrookerlaw.com SPRINGFIELD ANGUS Phil Goodson Louisburg 919-880-9062 philgoodson2@gmail.com www.springfieldangus.com TRIPLE LLL ANGUS Greg Little Monroe 704-219-1294 greg.little@ATImetals.com UWHARRIE RIDGE FARMS Mark Wilburn Asheboro 336-953-0521 uwharrieridgefarms@gmail.com VANDEMARK ANGUS Keaton & Janie Vandemark Spring Hope 252-885-0210 keaton@vandemarkfarms.com WINDY HILL FARMS, LLC Michael A. Moss Will Moss - Manager Ramseur 336-549-0070 michaelmoss@rtmc.net WINSLOW GENETICS Ben & Kathleen Winslow Halifax 252-578-5487 winslowgen@gmail.com WOOD ANGUS FARM, LLC Russell Wood Willow Spring 919-275-4397 rwood4400@gmail.com www.woodangus.com
Sharon Rogers
N.C. Angus Association Executive Secretary
336-583-9630 Email: ncaa.sec@gmail.com Website: www.ncangus.org
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Section f
Justin Wood Serves on the National Junior Angus Board By APRIL BOWMAN This summer, at the first ever virtual closing ceremonies of the National Junior Angus Show, Regional Manager, Alex Tolbert, introduced attendees to the six National Junior Angus Board of Directors and announced the new national officers with, “At leadership, bringing the “Wood” from the Tarheel State of North Carolina...Justin Wood.” North Carolina’s very own Justin Wood will serve as the Leadership Director for the NJAA for the coming year. His main responsibility will be planning the annual Leaders Engaged in Angus Development Conference for the National Junior Angus Association members.
Justin Wood, NJAA 2020 Leadership Director
Justin Wood is the 19-year-old son of Jeff and the late DeEtta Wood of Willow Spring, N.C., which is located just south of Raleigh in Johnston County. Many of you may recognize the Wood name, and yes, Justin has grown up at Wood Angus Farm. Despite the family’s love of Angus cattle, Justin’s granddaddy, Russell Wood, purchased a Hereford heifer calf for Justin’s first show project. He exhibited that Hereford heifer at both
The Wood Family – Justin, Jeff, Mary Elaine, DeEtta, and Ava.
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Justin working with his Angus cattle.
Justin continues to cultivate his love of cattle and is currently a sophomore at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas. At school, Justin is a member of the livestock judging team and active in many other livestock related organizations. After completing his time in junior college, Justin plans to enroll at Kansas State University, where he will major in agriculture communications and minor in agriculture business before coming home to take over the reins at Wood Angus. He stated, “The farm is what has gotten me here, and I want to be involved in developing the next generation of Angus cattle and Angus breeders.”
the Dixie Classic and N.C. State Fairs. His first Angus calf came a bit later, and she was a March born Lutton daughter from Express Ranch in Oklahoma named Winnie. In Justin’s words, these experiences led him to become obsessed with raising and exhibiting livestock, especially Angus cattle.
Justin with grandfather Russell Wood at the N.C. State Fair.
opportunity. This association has helped shape me into the individual that I am now, so anything I can do to give back, please let me know!”
Justin exhibiting an Angus heifer.
Reserve division champion Angus bull at the National Junior Angus Show.
It’s not just Justin. His younger sisters Mary Elaine and Ava also show, alongside cousins Charlotte and Riley. The family is very active in the Johnston County 4-H Livestock Program through N.C. Cooperative Extension. Justin credits his involvement with 4-H livestock as the big reason he started showing cattle. Then showing led him to become more interested in livestock judging. The siblings are also involved in FFA, where Justin says he learned public speaking and leadership skills, which have served him well in his role as an NJAA Director.
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
Justin feels serving the NJAA is a wonderful opportunity, and he would encourage others to participate in a similar role. Justin stated, “Serving something bigger than yourself is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The livestock industry, and more specifically the Angus industry, is the best place to grow up and develop into a better leader. And getting involved on the board where a lot of decisions take place, is a really cool
National Junior Angus Association Board
Ava, Justin, and Mary Wood attended the 2020 Camp Angus Conference in Nebraska City, Nebraska.
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Section f
Moffitt Cattle Company – Making Successful Cattle and People The family of Zach, Wendy, Mary Grace, and Levi make up Moffitt Cattle Company. The Moffitt’s herd is located just outside of Concord, North Carolina. You can literally see a shopping center from their pasture Although they are only a short drive away from lots of people and a major highway, you would never know it once you turn into the farm where they have lived since 2015.
Mary Grace helping to process a new calf.
The Moffitt Family - Zach, Wendy, Mary Grace, and Levi.
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Zach and Wendy were married in 2002, and they also started Moffitt Cattle Company the same year. When I first meet Zach, he was involved with a different cattle breed, but over the years they have transitioned into an Angus based cow herd with some SimAngus genetics
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
used as well. Mary Grace and Levi soon joined the family, and now they all work together with the cattle. Today, Zach has transitioned from the Propst farm to now being part of Propst Brothers Distributors in Concord, and Wendy homeschools the kids and serves as office manager for all the Moffitt Cattle Company enterprises. They may not have the largest herd in North Carolina, but they work hard to manage their cattle using all the newest tools and technology available to make them a success. Being located in the south central part of the state, their main forage is fescue. Zach utilizes this forage to take advantage of the good and not its bad attributes. He incorporates some strip and rotational grazing systems as well as stockpiling the fescue to extend the cattle’s winter grazing. They utilize some of the latest health programs, such as administering Inforce III, BoviShield
Gold, Calvary 9, and a pink eye vaccine to their calves. The cow herd is also set up with a similar modified live virus vaccination program. Zach takes advantage of the genetic improvements that can be made using A.I. and embryo transfer on their elite females. Zach told me that Mary Grace really likes working with the embryologist each year and learning more about their ET work. Zach
A nice group of bulls that were developed for a recent Southeast Bull Expo & Sale.
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bulls at Moffitt Cattle Company receive a breeding soundness exam before turn out or before they are marketed. Zach knows this practice pays for itself with the reassurance the bulls have the tools to be successful breeders. These strategies help guarantee they market only the best bulls and females through the Southeast Bull Expo and Sale each year, like their bull Moffitts Discovery 933, a VAR Discovery son who sold for $4,300 in the 2020 sale. Like many cattle producers in our Levi helping to tag and process a new baby calf.
also said, “Strict management and culling are important to us. We believe every time we can eliminate a problem we should, and we are usually rewarded with a better cow herd for doing so.” Zach recognizes the importance of properly developing their calves for a long, productive life. The growing heifers are fed one percent of body weight with CPC 14% developer. Zach says, “One of the most important things we do is take pelvic measurements and reproductive tract scores on our yearling heifers. I consider this is one of the cheapest insurance policies we pay for in the year because this exam helps us to verify the heifers are well developed and ready for breeding.” Their bull development is very similar, with weaning age bulls receiving one percent of their body weight of the same CPC 14% developer feed. Feeding rates are increased as the bull’s age but are limited to no more than two percent of their body weight. Keeping up with the growth of the young bulls is critical. Two months after weaning, bulls are weighed at least once a month and often twice a month to adjust their feed as needed. All
Baseball is the family’s favorite sport. Here they are enjoying a St. Louis Cardinals game.
Section f
to me.” He has been very active over the years in helping other producers make breeding, marketing, and management decisions for their herds. One of Zach’s first endeavors into specialized cattle marketing was with The Southeast Bull Expo & Sale. The Southeast Bull Expo & Sale got its start several years ago when Dr. Brent Scarlett pulled a group of cattlemen together to create a market for selling their bulls. Zach was fortunate to be a part of these discussions because he was doing quite a bit of work at Windy Hill Farms at the time. “This sale was one of the first places I realized I had the ability to help people sell and market cattle,” said Moffitt. They just recently completed the ninth successful sale, with each event contributing to Zach’s growth in marketing cattle.
Mary Grace clipping bulls for the sale.
area, Zach has other business enterprises working in conjunction with the farm. For over ten years, Zach, along with his two business partners Jeff Macon and Wayne Sanders, have marketed concrete feed bunks up and down the east coast from New York to Florida and even into Texas. Zach and his partners help producers understand how to incorporate the bunks in their operations, and they coordinate the freight logistics to get the bunks delivered. Zach praised JustKris Trucking in Asheboro, N.C., for successfully transporting most of the loads of bunks to producers. Even with all the adversity of 2020, Zach said they still had positive sales, shipping over one hundred tractor-trailer loads of bunks this year. The business offers both U and J shaped bunks, concrete water troughs, and prepoured pads for setting up other automatic waterers. They also have distributors in North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina to help service customers who only need a limited number of bunks. Zach and his family are the most excited about their newest business, Zach Moffitt Cattle Marketing & Consulting. Zach told me, “I have always been passionate about helping people and this portion of our business just made sense
Look for this logo to find events and sales being coordinated by the Moffitt’s new business - Zach Moffitt Cattle Marketing & Consulting.
Several other opportunities, including consulting for buyers at sales, managing sales, and doing herd consulting for producers, are a part of the growing business as well. In the fall of 2020, Zach managed the Cow Power Sale in Linwood, N.Y., and this spring, he will manage the fifth Annual D/W Sale in Hartwell, Georgia. Also, this spring, Zach will be working with the North Carolina Angus Association to manage its annual Spring Fever Sale on April 24 at the Shuffler Farm Sale Facility in Union Grove, North Carolina. Zach says he is very excited to be working with the Spring Fever Sale because North Carolina is home. He will have the opportunity to help fellow NCAA members market their cattle to the rest of the Angus community. He feels the Angus producers of North Carolina have been flying under the radar for too long, and it is a personal goal to help change that so the producers and cattle in North Carolina get the attention they deserve.
The Moffitt Cattle Company brand.
Zach is quick to point out that none of his accomplishments would be possible without the support of his family and their dedication to Jesus in their lives. Many other people in his life taught hard work, discipline, love, passion, and forgiveness along the way. Zach credits his mother, her parents, and his uncles for having a very positive influence and giving him his strong work ethic. He also recognized a few friends for being great mentors who keep him sharp and accountable even when they don’t know it. Zach said, “Mike Moss, Brent Scarlett, Tim Goforth, and John Bridges are probably the people I talk to the most. These men always offer challenges or ideas that make me a better cattleman and person.” It is easy to see the excitement Zach has for his future in the cattle industry. He may be managing his own cattle, helping other producers with management and marketing decisions, or just offering support to fellow cattlemen, but you can be sure he will do his best to help make everyone a success. If you are interested in reaching out to Zach, his phone number is 336-736-6340, or he can also be reached by email at zmoffitt19@gmail.com.
Calves eating from one of the concrete feed bunks marketed by the Moffitts.
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N.C. Angus Association Prepares for the 37th Spring Fever Sale By SHARON ROGERS Executive Secretary, NCAA The N.C. Angus Association’s 37th Annual Spring Fever Sale will be held at the Shuffler Farm Sale Facility in Union Grove, N.C., on April 24. Also, new this year, the sale will be managed by Zach Moffitt of Moffitt Cattle Marketing & Consulting. The sale will showcase the top Angus genetics from leading breeders in North Carolina. Moffitt stated, “I am really excited about the high quality
Don’t get caught napping!
Deadline is 5th of month prior to issue!
consignments we have received from the NCAA members. I am looking forward to working with both consignors and buyers to make the sale a success.” Angus enthusiasts from across our state and the country will also be able to view and purchase progeny from this sale by logging into CCI.live for the auction. All the challenges we faced with the 2020 event are behind, and the sale committee is looking forward to an outstanding sale for 2021. The fall pairs with fancy heifer calves are always a favorite of the sale, and they will be again this year. In addition, we will have a great selection of spring pairs, bred heifers, open heifers, and embryos. Most of the females in this sale are distinguished by their pedigree, their EPD profile, the calf at their side, or by the calf they are carrying by some of the most prominent industry leading sires. Over the past 36 years, the sale has become a source for the heart of many Angus herds.
The N.C. Junior Angus Association will be serving lunch to help raise funds for hosting the upcoming Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show and other activities throughout the year. Also, the N.C. Angus Auxiliary will have items for auction to benefit their activities. Watch for your sale catalog in the mail in early April. The catalog should be on our website at www.ncangus.org by early April as well. If you’re not on our mailing list, please give the office a call at 336-583-9630 or send an email to ncaa. sec@gmail.com, and we would be happy to add you to our mailing list. Please contact Zach Moffitt at 336-736-6340 or any member of the Spring Fever Sale committee with any questions regarding the sale. Mark your calendar to come be a part of this year’s Spring Fever Sale. Remember the new date – April 24 and new location – Shuffler Farm Sale Facility in Union Grove.
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The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
ANGUS NEWS A n g u s U n i v e r s i t y We b s i t e Launched. We are excited to unveil the new Angus University website, now located at www.Angus.org/University. As a means to make things more accessible, we have categorized educational assets by topic category. We encourage you to use the Resources tab to access information. Within the Resources tab, you’ll find four navigation buttons to hone in your search: Herd Management, Tools and Services, Association Information, and Junior Programs. Inside of these areas are topic clusters that feature videos, links, and fact sheets. Producers can also view all documents, links, and videos outside of their topic area
2020 N.C. State Fair Junior Angus Show
Grand champion Angus female - CCF Paulsen Lady Staker 1907, a March 2019 daughter of PVF Blacklist 7077 with maternal grand sire Silveiras Style 9303, exhibited by Logan Ball of Waynesville, N.C.
Reserve champion Angus female – Kingsway MC Miss Molly 515, a September 2019 daughter of Silveiras Style 9303 with maternal grand sire Gambles Royal Flush, exhibited by Logan Ball.
Got to be N.C. champion Angus female – STF Charlotte 906, a February 2019 daughter of Lazy JB Tito 4914 maternal grand sire Silveiras Style 9303, exhibited by Schyler Crocker of Selma, N.C.,
by using the navigation in the footer menu. We encourage producers to visit the new website to check out all of the educational resources available. Angus University - Revolutionary Marketing Webinar Recording Available. Check out the recording of our latest Angus University webinar, “Revolutionary Marketing.” Troy Marshall, Association director of commercial industry relations, explained how the feeder cattle market is revolutionizing and why you should participate in the revolution. He talked about how you can get started and how the traditional forms of selling feeder cattle aren’t enough anymore. Marshall covered how cattlemen and women can capture additional value for their cattle, enroll in various marketing programs, and ultimately differentiate their cattle from the herd. Prior to joining the American Angus Association, Marshall managed his family’s seedstock operation for more than 20 years. After decades of working with Marshall Cattle Company’s commercial bull buying customers, he understands the challenges commercial producers face and how they can utilize Association programs to improve their operations. Marshall commits his daily efforts to create opportunities for commercial cattle producers. He focuses on capturing value for cattle with superior genetics within the commercial sector. As the former director of commercial programs for the American Maine-Anjou Association and North American Limousin Foundation, as well as a market analyst for CattleFax, Marshall has a vast knowledge of all facets of the cattle industry. As a main subject of the American Angus Association, he believes it is imperative for producers to receive credit for the hard work they put into yielding such a product. Angus Announces New Regional Manager Internship for Fall 2021. American Angus Association invites students to apply for new field internship. The 13 regional managers of the American Angus Association are the boots-on-the-ground Angus experts who wear many hats. This fall, the American Angus Association’s field services team is excited to offer the new 2021 Regional Manager Internship, which is designed to enhance a student’s ability to build effective relationships, craft a promotional strategy and learn about the Angus business and cattle industry. The nine week, full time internship begins in August and lasts until December and will be based at the American Angus
Association headquarters in St. Joseph, Mo., with numerous opportunities to travel to different regions of the country. From assisting with herd visits to securing advertising in the Angus Journal and Angus Beef Bulletin to providing insight to the breeder, the regional manager intern will gain valuable hands on, real world experience in the Angus business. “The Regional Manager Internship provides a unique learning experience for rising junior and senior college students interested in a career as a field representative with a breed association or similar positions within the industry,” said David Gazda, regional manager and director of field services. “It will provide an opportunity to gain valuable work experience and exposure to all entities and departments of the Association from conception to end product. Most importantly, this internship will provide an individual hands on experience and a greater insight into the role regional manager’s perform as a representative of the association and the skill sets required to serve successfully in this position.” The selected intern will have the opportunity to promote the Angus breed and represent the American Angus Association by attending production sales, shows, and other events.
“The role of the regional manager is what truly drives the advancement and connection within the Angus breed. This team of dedicated professionals serve as a trusted resource for Angus breeders and buyers of Angus genetics by delivering information, guidance, and support across all aspects of the Association and its entities,” said Brett Spader, Angus Media president. “This internship is a unique opportunity to become familiar with all aspects of the Angus breed while having a meaningful impact on Angus breeders.” Those interested in applying should send a resume, cover letter, and references to careers@angus.org by May 1. Visit www.angus.org/careers for the internship description and requirements. Angus Means Business. The American Angus Association® is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 25,000 members across the United States, Canada, and several other countries. It is home to an extensive breed registry that grows by nearly 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers, and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers. For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org.
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a cow man but I have more hair on my head than you do and, therefore, it does not take as much electricity for me to stay off a fence as it does for you.” This got a chuckle out of Marty. He said, “You know where my sister lives so go up the open face garage and unplug the fence right there.” The next time I got around Marty, I had someone take a picture of Marty and
E.B.'s View from the Cow Pasture By E.B. HARRIS
E.B. Might Have Too Much Hair On His Head December of this past year, Marty Rooker of Smith Creek Angus was going to have his first bull sale on the farm located in Oine, N.C., (better known to the locals as Blue Mud). He called me and said he needed a few more pens and wanted to know if I had something that I thought would work. I told him I had a Diamond W portable sorting system that I thought would do what he needed to do. It has four pens on each side, an alleyway in the middle, and a set of folding gates that would make an alleyway into the system. It could be set up at the end of his barn, and he could pen two or three bulls to the pen and, if needed, put a couple in the alleyway. Marty thought this was a doable plan, and I told him I could get it to his farm when he needed it. I know the layout of Marty’s barn. There is a 16’ gate at the entrance off the blacktop road to get to the barn. When hooked to a truck, the overall length of the corral is approximately 55’ long, and the wheels on the corral are on the tail end, so it takes a wide turn to go into any farm path. When we got to Marty’s farm, we looked, and the state road pipe was too close to the blacktop road, and the truck
and the corral were not going to go through the gate. Marty was at his office in Warrenton, so I took my phone and called Marty and told him the situation and asked him if it would be alright to lay his hi-tensile fence down. He said that would be fine – just go ahead and lay the fence down. I said, “Marty I need to know where to cut the fence off.” He said, “I just work with the electric fence box being hooked up. I don’t ever cut it off.” I thought for a second and then said, “Marty you have got to remember one thing. I call myself
N.C. Forage & Grassland Council Forage Spotlight
By BRAD MOORE, Alamance County Soil & Conservation District
Building on Small Successes Pasture management and paying off debt have many things in common. I would like to share with you my approach to achieve better forage with a few simple steps by taking a pasture inventory, making a plan, and starting with the simple fixes. Anyone who has ever listened to more than ten minutes of Dave Ramsey’s radio talk show is most likely familiar with his “Seven Baby Steps” program to financial freedom. One of the early steps in the system talks about paying off your smallest debt first before moving on to larger debts like your home. By focusing on the smaller debts first, a person has an early, small success and feeling of accomplishment that keeps them excited and on course with their long range financial plan. Solving pasture problems can work much the same way. There are a number of reasons why our pastures end up in a wreck. No matter
“If you have cattle, pastureland, or raise hay like I do, you need to call Donna Byrum. In 10 minutes on the hood of my pickup, she signed me up for a program that I had no idea about. The next time she came by the farm, she brought me a check! ~ E.B. Harris
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The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
me with our caps off. It was plain to see a person with a small amount of hair on his head can stand to work the fence when it’s hot, more so than a man with hair on his head. I think I am just as tough as Marty, but maybe I am not. I don’t like to work with an electric fence on. I can’t say if this is what made Marty lose his hair early in life or if it’s just in his genes, but he is right shiny on top.
if you inherited them, bought them, or created them yourself, the approach to solving them is the same. Start by taking a basic pasture inventory. List out the forages that you see and desire and the ones that you don’t. Take some soil samples and see where your nutrient levels are because there is no need to buy expensive inputs if you don’t need them. Secondly, make a plan. Review your soil test results and price what inputs are needed. This information will allow you to add the nutrients at one time or as a long range plan if you desire. Have those weeds identified that you would like to control and start speaking with professionals about herbicide products, label rates, and price. Get your sprayer out and in working order, or identify custom applicators in your area in advance to beat the season’s rush. Many times, I will write on a calendar 60 to 120 days in advance of tasks that are needed in the future simply to avoid forgetting to perform them at the proper time. Lastly, start with the smaller, simple fixes that will show you results in your pasture. Many times, performing a few basic management techniques can be done that show quick results with little to no investment. Things like spot spraying and clipping troublesome weeds for control or simply shutting a gate, allowing a pasture a rest period for regrowth can show improvements in a short amount of time. In conclusion, tackling debt and solving pasture problems have many things in common. More than likely, they were not created overnight, and neither will be solved by making one payment or one herbicide application. Many times, these types of issues are solved by taking a simple inventory of what is on hand, making a long range plan, and staying the course with the little successes.
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q MARCH 2021
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You Decide! By DR. MIKE WALDEN
Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics N.C. State University You Decide: What’s the Real Unemployment Rate? The unemployment rate is the most watched economic indicator by the media and the public. It’s easy to understand why. The unemployment rate is a very understandable statistic. To most, it immediately communicates what percentage of workers don’t have a job. Hence, if the rate rises, it’s interpreted as bad for the economy, while if the rate drops, that’s seen as good. Plus, unless you’re living off a retirement pension or large investments, people have to work and earn a paycheck in order to survive. So, unemployment is linked to other economic measures. But behind the simplicity of the unemployment rate lies many questions and issues. Three important ones are: should everyone without a job be counted as unemployed, should a person’s effort in finding a job affect their classification
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as unemployed, and does a rise in the unemployment rate always suggest bad things for the economy? Before I tackle these questions, let me address one misconception. It’s commonly thought the data for the unemployment rate come directly from information collected when a newly jobless person files for public unemployment compensation. Each state runs its own unemployment compensation system, which pays jobless people a certain amount of money for a limited number of weeks. The amount paid and the number of weeks paid varies by state. Still, since each state is able to track how many people are filing for unemployment compensation, it is logical to think these are the numbers used in calibrating unemployment rates for the states. Furthermore, it would then just be
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
a matter of aggregating the state numbers to form a national unemployment rate. However, there are problems with the unemployment compensation numbers. Not every jobless person files for the benefits and they can still be jobless when the benefits end. Instead, the unemployment rates for the nation and states are based on a separate survey of individuals conducted monthly by the federal government. A total of 110,000 individuals are contacted each month, and the survey is designed to represent the entire labor market. These surveys have been implemented by the federal government since the 1940s. The monthly federal job market surveys ask a series of questions, and three of them are important for the definition of being unemployed. The first question is, “do you have a job?” A “yes” answer classifies the person as being employed, but a “no” answer does not necessarily classify the person as unemployed. Instead, a “no” answer means two more questions are asked. The second question is, “if you don’t have a job, do you want a job?” At first glance, you might think, who doesn’t want a job? But what if you’re retired, like my wife? Or what if you are disabled and unable to work, as is a good friend of ours? Or maybe you’re just taking an extended vacation. These are some of the reasons why everyone without a job shouldn’t be counted as unemployed. However, even if a person answers “yes” to the second question, indicating they want a job, there’s one more question to answer before they are considered unemployed. It is, “in the last month, have you actively looked for a job?” “Actively looking” means contacting potential employers, answering ads, or distributing resumes for job inquiries. The individual must answer “yes” to this question to be officially considered unemployed. It may seem odd that the third question is asked. However, the framers of the unemployment survey decades ago wanted to make sure a jobless person had a strong desire to find work as a condition for being counted as unemployed. It’s the third question that can cause problems in interpreting the unemployment rate. If the economy is not doing well and jobs aren’t available, people without jobs may very well not look for work. Economists call these folks “discouraged workers.” Since they are not officially counted as unemployed, they can make the real unemployment rate higher than the official rate. Usually, not counting discouraged workers as unemployed lowers the official jobless rate by several percentage points. The federal government actually calculates
an alternative unemployment rate that includes discouraged workers, but it receives little publicity. Yet, there are reasons to believe the undercount of the jobless rate has been higher during the pandemic. This is because more jobless folks aren’t looking for work for fear of catching the virus, or maybe because they need to care for a sick relative or children home from school. Including these individuals as well as typically discouraged workers as jobless could make today’s “real unemployment rate” between 10-11 percent, rather than 6 percent. Ironically, as more vaccines are given and the economy improves, the official jobless rate may rise rather than drop. This is because greater confidence about the job market and a return to normal life will motivate more jobless individuals to actively look for work. And until they find work, they will now be “officially” counted as unemployed. It’s amazing something so simple as counting unemployment can be so complicated. Yet if you know the rules, you’ll be better able to understand how and why the jobless rate changes. Then, hopefully, you can decide where the economy is really going. You Decide: How Will a Higher Minimum Raise Affect Workers? There is a proposal in Washington to more than double the minimum wage to $15 an hour. The increase would be phased in over several years. Supporters say the increase is far overdue, as the last time the minimum wage was raised occurred in 2009. Plus, advocates ask how anyone paid the current minimum wage of $7.25/ hour can survive with today’s prices. Hence, it can be easy to be behind raising the minimum wage if it means low income workers will earn more. However, will the impacts stop here? Could there be some adverse consequences of mandating a higher minimum wage that could come back to hurt the very individuals the higher wage is designed to help? This is a question that economists have long examined for the more than eighty years the minimum wage has been in existence. There are several worries about a higher minimum wage. Will employers reduce the number of minimum wage workers employed? Or if the workers are kept, will employers cut their hours worked? Maybe over time, employers will only hire higher skilled workers who – the employers judge – justify the higher pay. Also, will a higher minimum wage encourage employers to move away from using people to perform tasks to using technology and machines? This last possibility has become more of a concern with the rapid advancements
in the capabilities of technology and machinery. Indeed, many experts think these advances will accelerate in the post COVID-19 economy. Let me relate a personal story to illustrate some of these issues. When I turned 16, I took a job at a fast food restaurant and was paid the prevailing minimum wage of $1.00/hour. The hours didn’t conflict with my high school education, and I was proud to be earning my own money. I also made some great friends and learned how to work with others and handle crises. When a regular customer ordered 50 hamburgers for a party to start in an hour, we worked really, really fast. After breaking me in on the fryer and then a stint on the grill, the owner-manager moved me to the counter for taking orders after he discovered I was good at quickly adding numbers. In those days, the cash
register did not add prices. Counter workers did the additions on customers’ bags, and I rarely made a mistake. After about a year, a friend tipped me off to a job in a furniture warehouse. Initially, I wasn’t interested because I’d be working mostly alone, and the hours weren’t as good for my academic schedule. But then I heard the pay was $1.65/hour, 40 percent more than the $1.15/hour I was earning after a couple of raises. I had an interview and was offered the job. Still, I didn’t want to leave the restaurant. I went to the owner-manager and told him about my offer. I hoped he would increase my wage to maybe $1.50/hour, which would be enough for me to stay. The owner-manager didn’t budge. He told me if he paid me $1.50/hour, word would eventually get out to the other employees, and he’d have to give them
Baxter Black
On the edge of common sense
a big raise too. He said he just couldn’t do that. He was already operating on a small margin of three percent — meaning revenues exceeded costs by only three percent — and raising everyone’s pay would wipe that out. Alternatively, he could raise the prices of his burgers, fries, and drinks to cover the raises, but that would only drive customers away to other restaurants with lower costs. Of course, a higher minimum wage would apply to all fast food restaurants, so presumably losing customers to similar competitors wouldn’t be an issue. Still, most of the concerns worrying the ownermanager over 50 years ago still persist today. As you might expect, economists have done hundreds of studies on impacts of a higher minimum wage. Not all – but a majority – show good and bad impacts. The good is minimum wage workers who stay employed realize a boost to their income. The bad is that collectively, employers will reduce the number of minimum wage jobs or reduce their hours. This is especially the case for younger workers and those with a high school or less education. If we want to help low wage workers but don’t increase the minimum wage,
are there any alternatives? Yes, there are. One idea is a public wage subsidy. Here the government – likely the federal government – pays low wage workers an additional wage that then brings their total wage to a higher level, like $15. Another plan would combine all the federal antipoverty programs into monthly payments to low wage workers in order to increase their income to an acceptable level. Important for both alternative plans would be withdrawing financial help at an amount less than the additional income a worker would earn from securing a better paying job. This is necessary to maintain incentives for low paid workers to move up the economic ladder by, for example, acquiring additional skills. The minimum wage has been one of the main policy tools our country has used to assist low income workers. While its purpose is laudable, logic and research suggest there may be some downsides. Is there a better way? You decide. About the author. Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and Extension Economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at N.C. State University who teaches and writes on personal finance, economic outlook, and public policy.
Marginal Quotes • “As long as you’ve got good elimination, you’ve got it made.” ~ Uncle Leonard • “If a man can’t drive in a bar ditch, he’s got no business on the highway.” ~ Tink • When asked how she got to be president, Anita replied, “I missed the meeting.” • “You can’t use too much tape.” ~ Dr. Allen • Tom Hall says, “I enjoy all company. Some when they arrive, some when they leave.” • “A true friend will tell you if yer hat’s on backwards.” ~ Calvin • “I’d rather be at the head of the ditch with a shovel than at the bottom with a decree.” ~ Tom on irrigation rights • “If they won’t come, you can’t stop ‘em.” ~ Jim B. • “He’s stooping to new heights.” ~ Sandy • “His eyes are so squinty they could blindfold him with dental floss.” ~ Buck • “They teach chickens to lay eggs by walkin’ back n’ forth in front of them with a hatchet humming, ‘Um, um, good, um, um, good...’” ~ Doug • “The right to be heard does not include the right to be taken seriously.” ~ Hubert H. • “If you wanna put out a fire, start yer own!” ~ Hoot • “Cowboys walk in parts.” ~ Peter • “You have to know Mr. Dewey well in order to dislike him.” ~ Margaret T. • “Bank examiners come in after the battle and shoot the wounded.” ~ Boyd • “Horse shoein’s not so hard. It’s just the dread of doing it.” ~ Carl • “His sleeping bag smelled like they drove geese into it and beat them to death.” ~ Oly K. • “You are what you eat,”... but I say, “You are where you walk.” • “It’s been a month of Mondays!” ~ Sheryl • “I don’t deserve this award, but I’ve got sinus and I don’t deserve it either.” ~ Ace R. • “Sometimes you have no choice, so take it!” • On fundraising, “Don’t put all your hands in one pocket.” • “If yer smart you’ll always believe in Santa Claus.” ~ Judy • “Sure you can sell out when things are good. But then what will you do?” ~ John • “Of course your waffle is tough, you ate the potholder.”
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q MARCH 2021
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The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
By JOHNNY R. ROGERS Amazing Grazing Program Coordinator
Raising Environmentally Adapted Cows One of the tenants of successful cow/ calf production is to have cows adapted to your environment. This seems logical and easily accomplished. Beef cows have been described as “scavengers” that utilize land and forage resources that are not used for other purposes. However, I prefer to think of beef cows as “up cyclers” that create value (food) from resources that otherwise would be wasted. Either way, cow/calf production is usually a low margin enterprise with lower production inputs leading to improved profitability. Many geographic regions feature cow/calf systems, and the cows will look different across areas. However, their function remains constant as they convert feed resources into marketable protein. The characteristics of these marvelous females and how to raise them on your farm will be discussed below.
grazing is usually cheaper than feeding stored forages. Supplementation will be minimal for adapted cows and often limited to only free choice mineral. 2. Thrives on the primary forage resource - If you are grazing endophyte infected tall fescue, then your cows should tolerate toxins with minimal performance reduction. Cattle that cannot adapt to your primary feedstuff should be culled from the herd. Cattle that can’t handle fescue toxins often do quite well on other forages, i.e., Bermudagrass, and can be merchandised as replacements in other environments in some cases. Cows that function well on forages have good rib depth, high body capacity, and are easy fleshing.
Select cows that will harvest most of their feed needs.
Adapted cows will calve unassisted, have vigorous calves and have udders that encourage calf suckling.
1. Harvests all/most of her own feed - Beef production is a commodity business, and in this business structure, the average producer operates at an economic break even. Attaining success (profit) means controlling costs and/ or producing a product that is more valuable than the average. Achieving and maintaining a price advantage is difficult in commodity systems. Therefore, management should focus on controlling costs without major sacrifices in performance. The adapted cow will thrive on the predominant forage resource on your farm. She will graze forages to meet most of her nutritional requirements, and
3. Requires minimal maintenance - When cows need excessive treatments and/or management, she is telling you that she does not like working for you. She cannot function under your management style and needs the opportunity for a new start somewhere else. Adapted cows will have a shiny summer hair coat with limited fly counts. Her udder, feet, and legs will be sound. Cows that remain in the shade while the rest of the herd is out grazing are good candidates to sell. Cows that need assistance at calving (dystocia, big teats, etc.) should be removed from the herd. 4. Weans a marketable calf every 365 days - You notice I did not say the biggest calf because I believe you should target optimums, not maximums. Cows that produce large calves are usually heavy milking individuals. They
have higher feed intake and nutritional requirements, which means they have higher production costs. They do have more calf pounds to market, but this extra revenue usually does not cover the added production costs (documented by several land grant university studies). Seek those cows in your herd that consistently calve early and raise good calves. This cow type will be a good source for your replacement heifers. 5. She weans calves annually for a long time - Most experts agree that a cow needs to wean four calves before she covers her cost (annual production expense, heifer development costs, etc.). Females that remain productive and in the herd till after six years of age have a major advantage. Many beef breeds have Stayability EPDs that can be used when selecting herd sires to produce replacements.
fescue, and no creep feeding, which would limit performance compared to other systems. My personal belief is that we have selected for too much growth and milk in our cow herds. Most beef farms do not have the feed resources necessary to allow these cattle to meet their genetic potential. For example, a cow with high milk production genetics will not express her genetic merit without adequate nutrition. In fact, she may milk less than a cow with lower genetic potential. In other words, those cows are not adapted to their environment, and we must change the environment to fit the cow (probably not profitable for most producers). An alternative is to select for moderate cow size/performance that can be met by the feed we grow on our farms.
Select cows that are productive in low input forage systems. Adapted cows will wean highly marketable calves.
A recent NCSU project funded by the N.C. Cattle Industry Assessment explored one measure of beef cow efficiency by looking at calf weaning weights in relation to the mature weight of their dams. Data was collected from eight North Carolina cow/calf operations with 260 cows represented. The average mature cow weight was 1,360 pounds. This weight is probably a little higher than some would have guessed but not by much. Another interesting point is that the percentage of cows weighing over 1,500 pounds was more than the percentage that weighed less than 1,200 pounds. We have some large cows in our North Carolina beef herds. Calf weaning weight was 39.6 percent of the mature dam weight. Producers often talk about cows weaning 50 percent of her mature weight as a target. We are not achieving that level of performance. These were all fall calving herds, grazing endophyte infected tall
How can producers start raising more environmentally adapted cows? You should start with an assessment of your herd and your management. How are you managing your cows today? Are you satisfied with your current situation? Develop a list of things you would like to change and decide how you want to raise cattle. Most herds will have some cows that are adapted to their management and require minimal inputs. Conversely, in those same herds, you will find cows that struggle and require more resources. In most cases, producers will supplement the whole herd at additional cost instead of just culling the higher maintenance cows. If you want to graze 300 days with limited hay feeding, it can be done. If you have access to affordable hay or silage, you can develop a system around those resources. Just remember, the cattle that excel in those two examples will look different and have different performance goals. That is perfectly acceptable. Let’s find what works for us and is profitable, enjoyable, and sustainable. Good grazing!
BE A WINNER!
Join your local cattlemen’s association AND your state or regional breed association. The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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By BERNT NELSON Clemson University
Back to the Futures — Part IV Mitigating Risk as Price Takers This is the fourth article in the Back to the Futures series. In the previous article, the concept of cattle producers falling into the category of price takers was addressed. Carolina cattle producers and agricultural producers, in general, are in this category because they often do not have enough market share to overpower the influence of the natural competition in the cattle market. The result of falling on the side of price taker rather than price maker is being at the mercy of the natural competition of the market. Back to the Futures -- Part IV will introduce some of the tools price takers, including Carolina cattle producers,
can use to help mitigate market risk. There are two primary ways cattlemen can mitigate risk. One way is by modifying production practices. The other is by using marketing tools to protect price. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages. This article will discuss how these tools can be used by Carolina cattlemen and the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. Basis and Production Risk Management Practices - Basis, addressed in previous Back to the Futures articles, is the difference between today’s cattle cash price and today’s cattle futures price. Time, geography, and physiology are responsible
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The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
for the difference between futures prices and cash prices at any given point in time. Understanding basis is one of the price risk management tools that producers have. Understanding basis can tie into production risk management tools as well. Cattle producers can use historical basis data to identify trends such as times when basis is more positive (cash prices are trading at a premium to futures prices). This information can be used to market cattle at points in time that are likely to bring better prices due to a stronger (more positive) basis. Marketing during these times comes with its own set of trade offs. For example. February-May is a historically better time to market calves than September-December in South Carolina. If a producer who markets calves near weaning weight wishes to market his or her calves during months where basis is more friendly, calving season must be considered to bring calves to market at weaning weight during this time. Typically, calving season occurs in late winter and early spring. Late calving or fall calving during the months when basis is most negative leads to weaning calves during a time when basis is most positive. For example, a calving season during September-October leads to weaning dates in April-May, which historically has a more positive basis than other months. The two greatest disadvantages to fall calving are the lack of availability of good quality forage and the cost of feeding cow/calf pairs at a point in time that is between warm season and cool season forages. However, in most situations, fall calving yields greater net returns even with the additional feed costs (Henry, G. et. al. 2016). Hedging and Price Risk Management - Cattlemen and agricultural producers, in general, are often thought of as price takers. Price takers are individuals that must accept prices of a specific market. They do not have enough market share to influence the market price. Carolina cattle producers are price takers because of the natural competition of the cattle market. One tool Carolina cattlemen can use to mitigate price risk is to use the futures market to hedge. Hedging is a tool that decision makers of all kinds use to help protect against potential losses. Cattle is an agricultural commodity that has a corresponding futures market. Cattle producers can make purchases or sales in the futures market to “lock in” a price for a specific point in time in the future. There is a difference between hedging and trying to make a profit from price movement in the futures market. When a farmer takes a hedge position in the futures market, it means his or
her intent is to reduce risk or volatility associated with a movement in price. This can be compared to a speculation position. Speculating is an attempt to profit from a change in price. For example, a South Carolina producer has 60 animals he or she intends to sell in August of 2021 and sees that the price of August 2020 feeder cattle is at a level he or she can make a profit but is worried a price drop could reduce that profitability. If this producer took a position in the futures market to protect profitability from a price drop, this would be a hedge position. Wrap up - While Carolina cattle producers fall into the price taker category, there are tools available to help mitigate market risk. The risk management tools addressed in this article fall into two categories: price risk and production risk. Production risk management occurs when a producer adjusts his or her practices in production, such as adjusting calving dates to market calves during a time when basis is more favorable. Price risk management occurs when the producer takes actions to protect the profitability of his or her operation from price fluctuations. The price risk management tool addressed in Back to the Futures — Part IV is hedging using the futures markets. The next article will address the process of taking a hedging position and some of the risks and trade offs of taking this type of position in the futures market. References Henry, G.; Boyer, C.; Griffith, A.; Larson, J.; Smith, A.; & Lewis, K. (2016). Risk and Returns of Spring and Fall Calving for Beef Cattle in Tennessee. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 48(3), 257-278. doi:10.1017/aae.2016.11
Don’t put your cart before your horse...advertise that sale ahead of time! You’ll see positive results.
The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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BEEF TIPS
Top Five Genetic Selection Considerations for Cattlemen
Cattle producers are experiencing higher input costs and tighter profit margins. With the need to protect their bottom line, increase productivity, and improve sustainability outcomes, genetic selection tools and strategies offer a compelling path to help accomplish those goals. There are a variety of options and resources available for producers that are cost effective and relatively easy to implement in any herd. This article outlines some of those options which, alone or in combination, could benefit producers. The highlighted resources below: breeding objectives, crossbreeding, utilizing Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs), and/or genomics and physical selection tools, are a few examples to consider. Several thought leaders in cattle breeding and
selection contributed their ideas on the importance of incorporating these strategies or technologies. 1. Breeding Objective - Getting started, it is critical to have clear and achievable goals in mind. Are you looking to generate bulls for the commercial cattlemen, focus on heifer development, raise high growth cattle to be fed out, or possibly a combination of the three? The individuality and independent nature of cattle producers lend to numerous and varied ways by which to achieve the same goal. “A well formed breeding objective clearly sets production and marketing targets and identifies labor and environmental constraints,” said Dr. Matt Spangler, Extension Beef Genetics Specialist with the University of Nebraska. “Forming a breeding objective
helps identify economically relevant traits (ERT), those traits that have a direct cost or source of revenue associated with them.” As a cost effective way to connect to the target market, the breeding objective will help the producer decide which traits are most desirable for their program. Depending on the customer, certain traits and characteristics will have a greater importance. There are many factors that need to be considered when identifying a breeding objective. A producer will need to pinpoint the environment of their operation. Available resources, grazing seasons, and climate will determine the type of cattle a producer could raise. Additionally, analyzing the current performance, strengths, and weaknesses of a herd will assist when identifying a breeding objective. “A breeding objective, and identifying the associated ERT, helps producers narrow their focus when selecting sires to enable profitable genetic selection decisions,” Dr. Spangler concludes. Furthermore, deciding the target market will aid in making the right choices today to influence profitability in the future. 2. Crossbreeding - Crossbreeding is both a cost effective and impactful
strategy when looking to improve the efficiency and overall sustainability of a commercial herd. The heterosis or hybrid vigor of crossing two or more cattle breeds helps the breeder optimize a number of traits. Producers can achieve enhanced performance and get those extra pounds in an extremely cost effective method. “Crossbreeding, specifically leveraging the advantages of heterosis and breed complementarity, continues to be an important tool for beef producers to improve production efficiency and sustainability in their herds. The advantage of maternal heterosis offers substantial gains in reproductive performance of crossbred heifers and cows and extended production longevity,” said Dr. Bob Weaber, Professor and Extension Geneticist at Kansas State University. “The U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) estimates and others support an increase in weaning weight per cow exposed of more than 25 percent for F1 cross cows over their straightbred counterparts. Although many breeds have been selected towards common objectives, heterosis still exists among breeds and is only available to producers using crossbreeding systems.”
Contact these RAAC members to learn more about Red Angus genetics and how they can fit into your herd. HARDROCK BEEF CATTLE Ronnie & Donna Holman 4613 Hickory Nut Ridge Road • Granite Falls, NC 828-302-8659 ronnie@hardrockbeefcattle.com JK RED ANGUS Jeff Banfield & Madison Adams 331 Tee Jay Farm Road • Aberdeen, NC 910-315-3821 jkredangus@gmail.com LANGDON RED ANGUS & SIMMENTAL John & Eileen Langdon 7728 Raleigh Road • Benson, NC 919-796-5010 johnlangdon5@gmail.com ROGERS CATTLE COMPANY Johnny & Sharon Rogers 945 Woodsdale Road • Roxboro, NC 336-504-7268 rccbeef@gmail.com PRESNELL RED ANGUS Jonathan & Jacob Presnell 368 Whitaker Road • Shelby, NC 704-473-2627 (Jonathan) • 704-616-8775 (Jacob) BULL HILL RANCH Jim & Alvina Meeks • Raymond Prescott, Manager 1986 Trinity Church Road • Gray Court, SC 864-682-3900 • 864-682-2828 bullhill2@mindspring.com
Jerry Simpson, President - 704-302-2940 • simpson_jerry@msn.com
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COUNTRY BOY FARMS David Miller 316 Key Road • Edgefield, SC 706-840-3709
Producers should weigh the benefits of crossbreeding in reaching their breeding objectives against adding additional management when considering which crossbreeding system and breed inputs to utilize. Crossbreeding schemes may be simplified by starting with or purchasing crossbred females and using bulls of differing breeds, or potentially crossbred (often called hybrid or composite) bulls on those females. Many breeds now participate in multi-breed genetic evaluation systems, which could make bull evaluation less complicated. If selecting a breed that does not participate in the multi-breed evaluation approach, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center’s across breed adjustment table can be used to evaluate genetic inputs from different breeds. “Genetic improvement programs for beef cattle at the commercial level should include both a plan to leverage heterosis and breed complementarity as well as additive merit of parent stock selected using EPDs and Indexes within breed,” Weaber said. 3. Expected Progeny Differences and Indexes - Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) are a tool used to compare cattle within the same breed. With EPDs, a producer can forecast the genetic potential of an offspring based on the pedigree and performance of parents and other related cattle, paired with individual performance within an offspring’s contemporary group. Breed associations serve members as the collection base for performance data and subsequent EPD calculation because EPDs are breed and pedigree dependent. Serving as the hub of information, breed associations have different programs available for a producer to utilize when optimizing their use of EPDs. “EPDs are a powerful tool and should be used appropriately. Single trait selection can be very effective at changing a herd for that trait, but may have detrimental effects on other important traits,” said Extension genetics professor Dr. Darrh Bullock with the University of Kentucky. “For example, selecting for extreme milking ability would increase the milk production in replacement females, but if used in a marginal nutrition environment it would likely result in reduced reproductive performance. It is critical that bulls are selected for multiple traits simultaneously that meet the producer’s management, market, and environment needs.” The accuracy of EPDs is reliant on the number of offspring that parent has and the data reported on the offspring. Additionally, economic (often dollar based) indexes are available for many breeds. Indexes measure traits, or a
combination of traits, and combine those traits with economic values of production and/or market value contributing to that index. Indexes are a bit more complex but may simplify selection decisions if an index aligns well with program breeding objectives. EPDs and indexes provide more complete and more objective information than an individual weight measure, usually summarizing multiple data sources. They provide information which is much more accurate at defining value than could be achieved by visual appraisal. A large selection of EPDs and indexes are available, which allow producers to select for their ultimate objective, whether raising steers, replacement heifers, or generating breeding bulls. 4. Genomics and Genomically Enhanced EPDs - Genomics is a newer technology pairing DNA information and EPDs. Genomically enhanced EPDs address the challenge of determining specific genes an animal has inherited from its parents and how that influences relevant traits. This increases the predictability and accuracy of EPDs in young bulls or heifers who have not yet had a single calf, cutting down on the wait time for a producer to more accurately evaluate the genetic potential of calves. Genomic testing adds information for many traits that is equivalent to 10-25 offspring without ever having an offspring hit the ground. Additionally, testing is becoming more widely available for commercial or crossbred cattle applications. “Technology available to peer into and understand the bovine genetic code is evolving rapidly,” said John Genho, director of the Genetic Prediction Group at NEOGEN Genomics. “We are seeing more competitively priced selection tools come to market, like Envigor, which is designed to convey a solid estimate of hybrid vigor, or Igenity Feeder, that can inform feeder cattle value based on terminal traits.” Those who may still be skeptical of this new technology should seek out an extension genetics expert in your area or someone who has used this technology. This is a good way to ask questions and become more confident in genomic tools. Genomics and genomically enhanced EPDs are continuing to develop and improve. This evolving technology will grow in its continued use and become more cost effective with each passing day. 5. Phenotypic Selection - When developing a herd, a producer must consider how the physical attributes of their herd correlate with the environment. The physical characteristics of cattle give the producer an indicator of the practicality or longevity of the stock. There are many physical markers that
help determine if an animal is sound, healthy, and functional. Analyzing the herd’s body condition and structural integrity are necessary when building a mature cow herd. Innovative ways to measure and incorporate physical traits into EPDs are now emerging. Several breed associations have been developing ways for producers to implement this type of selection pressure into their herds. Kelli Retallick, director of genetic and genomic programs with Angus Genetics, Inc., said, “For many years breed associations have been able to do a fantastic job of creating tools to select for output traits like growth and carcass quality. Recently, the American Angus Association has set its sights on creating selection tools that go beyond the norm and focus on increasing the functional adaptability of cattle living in different environments. Whether it is using genetics to improve foot structure, hair shedding scores to increase heat and fescue tolerance of cattle in the Southeast, or pulmonary arterial pressure measurements to select animals that are more equipped to live in the mountain ranges of the Rockies, these tools can
provide cattlemen ways to better match genetics for their specific environment.” In addition to traditionally reported EPDs, breed associations are continually releasing new EPDs to assist breeders in making progress in phenotypic improvements. Examining a herd’s physical traits is as much of an art as it is a science, but new selection tools can help speed the progress of the discriminating cattlemen. Selecting cattle that are visually appealing and well suited to their environment can yield both input savings and market success, driving operational sustainability. In closing, producers who are managing a breeding herd should always look for methods to improve efficiency and increase profitability. Beginning with the end in mind has long been sage advice, no matter the endeavor. Leveraging genetic selection tools can provide a clear path to obtaining clearly defined breeding objectives. While a single silver bullet may not exist, producers have more tools available than ever before to aid their efforts and the flexibility to utilize any or all the provided resources to optimize herd performance.
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CERTIFIED HEREFORD BEEF NEWS Best Marketing Practices for Premium Meats Despite tough economic times for many Americans, consumer demand remains high for premium cuts of meat sold at grocery retail, and the nation’s top suppliers are rolling out new products to meet it. This summer, Tyson Fresh Meats, a division of Springdale, Ark., based Tyson Foods, celebrated the 20 th anniversary of its Chairman’s Reserve Meats, the company’s line of premium fresh beef and pork products. Around the same time, two products in the line, Premium Pork Tenderloin and Prime Pork Tenderloin received “heart healthy” certifications from the American Heart Association. More news from Tyson Fresh Meats and Chairman’s Reserve is on the horizon, said Ozlem Worpel, Tyson Fresh Meat’s director of fresh meats.
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“We have some exciting news in the works and can’t wait to share more when the time is right,” Worpel said. “We’re looking forward to continuing to provide the same robust dual tier, dual protein premium portfolio that customers and consumers trust for a consistent, exceptional eating experience.” Tyson Fresh Meats has seen an evolution in consumer behavior since the onset of COVID, Worpel said. And much of it is surprising. “While it’s true that some have been seeking out more affordable cuts of meat than they’d normally buy, consumers are also continuing to experiment with new-to-them brands and cuts of meat,” she said. “Additionally, people who miss dining out and are looking to elevate their in-home experience are turning to trusted brands like Chairman’s Reserve Meats to
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
deliver on that promise.” Shoppers are regaining confidence, Worpel added, that fresh meat will be in stock, and the industry seems to have entered a “new normal” as onceunfamiliar grocery shopping precautions become routine. “If this year has taught us anything, it’s that the future is unpredictable,” she said. “But what we do know is that the current situation won’t last forever. We’re looking forward to a bright future and continuing our partnership with retailers across the country to offer consumers the high quality, flavorful protein they demand.” Premium only - Arkansas City, Kan., based Creekstone Farms only sells premium products, and most of the company’s retail customers carry the full lineup from chucks to rounds, said Dan Stewart, marketing director. Creekstone’s product mix has been fairly steady in recent years, but as more and more consumers explore BBQ and smoking meats, demand for highly graded end cuts like short ribs, briskets, and skirts has increased at retail, Stewart said. Creekstone’s most recognized items sold at retail right now are ribeyes, filets, porterhouses, skirts, ribs, briskets, and signature blend ground beef, he added. One trend Creekstone is tapping into
more is value added, a category that has been an uptick in quality in recent years, Stewart said. “Especially overseas, the consumer wants to know the quality of the product hasn’t been impacted from source to shelf,” he said. “Creekstone has been continually investing in equipment and process to provide more retail ready items in steaks, ground beef, and ready-to-cook products and plans to further expand the line this coming year.” During COVID, demand for premium products temporarily took a backseat to demand for anything available, but as the industry has begun to emerge from pandemic restrictions, Creekstone is seeing a sharp increase in inquiries and demand for our premium products. “The consumer who learned about us through an e-commerce purchase or experienced our product at a restaurant, now wants that same level of quality week in and week out at retail,” he said. “They want a brand they can trust, with a reputation based on years of rigorous standards rather than brands that simply showed up during the pandemic with little or no authenticity.” People who choose to go out for a meal at a nice restaurant these days, Stewart added, aren’t doing it for a
mediocre steak and cheap experience. If they’re going to risk their health to venture out, they want to enjoy excellent customer service and a premium meal that they couldn’t get at home. In time, that behavior will translate to retail, he said. “We think that will change when consumers begin seeking out those higher quality products in their local retail stores to replicate those meals at home. Taste, flavor, reputation — they all play a factor in the customer’s selection at the meat case.” Meat counters get “adventurous” - It’s an exciting time in the industry for development of premium products, thanks to the creativity of suppliers and retailers alike, said Amari Seiferman, president and CEO of Kansas City, Mo., based Certified Hereford Beef. “We have seen meat counters becoming more adventurous in adding value and offering more pre-marinated and seasoned meat for meal kits, kebabs, and other products,” she said. “The industry also is getting more creative in the names used to merchandise products, which has garnered more attention for certain cuts.” Certified Hereford Beef’s brand lineup includes a full program of end cuts, middle meats, grinds, and patties. Certified Hereford also offers value added products, including deli meat, RTE prime rib, and beef franks. And the program supports its retail partners with an online partner portal and in-store support to help drive store sales. Seasonality is a driving force behind top sellers, Seiferman said. Other factors that play a role in sales include convenience, geography, and an understanding of how to prepare the product. In addition, meat is becoming more of an ingredient, and recipes and videos help show how easy and fun it is to work with the product. That point has really been driven home during the pandemic, Seiferman said. “Since there is an increase in eat-athome experiences, consumers want to feel confident they will have consistency with the meat they purchase,” she said. “Tight specifications with the Certified Hereford Beef program help provide that consistency and keep the consumer repurchasing and trying new product.” COVID has given consumers the opportunity to try different cuts as they work to recreate their favorite restaurant meals at home, Seiferman added. People are figuring out how to incorporate these cuts into their meals in unique and long lasting ways. “We anticipate this trend will continue as consumer education about meat has been enhanced and they have searched and
found new resources to help them in their journey of enjoying red meat.” Consumers also are becoming more engaged in where their meat comes from, and there has been an increase in the direct-from-farms movement, she added. That means that transparency at the meat department will continue to gain in importance. Pre rolls out center cut beef tenderloin - Chicago based Pre Brands, a provider of 100 percent grass fed and grass finished beef from Australia and New Zealand, is rolling out a premium cut just for the holidays. The company’s new Center Cut Beef Tenderloin Roast will be available nationwide. The product is 28 ounces with an SRP of $49.99. It comes with consumer tips for preparation, serving suggestions, and recipe ideas right on the package, such as Horseradish and Garlic Crusted Tenderloin and Tenderloin with a Classic Pan Sauce. “Whether consumers are spending holidays quietly with only immediate family or hosting a larger celebration, they’ll be craving something special this year,” said Kevin Ponticelli, chief executive officer of Pre Brands. “Culinary minded home cooks and better-for-you customers are interested in pursuing high end restaurant quality in their own kitchens. Pre Center Cut Beef Tenderloin is the premium centerpiece of the holiday dinner table.” Pre beef is farmed in Australia and New Zealand, where cows graze on thousands of acres of nutrient rich pastures year round. With a mild climate and lush pastures, Australia and New Zealand have the highest standards in the world for grazing and certification. Pre beef is cut, trimmed, or ground and packaged for nationwide distribution in Chicago. In the past several months, Ponticelli said, Pre has demonstrated not only resilience but also reliability. Since the pandemic began, the company has consistently delivered high quality product with minimal disruption, thanks to a strong supply chain. Pre has doubled capacity since February, with sales growth exceeding 130 percent year over year. Like all Pre beef, Pre Center Cut Beef Tenderloin Roast is 100 percent grass fed and finished, with no added hormones, antibiotics, or GMOs. Pre beef is packaged in airtight, completely transparent, vacuum sealed plastic that is 100 percent nitrate and BPA free. Pre beef is Halal compliant, Whole30 approved, certified paleo, and keto. Pre beef is available nationwide at grocers, specialty markets, club stores, and via e-commerce. Reprinted from the October edition of Supermarket Perimeter
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Hereford Thrives in an Uncertain Year. Despite the challenges of 2020, the American Hereford Association reports breed growth. In a year that was anything but predictable, Hereford breeders and the American Hereford Association (AHA) continued to add value to Hereford genetics. Year end reports shared during the Association’s recent annual meeting show their efforts paid off. “As the commercial industry has looked to add crossbreeding back into the programs to increase fertility, longevity, disposition — all the things that are known in Hereford cattle — it’s created a great opportunity for us,” says Jack Ward, AHA executive vice president. Ward reports the Association experienced increases in registrations and memberships this fiscal year, while sale averages climbed. “The real excitement within our breed and within
News
our membership is in its growth,” Ward says. “It’s seen growth because the breeders have been committed to genetic improvement and providing the tools necessary to make the changes to produce the type of product that their customer’s need and then, ultimately, the consumer. It’s all encompassing.” A drive for genetic improvement includes a focus on the female. The Association incorporated genomic information into its suite of maternal traits, and female genotypes accounted for almost 60 percent of the 25,000 genotypes submitted to the organization during the fiscal year.” I really think that speaks highly to our breeders’ commitment to really get the most of the females that they’re keeping,” says Shane Bedwell, AHA chief operating officer and director of breed improvement. “You’ll find about a 20-25 percent, up to a 30
percent, increase in those maternal traits in the last three years.” The Association also reports tremendous strides in other economically relevant traits, including carcass. “We’ve made incredible improvements in post weaning growth and end product merit,” Bedwell adds. “That’s evident in the amount of cattle that are now grading well in the Hereford breed.” Benefits in conversion and cost of gain have more producers utilizing the Association’s commercial programs – like Hereford Advantage – to add value to Hereford and Hereford influenced calves. Meanwhile, Certified Hereford Beef ® celebrated its 25th anniversary and another successful year. “No matter where you drive in the U.S., you find Hereford cattle. They’re adaptable. They work hard. They’re efficient,” Bedwell notes. “We need efficient cattle in these times and in our production system, and Hereford genetics thrive.” Ward adds, “Producers want it all and, with Herefords, you can ‘Come Home to Hereford,’ use good Hereford genetics, and take advantage of those opportunities.” Learn more about additional AHA
opportunities or news from AHA’s 2020 Annual Meeting at www.Hereford. org. You’ll find a series of highlights, including the presentation of more than $150,000 in scholarships, as well as breed honorees and other Hereford news. Virtual educational sessions covering topics from genomics to marketing are also available. Merck Animal Health, Neogen Corporation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and National Corn Growers Association were among major sponsors of the AHA Annual Membership Meeting and Conference. About the American Hereford Association. AHA, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the largest U.S. beef breed associations. The notfor-profit organization along with its subsidiaries — Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI), and the American Beef Records Association (ABRA) — provides programs and services for its members and their customers while promoting the Hereford breed and supporting education, youth, and research. For more information, visit www.Hereford.org.
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How Cold Is Too Cold for Dogs? Winter Pet Care Questions, Answered. A veterinarian advises on winter pet care, outlines steps to take should a pet experience frostbite. While some pets are naturally equipped for the cold weather, many are not. Learn more from Asitha Pillai, DVM, who is an emergency clinician with Oklahoma State University’s Veterinary Medical Hospital. Below, she shares answers to common questions pet lovers may have about winter pet care. How cold is too cold for dogs? It’s a common belief that pets can tolerate cold weather better than humans. When it is cold for us, it is cold for them. But if we can walk outside, they can also walk outside. However, your pet’s ability to tolerate cold weather can vary depending on their coat, fat stores, age, health status, and activity level. The time your dog spends outside during cold weather needs to be adjusted based on individual tolerance limits. If it is below freezing, let them outside only briefly for potty time. If
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you don’t see your pet for a few minutes after you come inside, be sure to double check he is safely inside the house. How can cold weather be harmful to my pet? Cold weather injuries are found more often on a pet’s extremities, meaning their tail, ear tips, and paws. Depending on the height of the dog and the level of snow, a dog’s belly also can be at risk for frostbite. Additionally, the salt used to melt snow and ice can cause irritation and pain when these chemicals come in contact with the cracks in your pet’s paws. And while any form of deicer chemical can be toxic, some can be life threatening. If you suspect that your dog or cat has been exposed to antifreeze, especially one containing ethylene glycol [the most life threatening of antifreeze chemicals], immediately take them to an emergency veterinary facility. How do I know if my pet has a cold weather injury? Pale, bluish, or greyish discoloration of the skin, pain, swelling, and injuries like blister formation are indications
there may be injury. Their legs also can be very stiff. When pets have frostbite, their body temperatures also can be low, putting them at risk for hypothermia. What should I do if my pet has frostbite? Cold weather injuries can be mild, or sometimes, they can be really serious injuries to a point we can see the paw pads or ear tips completely cut off from blood supply. If you fear your pet may have experienced a cold weather injury such as frostbite, take these steps immediately: 1. Bring pets inside where it is warm. 2. Remove any ice or snow from their paws. 3. Cover them with a warm blanket. 4. Call your primary or emergency care veterinarian. How should I care for “outside dogs?” While dogs should be kept inside most of the time during the winter, in the case that you have an outside dog, definitely provide them with a warm shelter, and make sure that their water is not frozen and that you have a heated pan for water. Are there special considerations for senior dogs or pets with medical conditions? Yes, be mindful of senior dogs with diseases, such as heart disease, kidney disease, Hypothyroidism, diabetes, or arthritis, because these diseases may reduce their ability to regulate body temperature. Arthritic dogs can become very stiff outside in the winter and may slip and fall. They also can experience more pain. Schedule a wellness exam with your primary care veterinarian to
ask important questions to help keep your senior dog comfortable, such as helping them maintain regular exercise, prevent pain and manage a normal body temperature. How do I keep cats safe during wintertime? It is important to keep in mind that cats will seek their own shelter during the cold weather, and one of the main shelters they will find is a warm car engine. They tend to hide underneath your car, or they will climb up and hide inside your hood, near the engine. By making noise or tapping the hood of your car, you can save their life, should they be tucked inside. Help ensure animals are safe during the cold weather ahead. Share Dr. Pillai’s advice above with your network of friends and family, and visit veterinarian founded ValleyVet.com to help protect pets against cold weather. About Valley Vet Supply. Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians to provide customers with the very best 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 hand selected by Valley Vet Supply founding veterinarians and their professional staff. With an inhouse 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 all things horse, livestock, and pet. For more information, please visit www.ValleyVet.com.
S.C. Charolais News By GEORGEANNE WEBB S.C. Charolais Association
It looks like we will have to postpone the bull sale until next year. Nobody seems to have any bulls left to consign. Bulls and heifers are selling like hotcakes off the farm right now. I only have a few yearlings, and no one else seems to have any left. This is a good problem to have right now. We will try again next year. Maybe by next year, there won’t be any foreign viruses trying to kill us all. Also, I do not trust politics this year as they may shut everything down again. I don’t put anything past anyone nowadays. The only thing I am worried about nowadays is running the tractors. My tractors do not run on fairy dust or unicorn sprinkles. As I am writing this, we had our first snow in two years. I sure hope this snow laying on the ground kills some of those fire ants. As you well know, fire ants, thistles, and hornets are my most hated things in the world. Forget murder hornets. I think all hornets are murder
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hornets because they all make me feel like I am going to die after I get stung. I haven’t gotten any reports of anyone else being sick at this time. Kyle Reeves is home, weak but doing better. He has a long way to go. I sure hope these vaccines work; however, I have not gotten mine yet. I can’t believe at age 68, I am too young for anything, but you have to be 70 in South Carolina, so I don’t qualify yet. I know a lot of folks are looking for bulls. Check with your closest Charolais breeder or call me. I will find you a bull somewhere. The same goes for heifers. They also seem to be in short supply, but I will find what you need somewhere. Check with your friends and neighbors to see if they are alright. You never know in this day and time who is home, afraid to get out, and needs some help. Keep your prayer list close to the bed at night, or you will do like me and forget someone who needs to be on there.
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Defense is the Best Offense Against Overeating Disease. Develop a strategic disease prevention game plan for your herd. Losing an animal is never easy, especially when it feels as if it happened out of the blue. One culprit may be enterotoxaemia, more commonly referred to as overeating disease. “Some cattle may show clinical signs of depression, go off feed, become lethargic, and possibly have scours, but most often overeating disease causes sudden death,” said D.L. Step, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. “It can be extremely challenging to diagnose and treat the disease before it’s too late, so it’s critical to have preventive measures in place.” Disease risk also depends on the type of operation or phase of production cattle are in. When developing a management and prevention game plan for your herd, consider the following strategies: Protect young calves in the nursing phase - Clostridial organisms are normally found in small numbers in a calf’s digestive tract. If a sudden or abrupt change in the animal’s environment occurs, such as a calf being separated from its dam for an extended period, the calf may consume an excess amount of milk when reintroduced to its dam. The clostridial organisms may then start to reproduce and release toxins that could be deadly to the calf.
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“When a calf is separated from their mother for a prolonged period of time, it is likely that the calf will over consume or gorge on milk when reunited,” said Dr. Step. “It’s crucial to manage nursing and minimize the amount of time a calf is separated from its mother to prevent overeating disease.” Monitor dietary changes in older cattle - “Overeating disease in older cattle is typically related to a higher carbohydrate or starch diet,” added Dr. Step. “High levels or quantities of carbohydrates can result in the proliferation of clostridial bacteria, producing potent toxins.” Dr. Step recommends introducing feeds gradually and being aware of diet consistency in order to prevent the disease. Defense is the best offense - To reduce the risk of fatalities caused by overeating disease, Dr. Step recommends vaccinating with a single dose, seven way clostridial vaccine. A single dose vaccine not only decreases labor costs and logistical challenges but also lessens stress on a herd. Vaccinating calves early in life will promote immunity to the toxin and protect calves. It is also recommended to vaccinate dams at pregnancy to help improve colostrum to get the calf off to a strong start. “Problems can occur when producers
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stop vaccinating their cattle against clostridial diseases. It is easy to become more relaxed about preventive health protocols following a period without observing the disease,” continued Dr. Step. “With death usually being the first clinical sign of the disease, it is critical to continue vaccinations to keep your herd protected.” Calves vaccinated under three months of age should be revaccinated at weaning or four to six months of age. Work with your veterinarian to create a prevention plan that fits your operation’s management style. About Boehringer Ingelheim. Improving the health and quality of life of patients is the goal of the research driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer
Ingelheim. The focus in doing so is on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company, therefore, concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients’ lives. In animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim stands for advanced prevention. Boehringer Ingelheim is the second largest animal health business in the world. We are committed to creating animal well being through our large portfolio of advanced, preventive healthcare products and services. With net sales of $4.4 billion and around 10,000 employees worldwide, we are present in more than 150 markets. For more information, visit www.boehringeringelheim.com/animal-health/overview.
Simmental News ASA 53rd Unprecedented Virtual Annual Meeting and Reception. Simmental and SimGenetic enthusiasts attended ASA’s 53rd Annual Meeting and Reception virtually. The ASA Board of Trustees met January 28-29 to highlight each committee’s work from the previous year, most notably, the increase in whole birth group phenotypes and genotypes into the IGS Genetic Evaluation from the Calf Crop Genomics research project, members’ unfailing support of the 2020 National Classic in Brookings, S.D., the membership relief package, and a myriad
of other committee projects. During the annual Chairman’s Reception on January 29, Randy Moody of New Market, Ala., was formally seated as Chairman of the Board, succeeding Tim Curran of Ione, California. Also seated were Vice Chairman Barry Wesner of Chalmers, Ind., and Treasurer Steve Eichacker of Salem, South Dakota. Rounding out ASA’s five member Executive Committee are J.W. Brune of Overbrook, Kan., and Tom Nelson of Wibaux, Montana. Elected to the ASA Board of Trustees were Brandon Callis of Minco, Okla.; Tim Clark of Turtle Lake, N.D.; Chad Cook of Walsh, Colo.; Victor Guerra of Linn, Tex.; Chris Ivie of Summertown, Tenn.; and Doug Parke of Paris, Kentucky. Three men, all of whom served on the ASA Board of Trustees, including terms as Board Chairman, were honored as this year’s Golden Book Award recipients: Gordon Hodges of Hamptonville, N.C.; Steve Reimer of Chamberlain, S.D.; and Fred Schuetze of Granbury, Texas. About the American Simmental Association. Founded in 1968, ASA 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, along with its partners, formed International Genetic Solutions — the world’s largest genetic evaluation of beef cattle. Learn more at www.simmental.org.
THE SIMMENTAL TRAIL
By JENNIE RUCKER Executive Secretary N.C. Simmental Association Hodges is Recipient of 2021 Golden Book Award. Although this year’s American Simmental Association’s (ASA) annual meeting was live streamed, it was still a very important moment for long time N.C. Simmental producer, Gordon Hodges. Gordon was awarded the highest honor given by the ASA, the Golden Book Award on January 29. This award is actually given by the World Simmental-Fleckvieh Federation and honors those who have made significant contributions to the Simmental breed. Gordon has served as a Trustee for the ASA for a total of 13 years. He has served as Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Breed Improvement Committee. He worked on FOCUS 2000 back in 1992, which helped define the future direction of the ASA. Gordon first became interested in Simmental genetics in 1970 with his
father, Jimmie. Gordon became a member of the ASA in 1974 and established Pineview Farms. He has been an officer of both the N.C. Simmental Association and the N.C. Angus Association. In his early career, he served as a sale manager operating Virginia-Carolina Livestock Service. For the past 14 years, he has been Genetic and Marketing Manager of Gibbs Farms located in Ranburne, Alabama. Under his guidance, Gibbs Farms has become one of the largest Simmental and SimAngus operations in the nation. They currently have 800 cows, and Gordon has about 60 head in a management partnership with Gibbs. Gordon is a strong proponent of scientific improvement of beef cattle through genetic research and was heavily involved with the successful International Genetic Solutions (IGS). He is a graduate of N.C. State University and is married to
American Simmental Association 1 Genetics Way • Bozeman, MT 59718 406-587-4531 • www.simmental.org
Gordon Hodges received the Golden Book Award from the ASA in January.
Melissa. They have two children, Spencer and Juliana, and one granddaughter, Sloane. Congratulations to Gordon Hodges on your Golden Book Award! Jim Graham Junior Simmental Scholarship. It’s not too early to be thinking about applying for the Jim Graham Junior Simmental Scholarship. This is a $500 scholarship that goes to the most deserving student who is planning to major in agriculture or an agricultural
related field. We have a committee that looks over the scholarships and decides which applicant will receive the scholarship funds. Qualifications are based on academic merit, financial need, leadership, and character. Preference is given but is not required to those students that have been involved in the Simmental breed. We like for the recipient to be available to be presented with the award at our Annual Meeting in September. This year the Annual Meeting will be held on September 3. These applications can be obtained by emailing the NCSA office at ncsa@ yadtel.net or calling at 336-468-1679. The applications are not due until July 15. Simmental Sales. For those discerning producers who are interested in purchasing either a bull or females from N.C. Simmental Association members, but cannot wait until our Fall Harvest Sale on September 4, please give the NCSA office a call. I have a listing of producers who have told me what they have for sale, and I can connect you to the right person for your Simmental genetic needs. Please call the office at 336-4681679 or email ncsa@yadtel.net. Don’t miss out on the chance to put Simmental genetics to work in your herd!
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1341 US Hwy 21 • Hamptonville, NC 27020 336-468-1679 • www.ncsimmental.com • NCSA@yadtel.net The Carolina Cattle Connection
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Fred Smith — Newly Elected NCBA Policy Regional Vice President At the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association virtual Winter Business Meeting, the states making up NCBA Region ll elected Fred Smith Jr., from Clayton, N.C., to the position of Region ll Vice President for Policy during their regional caucus. The vision of NCBA is to be the trusted leader and definitive voice of the U.S. cattle and beef industry. As an organization, NCBA strives to improve the business climate for producers, grow beef demand, and increase the world’s access to beef. Throughout their three year terms, NCBA Regional Vice Presidents serve as chair of their regional membership committee. Regional Vice Presidents play a critical role in coordinating regional member activities. They also coordinate regional activities and communications with the Federation Division Regional Vice Presidents from their respective regions. “I’m looking forward to working with farmers and ranchers in Region II and supporting NCBA to create a better business climate for cattle industry
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on adding value to the commercial farmer and providing beef to local consumers. Smith’s attention to quality and his passion for helping add value to his community is grown from his great respect for cattle and his commitment to be a good steward of what God has provided. That respect has been handed down from generation to generation. Fred is an active member of the beef industry on both a state and national level. In 2019 he served as NCBA’s Policy Division Director and has held various
producers while building demand for beef customers,” said Smith. Smith was born and raised in Raleigh, N.C., and received his law degree from Wake Forest University. Fred began raising cattle in the 1970s. He currently owns and runs FSC Ranch in Clayton, N.C., a seedstock cattle ranch that implements genetic engineering to produce proven sires. FSC Ranch focuses
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leadership roles within the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association. Fred is also an active member of the N.C. Simmental Association and the American Simmental Association. In addition to his involvement in the cattle industry, Fred has served in a variety of leadership roles within North Carolina. He served as a state senator from 20022008 and currently serves as a member of the Johnston County Commission. For more information about the work of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, visit www.ncba.org.
You shouldn’t have to have a gun held to your head to take advantage of the expert A.I., superior genetics, the best in purebreds and outstanding farm supplies featured in the Classifieds in this issue!
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New NCCA Members for 2021 In 2007, members of the Membership Committee passed a resolution to recognize all NEW members of the NCCA in The Carolina Cattle Connection at the NCCA Annual Conference in Hickory. A new member is defined as someone who has never been a member or someone who has rejoined after a brief break in membership. The new members are identified in this new members section by name and county of residence. Below is a list of NCCA’s new members for the last month: Out-of-State John Risner - New York
Caswell County Stephen Baldwin – Baldwin Family Farms
Rockingham County Kristen Norwood – Norwood Meador Farms
Catawba County Jason Lackey – Foggy Creek Farms
Pitt County Ted Allen Jerry, Harold, & Sam Flanagan – Country Square Ranch Brian Wood
Clay County Bob Plaszcz
Robeson County Nicolas Negrin - UNCP
Yadkin County Willie Ashe
Davidson County Brittany Lookabill Skeen – Lookabill Family Livestock Duplin County Dekalb Wells – Wells & Sons, Inc.
Bladen County Dennis Mize – Carlton Farms
Greene County H. G. Fields, III Roger Jones – Sandy Run Farm Steven Jones – Jones & Jones Swine Kirby Letchworth – Letchworth Farm Rory Wood – R. A. Wood Farms
Buncombe County Martin Morgan – Morgan Branch Red Angus
Henderson County Michael Capps – Long Branch Farms
Caldwell County Bradley Barbee – Bar-B Farms Chris Mann
Johnston County Reid Smith – Wilders Farm
Bertie County Charles Harden – Clovergrass Produce
Warren County Brandon Pernell – Pernell Farms LLC
Carolina Video and Load Lot Monthly Summary (Weeks ending JANUARY 5 & JANUARY 19, 2021)
Carolina Video and Load Lot Monthly Summary of Southeast Livestock Exchange and Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales ending Tuesday, JANUARY 5, 2021, and Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales ending Tuesday, JANUARY 19, 2021. All cattle in this report are located in North Carolina and South Carolina. Prices FOB the farm or local scale and many weighed with a 0-2 percent shrink and sold with a 5-10¢ per pound slide on the heavy side only.
Cattle Receipts: 1,890
Last Month: 1,529
Feeders made up 100 percent of the offering. The feeder supply included 65 percent steers and 35 percent heifers. Nearly 94 percent of the run weighed over 600 pounds. Head totals are based on load lot estimate of 49,500 pounds. Head 115
Wt. Range 850-850
FEEDER STEERS (Medium 1) Avg. Wt. Price Range Avg. Price 850 $124.75 $124.75
Delivery
Head 27 50 75 66 32 64 122 120 60 61 107
Wt. Range 625-625 650-650 650-650 740-740 760-760 765-765 800-800 820-820 825-825 850-850 915-915
FEEDER STEERS (Medium 1-2) Avg. Wt. Price Range Avg. Price 625 $125.25 $125.25 650 $130.50 $130.50 650 $138.25 $138.25 740 $131.00 $131.00 760 $141.00 $141.00 765 $136.00 $136.00 800 $135.00 - $140.25 $137.63 820 $121.50 $121.50 825 $138.00 $138.00 850 $136.00 $136.00 915 $121.00 $121.00
Delivery Split Loads Split Loads Natural Natural Split Loads Value Added Value Added Natural Value Added Value Added
Head 61 60 58 159
Wt. Range 800-800 825-825 850-850 925-925
FEEDER STEERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Avg. Wt. Price Range Avg. Price 800 $136.50 $136.50 825 $130.75 $130.75 850 $132.00 $132.00 925 $116.75 $116.75
Head 90 27 78 25 34 68 68 68 61
Wt. Range 550-550 575-575 630-630 650-650 710-710 720-720 725-725 725-725 800-800
Head 66 68
Wt. Range 740-740 765-765
Delivery Value Added
FEEDER HEIFERS (Medium 1-2) Avg. Wt. Price Range Avg. Price Delivery 550 $128.00 $128.00 Guaranteed Open 575 $115.25 $115.25 Split Loads 630 $124.00 $124.00 Natural 650 $120.50 $120.50 Split Loads 710 $135.00 $135.00 Split Loads 720 $121.00 $121.00 Natural 725 $132.00 $132.00 February Value Added 725 $121.00 $121.00 Guaranteed Open 800 $122.75 $122.75 FEEDER HEIFERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Avg. Wt. Price Range Avg. Price Delivery 740 $121.25 $121.25 Guaranteed Open 765 $122.75 $122.75 Guaranteed Open
Source: N.C. Dept. of Agriculture - USDA Market News Service, Raleigh, N.C. - 919-707-3156
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The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
The Carolina Cattle Connection
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Cattlemen’s Beef Board Update By GREG HANES, CEO
Beef Checkoff — What Have You Done For Me Lately? When it comes to relationships, people can be fickle. On the one hand, it’s often easier to remember a decades old answer to “Does this shirt make me look fat?” than the kindness from the day before. On the other hand, trust grown over the years can quickly be forgotten due to society’s “what have you done for me lately” mentality. Even within the beef industry, it’s tempting to view the 35-year-old Checkoff with skepticism. But if you look at the many value added ways it serves producers’ interests, you may come away with a different perspective. Here are just a few of the things that Beef Checkoff contractors have delivered over the past few months: Consumer Trust • Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner’s. “United We Steak” campaign reached more than 283 million consumers through paid advertising, social media, earned media, and influencer outreach. • A Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. video series featured feedyard manager Tom Fanning showing Chef Kathryn Mathis how cattle are cared for at feedyards. • Two live stream events educated
Regular copy deadline is MARCH 5 for the APRIL issue!
Is there a problem? PAGE 42
more than 1,000 educators on how beef production provides an excellent context for middle school and high school science. • Webinars hosted by nutritionist Marianne Smith Edge provided insights to Northeast dietitians about consumers during the pandemic and sustainable food systems. • Six new blogs were posted on www.VealFarm.com, including one by meat scientist Janeal Yancey, Ph.D., from the University of Arkansas, addressing veal and meat safety. • Meat Demand Monitor research revealed what post-COVID vaccine consumer behavior might look like, helping the Checkoff determine the best future use of producer dollars. Export Growth • Tracking efforts revealed November beef exports were up 6 percent from a year ago (largest since July 19), and export values climbed 8 percent year over year. • Market development programs paid dividends in November as U.S. beef exports to China were up 700 percent from a year ago. • Beef export value averaged $338.43 per head of fed slaughter (Nov20); 14.8 percent of total beef produced in the U.S. during this time was exported, much of which was underutilized cuts not popular in the United States. Innovation • The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. holiday “drool log” commercial ran more than 50 times on the Hallmark Channel last month. • The #WienerWednesday campaign on TikTok received more than 27 million views. Investor Relations • The Drive print and e-newsletter now reaches nearly 100,000 producers with details about how the Checkoff dollar drives beef demand. Nutrition & Health • Registered dietitians, nutritionists, and nurses are advocating beef’s role in a healthy diet and affirming prepared beef’s role as a balanced protein source. • The “Guide to Meat Processing for the Nutrition Community” helped health
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
and nutrition experts advise about dietary needs and provided valuable details about meat consumption and processing. • A new study showed that beef consumption is positively associated with better mental health; the companion article has been downloaded more than 50,000 times by health and nutrition experts. Research • The Meat Demand Monitor issued its first ever multi-month report providing insight into consumer purchasing behaviors, demand, and consumption during the pandemic. • The Sustainability Research & Scientific Affairs program completed an update to its beef environmental lifecycle assessment in 2020; findings will be published in 2021. Safety • More than 75 Beef Quality Assurance educators attended a virtual
event to learn about meat quality, biosecurity, foreign material avoidance, and international trade from industry experts. • The Veal Quality Assurance program provided U.S. veal farms with a clipboard outlining best management practices for calf health, nutrition, and handling. • At the annual Antibiotic Symposium, beef producers collaborated with veterinarians, animal health professionals, and animal ag leaders on how to become better stewards of antibiotics while combating antimicrobial resistance. So, what has the Checkoff dollar done lately? As you can see, quite a bit. And the best part? 2021 is just getting started! To learn more about Checkoff programs, projects, and resources, visit www.DrivingDemandForBeef.com.
S.C. Beef Council News By ROY COPELAN The mid-year NCBA meeting was held recently by zoom and conference calls. The leadership of NCBA reviewed the goals and objectives of this unusual year of doing business. All the working committees reviewed their game plan as to the NCBA policy priorities for 2021. The overall conclusion was the U.S. beef industry needs to be vigilant and maintain a competitive posture. The 2021 Annual NCBA Convention and Trade Show will take place August 10-12 in Nashville, Tennessee. Mark your calendar and plan on attending. Additional details will be available at a later date. The S.C. Beef Council continues to promote beef at retail, food service, and consumer levels each week. Things are a lot different than in years past. The council will be participating in the annual S.C. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Meeting in Columbia on April 6. Also, plans are developing to celebrate June as Beef Month here in South Carolina. A new Summer Grilling brochure will be printed and ready for distribution. Have you renewed your memberships in your county cattlemen’s organization, state association, and on the national level? This is the time for your commitment to your beef commodity and the grassroots participation of individual cattle producers. For a cost of less than $250, you can continue to be a member of all three groups! Stay safe, healthy, and continue to check on others. Until next month…
Beef Promotion and Research Program
PRIVATE TREATY SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM Information is required by (7 CRF 1260.201). Failure to report can result in a fine. Information is held confidential (7 CRF 1260.203).
Today’s Date: ________________ Seller’s Name: ____________________________
Buyer’s Name: ____________________________
Address: _________________________________
Address: _________________________________
City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: ______
City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: ______
Seller’s Signature: _________________________
Buyer’s Signature: _________________________
Both the seller & the buyer are responsible for making sure that the $1.50 per head assessment is collected and remitted to the Beef Promotion & Research Board.
Total Number of Cattle Sold: ___________________ x $1.50 Per Head = $ _______________________ Date of Sale: __________________
Person remitting assessment form:
Seller
o
Buyer
o
* State of Origin of Cattle: ______________________
* If the cattle purchased came from another state within the last 30 days, indicate from which state the cattle were purchased.
Send Report and Remittance to:
SOUTH CAROLINA BEEF COUNCIL P.O. Box 11280 Columbia, SC 29211 According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0093. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1.8 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disbility, sexual orientation, marital or family status, political beliefs, parental status, or protected genetic information. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The Carolina Cattle Connection
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NCBA Cattle Producers to Work with Biden Administration to Demonstrate Cattle Production is a Solution to Climate Concerns. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) recently issued the following statement in response to the executive orders from the Biden Administration addressing climate change and sustainability in the U.S. agriculture sector: “NCBA looks forward to working with President Biden and his Administration as they recognize the positive role agriculture plays in addressing climate concerns. United States cattle producers use advanced technologies, genetics, and grazing management to make their herds the most sustainable in the world,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “We appreciate the outreach and opportunity to provide feedback, demonstrating
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News
U.S. cattle producers are the model for global, sustainable beef production. As the administration works to carry out these executive orders, NCBA remains committed to ensuring that cattle producers have the resources and freedom they need to continue producing the world’s most sustainable beef.” NCBA Delivers House Introduction of Bipartisan DIRECT Act. NCBA recently hailed the introduction of bipartisan legislation to create new opportunities for cattle producers and processors to market beef products. Introduced by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R - At-Large, S.D.) and Henry Cuellar (D - 28th Dist., Tex.), the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act of 2021 would allow retail quantities of meat processed under state inspection to be sold across state lines through
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
e-commerce, providing beef producers and local processors alike with more options to market direct-to-consumers. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted an urgent need for our industry to expand opportunities for state inspected meatpackers. NCBA acted quickly last year, advocating to allow more beef to be safely sold online across state lines. The DIRECT Act will allow cattle producers and smaller beef processors to more easily evolve to meet the growing demand for e-commerce sales,” said NCBA Policy Division Chair and South Dakota rancher Todd Wilkinson. “Thank you to Representatives Johnson and Cuellar for recognizing the shifts in an ever changing market and introducing this critical legislation.” Background - Currently, many states such as South Dakota and Texas have State Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) as “at least equal to” standards set under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA). Under the existing framework, however, state inspected products can only be sold
interstate if approved to do so under the Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program (CIS). The DIRECT Act would amend the retail exemption under the FMIA and PPIA to allow processors, butchers, or other retailers to sell normal retail quantities (300 lbs of beef, 100 lbs of pork, 27.5 lbs of lamb) of MPI State Inspected Meat online to consumers across state lines. Because transactions authorized under the DIRECT Act sales are direct to consumer via e-commerce, sales are traceable and can easily be recalled. The proposal also includes clear prohibitions on export, keeping our equivalency agreements with trading partners intact. The DIRECT Act will allow states operating under the CIS system to ship and label as they are currently. NCBA’s Winter Reboot Featured Unique Educational Sessions. The 2021 Cattle Industry Convention Winter Reboot was a two day virtual event held February 23-24, featuring 15 unique educational sessions. The title sponsor of the event was Corteva Agriscience. The Winter Reboot kicked off each day with general sessions followed by a series of educational sessions. Day one
included a two part General Session, sponsored by Central Life Sciences, featuring NCBA CEO Colin Woodall and NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane, who discussed the state of the cattle industry and expectations in Washington, D.C., over the next four years. Part two included a D.C. issues update where NCBA’s Washington D.C. staff shared their work and the conversations they are having on both sides of the aisle to fight for the interests of U.S. cattle producers. The General Session on day two featured a market update presented by CattleFax and sponsored by Zoetis and Purina Animal Nutrition. “During the Winter Reboot, producers not only had an opportunity to hear from some of the leading experts in topics that impact their cattle operations every day, but they also had the chance to interact
with those experts and ask questions,” said NCBA Executive Director of Producer Education & Sustainability Josh White. “The wide variety of sessions offered something for every producer and this virtual experience provided vital industry updates and education.” The Winter Reboot experience also featured a Cattlemen’s College convention preview with Jayson Lusk, Ph.D., titled “The COVID Effect. Are Consumers Still Hungry for Beef?”, sponsored by Zoetis. Winter Reboot attendees learned more about genetics and reproduction. John Genho and Darrh Bullock, Ph.D., led a session to help cattlemen and women navigate how to best invest resources in making wise decisions that drive positive, productive change, including how to best utilize EPDs, selection indexes, genomics, crossbreeding, and
N.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of JANUARY 2021 Cattle Receipts: 13,237
•
Previous Month: 13,153
Feeder supply - 29% steers • 43% heifers • 28% bulls SLAUGHTER CLASSES
Avg. Wt. Price Cows - % Lean Breaker 1,516 $56.18 Boner 1,217 $56.75 Lean 1,051 $49.87
Bulls - Yield Grade 1-2
1,696
$83.94
FEEDER CLASSES
FEEDER STEERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 422 $143.25 $604.52 450-500 472 $139.54 $658.63 500-550 523 $135.68 $709.61 550-600 574 $130.45 $748.78 600-650 624 $123.22 $768.89 650-700 668 $118.80 $793.58
FEEDER BULLS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 423 $143.69 $607.81 450-500 470 $134.38 $631.59 500-550 522 $127.01 $662.99 550-600 571 $120.82 $689.88 600-650 623 $109.64 $683.06 650-700 669 $104.86 $701.51
FEEDER HEIFERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 421 $125.38 $527.85 450-500 470 $121.78 $572.37 500-550 522 $115.30 $601.87 550-600 569 $109.51 $623.11 600-650 622 $103.36 $642.90 650-700 670 $99.35 $665.65
Source: N.C. Dept. of Agriculture - USDA Market News Service, Raleigh, N.C. - 919-707-3156
other decision making tools. Anna Taylor, Ph.D., and Dusty Abney, Ph.D., discussed the value of appropriate nutrition through targeted and strategic supplementation during the different stages of reproduction to improve producers’ short and long term goals. These sessions were sponsored by Neogen and Cargill, respectively. Attendees were able to dive deeper into the topic of sustainability through a session with Jason Sawyer, Ph.D., and Myriah Johnson, Ph.D. They provided an overview of the latest, science based information supporting beef’s critical role in a sustainable food system. This session was sponsored by Diamond V. Other educational topics featured during the Winter Reboot included a discussion sponsored by Popular Ag Finance, with Dan Childs and Jason Bradley from the Nobel Research Institute discussing how to market cattle with the intention to add value. Attendees also learned more about technology tools being used by every sector of the cattle industry from Justin Sexten, Ph.D., and Jacob Gilley. This session was sponsored by Fort Supply Technologies. NCBA Washington, D.C., team members Danielle Beck, Allison Rivera, and Kaitlynn Glover led a discussion
on how to build and maintain working relationships with Congress, sponsored by Norbrook. Kansas Cattleman and Veteran Jerry Bohn Becomes New NCBA President. NCBA recently concluded its virtual Winter Business Meeting with the election of Jerry Bohn, a cattle producer from Wichita, Kan., as NCBA president. Bohn, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, has been a part of the cattle industry his entire life. Bohn has had an expansive career in the cattle industry since his early days of custom grazing cattle with his family in Flint Hills, to his time on Kansas State University’s award winning livestock judging team, and eventually serving 34 years as the manager of Pratt Feeders, a commercial cattle feeding operation in his home state of Kansas. He has also dedicated his time as a leader for several state level associations, using his expertise and experiences to mentor the next generation of industry advocates. “As I look forward to this year as NCBA president, I have immense pride for the cattle industry and our dues paying
Continued on the next page
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q MARCH 2021
PAGE 45
NCBA News continued from the previous page members that help to make this the leading cattle organization representing U.S. producers,” said Bohn. “Becoming president is my greatest honor and opportunity to give back to the industry that made me who I am today and for that I am forever grateful.” Bohn’s term as president, along with a new officer team, was approved by NCBA’s board of directors. Don Schiefelbein of Minnesota was named president elect, Todd Wilkinson of South Dakota was elected vice president. Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele was elected chair of the NCBA Policy Division, and Nebraska cattle producer Buck Wehrbein was elected policy vice chair. Clay Burtrum of Oklahoma and Brad Hastings of Texas were elected as chair and vice chair of the NCBA Federation Division, respectively. “I have heard quite a few producers in the past year say if you want to get something done in Washington, D.C., in agriculture, you better do it with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, or it is not going to get done. This is the greatest testament to the grassroots power of our members and state affiliates. It is why I am so proud to represent NCBA
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as President and it is the reason I get up every day, ready to fight for the American producer.” NCBA Works to Improve Business Climate for Cattle Producers with 2021 Policy Priorities. Recently, the executive committee of NCBA approved the organization’s top 2021 policy priorities with a continued focus on advocating for a business climate that increases opportunities for producer profitability. “There is no doubt the past year has been difficult for cattle producers and it’s crucial that we work to implement sound policy and focus our attention on the legislative and regulatory areas that will give U.S. cattle producers the most added value,” said NCBA President Jerry Bohn. “I am looking forward to collaborating with volunteer leadership, state affiliates, and stakeholders across the country to tackle the most pressing issues facing our industry.” NCBA’s policy priorities for the coming year demonstrate several pressing issues facing farmers and ranchers, including: • Price discovery and transparency in cattle markets is a concern for NCBA members and is a priority for
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
the organization, along with ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts. • NCBA will continue to ensure that all alternative plant based or cell grown protein products are labeled truthfully, and their ingredients are fully represented. • NCBA is committed to protecting those in the cattle industry while strengthening the beef supply chain to meet the growing demand for U.S. beef. The removal of non-tariff barriers to increase worldwide markets for U.S. beef will also remain a priority for the organization. NCBA remains committed to working closely with Congress and the Biden Administration to emphasize the U.S. cattle industry is the global model for sustainable beef production and its commitment to environmental stewardship, along with engaging on the regulatory policies, including the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), that promote stability and continuity for cattle producers that face uncertainty every day. “This framework of policy priorities is one of the most important documents approved each year. It provides direction to our staff guidance for meeting the
needs of our members. The focus on improving the business climate for producers hits especially close to home for me, because I was born into the cattle business and I want to do my part, defending our industry and legacy – not just for the multi-generational producers but also newer producers that might only have a few calving seasons or sale barn trips under their belts.” More detailed information about NCBA’s 2021 Policy Priorities can be found on the next page. To read NCBA’s full 2021 Policy Book, which includes all the organization’s detailed policy positions, visit www.policy.ncba.org/ Media/Policy/Docs/2021-ncba-policybook2_01-04-2021-73.pdf. 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.
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CHUCK
SHANK
CHUCK
BRISKET
RIB
PLATE
RIB
LOIN
SIRLOIN
ROUND SHANK
FLANK
LOIN
SIRLOIN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
ROUND
INGEDIENT CUTS
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
LEAN
BRISKET LEAN
LEAN
PLATE & FLANK LEAN
LEAN
KEY TO RECOMMENDED COOKING METHODS GRILL or BROIL PAN BROIL/ SKILLET
BRAISE/ POT ROAST
LEAN
These cuts meet the government guidelines for lean, based on cooked servings, visible fat trimmed
ROAST
INDIRECT GRILLING
SKILLET TO OVEN
* MARINATE BEFORE COOKING FOR BEST RESULTS
A cut of cooked fresh meat is considered ‘lean’ when it contains less than 10 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat, andless tahn 95 mg of cholesterol per 100 grams(3½ oz) and per RACC (Reference Amount Customarily Consumed), which is 85 grams (3 oz.)
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STIR-FRY
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
NCBA
President’s Report By MARTY SMITH
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Cattle Producers — Constantly Driving Forward As I look back on my year as president, while it certainly didn’t go as planned, one of the things I’m most proud of is that our members and this organization didn’t sit down and quit. We got to work because that’s what we do best. I am proud of our response to the pandemic. Many of our producers faced seemingly impossible situations, and NCBA acted quickly to engage USDA and the Administration for support and relief. We pushed USDA to expand their market investigation to ensure that all parties were acting legally in a market that was under intense pressure. At the same time, we worked to ensure agricultural enterprises were included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which resulted in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) being released. This program included $19 billion in direct support to agricultural producers, and when NCBA members experienced problems with how CFAP payments were calculated, we lobbied for and delivered a second and soon-tobe third round of CFAP payments to help
producers get closer to being made whole. In many of these cases, we got results the same day of our asks, showing our level of influence in Washington. As we worked on the issues created by the pandemic, NCBA also made significant progress on the policy priorities we set in February 2020. After NCBA worked for years to update the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the improvements we fought for became law. We also saw the defeat of environmental activist groups in court after they attempted to challenge the positive improvements made to NEPA. NCBA fought for more than five years to replace the ill conceived 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule with the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, which was finalized this year and includes critical exemptions for cattle producers. Shortly after Christmas, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee finalized the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). These guidelines recognize what we already know: that beef has a role as part of a healthy diet. For the next five years, the DGAs will be a primary resource used to set nutrition
guidelines for federal meal programs and provide direction for nutrition and health professionals. During the past year, NCBA worked to ensure a fair and transparent process and, because of that work, beef will remain at the center of the plate in school lunch programs and elsewhere. In any other year, we would all be gearing up for the annual Cattle Industry Convention and taking a victory lap to celebrate our accomplishments. Unfortunately, while there is a lot of promise for 2021, we are still working to regain normalcy. All of you have heard by now that the convention was moved to August, and we hosted the virtual Winter Reboot in February to stay connected and learn about important industry topics. When I took over as NCBA president at the last convention in San Antonio, I did not know I was about to lead cattle producers through one of the toughest times of my generation. No one could have predicted what we as an industry were about to face, but I have never turned down a challenge, and I knew that I had a duty to guide our industry into
2021 Spotlight Issues Schedule Most of the breed associations in North and South Carolina have stepped forward and renewed their contracts for Spotlight sections in The Carolina Cattle Connection for 2021. If your breed is not featured as a Spotlight section and you would like to inquire on any open months please feel free to contact me. Below is the tentative schedule for the upcoming year.
2021 Reserved Spotlight Issues
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Check out the expert A.I, superior genetics, fine purebreds and terrific farm supplies offered!
more certain times. I want to give credit to all our members and this association for buckling down and continuing to produce beef. Before becoming president, I made it one of my goals to aggressively communicate the work NCBA does as the trusted leader and definitive voice of the U.S. beef industry, and this year we did just that. We put our member driven policy process on display at the Summer Business Meeting. We delivered on our policy priorities and will soon be releasing new ones. NCBA, like cattle producers, constantly drives forward no matter what. This was a hard year, but as producers, we showed the world our grit, and we came through this stronger for it. It has been my honor to serve as your president this past year. I want to thank all our members, state affiliates, and NCBA’s volunteer leadership for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime. You are what makes this association strong. I am more encouraged than ever by where this organization is headed. I look forward to seeing you all in person later this year.
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
CHAROLAIS FORAGES ANGUS ----------------------------BRAHMAN HEREFORD GELBVIEH SIMMENTAL SANTA GERTRUDIS ----------------------------SHORTHORN RED ANGUS
Contact The Carolina Cattle Connection 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526 Phone - 919-552-9111 for the contact person for each Spotlight Issue. The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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NEWS
2021 Virtual Stakeholders Summit registration now open. Preliminary agenda of sessions and speakers available. Registration is now open for the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2021 Virtual Stakeholders Summit, themed Obstacles to Opportunities. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the event, the Alliance’s Stakeholder Summit brings together thought leaders in the industry to discuss hot button issues and out-ofthe-box ideas to connect everyone along the food chain, engage influencers, and protect the future of animal agriculture. The 2021 event is set primarily for May 5-6, with pre-conference webinars scheduled for the five business days leading up to the Virtual Summit. To make this year’s Virtual Summit even more affordable and accessible, registration rates have been lowered. To register, visit www.bit.ly/ AnimalAgSummit. “The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented and uncertain times for everyone – and its impact extends far beyond 2020,” said Kay Johnson Smith, Alliance president and CEO. “The agriculture and food communities truly showed their resiliency and adaptability in the face of challenging times this past year, and now is the time to use what we’ve learned to turn our obstacles to opportunities for the decades to come. Our Virtual Summit will equip attendees with the tools and ideas needed to do just that so that we can ensure the food chain is stronger than ever.” A preliminary agenda featuring many of the exciting and high caliber speakers you can expect to see at the 2021 event has been posted on the Summit website. Sessions will highlight ways to position animal agriculture as a path forward to climate neutrality, how to elevate the voices of farmers in dialogues surrounding food and agriculture, and strategies for virtual stakeholder and influencer engagement. Timothy Caulfield to address misinformation in the time of COVID-19 at 2021 Virtual Summit. Author of bestselling book ‘Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?’ to provide keynote. Timothy Caulfield, author and professor of health law and science policy at the University of Alberta, is slated to speak at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2021 Virtual Stakeholders Summit. In his keynote presentation, Caulfield will provide his
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take on addressing misinformation in the time of COVID-19. His latest book, Your Day, Your Way: The Fact and Fiction Behind Your Daily Decisions, will be available at a discounted rate for purchase during registration. “In the times of a global pandemic, the dissemination of accurate and research based information is even more paramount,” said Hannah ThompsonWeeman, Alliance vice president of strategic engagement. “Unfortunately, animal rights activists never miss the chance to capitalize on fear and confusion and have repeatedly attempted to tie animal agriculture to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it more important than ever that we engage and communicate factual information. Timothy Caulfield will share valuable insights into how we can turn the communication obstacles of 2020 into engagement opportunities for decades to come.” Professor Timothy Caulfield is an unrivaled communicator who debunks myths and assumptions about innovation in the health sector — from research on stem cells to diets to alternative medicine — for the benefit of the public and decision makers. Caulfield is the recipient of numerous academic and writing awards, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. In addition, he is the author of several bestselling books, including The Cure for Everything: Untangling the Twisted Messages about Health, Fitness, and Happiness, and Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: When Celebrity Culture and Science Clash. Caulfield is the host and co-producer of the award winning documentary TV show, A User’s Guide to Cheating Death. Be sure to check the Summit website at www.whova.com/web/stake_202105 for the most up-to-date Summit information. You can also follow the hashtag #AAA21 for periodic updates about the event. For general questions about the Summit, please contact summit@animalagalliance.org or call 703-562-5160. Get involved - Show your support for the Alliance’s outreach efforts by becoming an official Summit sponsor today! For 2021 sponsorship opportunities, please visit www. animalagalliance.org/initiatives/ stakeholders-summit/. For more information, contact Casey Kinler at
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
ckinler@animalagalliance.org. Thank you to our 2021 Summit sponsors: Watt Global Media, Farm Journal, Meatingplace, National Pork Producers Council, Smithfield, National Pork Board, American Feed Industry Association, Dairy MAX, National Biodiesel Board, United Egg Producers, Cobb Vantress, Inc., Protect the Harvest, Progressive Dairyman, The National Provisioner, Kemin, National Chicken Council, Country Folks, Vivyaic, American Veal Association, and Eggland’s Best. The Alliance also thanks the following members for their continued support of Summit and other Alliance programs: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Zoetis, Merck Animal Health, C.O.nxt, Diamond V, Genus PLC – PIC/ABS, Aviagen Group, Boehringer
Ingelheim, Cargill, Dairy Farmers of America, Hendrix Genetics, Hy-Line North America, LLC, Iowa Soybean Association, National Turkey Federation, Nutrien, Provimi North America, Inc., and Seaboard Foods. About the Animal Agriculture Alliance. The Animal Agriculture Alliance is an industry united, nonprofit organization that helps bridge the communication gap between farm and fork. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.
International Brangus Breeders Association News IBBA Board of Directors Seated. The International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) announced its new slate of board members during the IBBA Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City, Okla., on January 12. Newly elected to the Board of Directors, serving three year terms, included: • At-Large - Dr. Randy Schmidt, Texas • East - Trey Cuevas, Mississippi • Texas - Allen Goode, Texas • West - Greg Romans, Oregon The four members join existing board members: Lee Alford (Texas), Mary Douglas (Texas), Troy Floyd (New Mexico), ShilohHall, (Oklahoma), Chris Heptinstall (Georgia), Jeremy Jackson (Arkansas), Rob Singleton (Florida), Vern Suhn (Kansas), and Mike Weathers (Texas). Officer elections from the IBBA Annual Meeting for the 2021-2022 seating are as follows: • President - Allen Goode, Texas • First Vice President - Vern Suhn, Kansas • Second Vice President - Jeremy Jackson, Arkansas • Secretary/Treasurer - Mike Weathers, Texas Brangus Breeders Make BEEF Magazine’s Seedstock Top 100 List. Four Brangus/Ultrablack breeders have made the 2021 Top 100 Seedstock Breeders list, annually published by
BEEF Magazine. Congratulations to Yon Family Farms in Ridge Spring, S.C.; Salacoa Valley Farms in Fairmount, Ga.; GENEPLUS Brangus in Lamar, Mo.; and Blackwater Cattle Company in Lake Park, Georgia. The Top 100 list is determined by the number of bulls sold annually and ranked amongst all registered cattle breeds in the United States. Breeds and breed composites represented by breeders in the Top 100 list included Akaushi, Angus, Balancer, Braford, Brahman, Brangus, Charolais, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Limousin, Limflex, Maine Anjou, Piedmontese, Red Angus, SimAngus, Simmental, South Devon, Stabilizer, and Ultrablack. The full article can be found at www. beefmagazine.com/seedstock/2021-beefseedstock-100. About the International Brangus Breeders Association. The International B r a n g u s B re e d e r s A s s o c i a t i o n , headquartered in San Antonio, Tex., strives to provide the commercial cattle industry, domestically and internationally, with the best genetics possible. Founded in 1949 as the American Brangus Breeders, the organization has since evolved into the IBBA. The IBBA’s purpose is to enable its members to produce quality beef for the commercial cattle industry and its consumers. For more information about IBBA, visit www. gobrangus.com.
45th Annual Clemson University Extension Bull Test Sale, An “Online” Success! By STEVEN E. MEADOWS, Ph.D. Clemson University The 45th Annual Clemson University Performance Tested Bull Sale was held on February 6 in Clemson, South Carolina. This year due to COVID-19 concerns, the decision was made to hold a completely virtual/online sale. Prospective buyers were invited to view the bulls at the Clemson bull test station prior to the sale. Many producers visited and evaluated the bulls over a two week period. Visitors across the board said they were impressed with the overall quality of this year’s offering. The bidders had a great appreciation for the quality of the bulls offered, and it was obvious when the sale started as the bidding was active from start to finish. The overall sale average was one for the record books at $3,917, with bulls going into six states. The top selling bull was Lot 77, consigned by Edisto Pines of Leesville, South Carolina. This stud was sired by Deer Valley Growth Fund. He pounded the yearling weight scale at 1,363 lbs and commanded $7,000 selling to Steven Meriam of Liberty, South Carolina. Followed close
behind was a consignment of Berry-Wells Farm of Rayle, Georgia. He was sired by SydGen Enhance, and when the hammer fell, he sold for $6,500 to Ricky James of Scaly Mountain, Georgia. Following close behind was the Lot 47 bull, selling for $6,250. This performance machine was sired by Musgrave Sky High and consigned by Broadway Cattle Farm LLC of Monroe, North Carolina. This bull went to Aubrey Pritchett of Danville, Virginia. In the Simmental division, Lot 38 was a purebred BBS True Justice son consigned by Shuffler Farm of Union Grove, North Carolina. This powerhouse sold to long time buyer Rusty Thompson of Sharon, S.C., for $5,750. The Lot 14 Sim/Angus bull was consigned by Eddie Bradley of Hiawassee, Ga., and sold for $5,750. This homozygous polled son of TJ Main Event was found and purchased by Bobby Briley of Lancaster, South Carolina. Lot 26 was a powerful Simmental/Angus who garnered $5,000 and was a consignment of AK/NDS of
Six Mile, South Carolina. He sold to Ricky James of Scaly Mountain, Georgia. Bridges Beef Cattle of Shelby, N.C., consigned the Lot 31 Angus bull. This calving ease, future herd sire brought $5,250. He was sired by Bar R Jet Black and purchased by Jeremy Cabbage of Mascot, Tennessee. Lot 68 was another of the Simmental bulls who had lots of friends. This homozygous black and homozygous polled son of MR CCF 2020 sold to Michael Cordray of Charleston, S.C., for $5,250. Lots 46 and 76 Angus bulls saw bidding up to $5,000 each. Lot 46, another consignment of Broadway Cattle, was a 5.07 ADG bull who sold to the Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center of Blackville, South Carolina. Lot 76 was a junior bull consigned by Edisto Pines of Leesville, South Carolina. This rascal posted a 1,407 lb adjusted 365 day weight and sold to Jeff Dailey of Kingston, Oklahoma. The open heifer sale was low in
number this year but extremely good and garnered an average of $1,360. The top selling pen of heifers was consigned by Bar H Cattle Co. of Gray Court, South Carolina. These beautiful performance heifers sold for $1,500 each to Gary Williams of Laurens, South Carolina. We appreciate all of our buyers and bidders who joined us this year over DVAuction and are thankful for their dedication in buying Clemson University Performance Tested bulls. A huge thank you and great appreciation go to our consignors who strive to build genetic packages that will improve the overall cattle industry for all producers. The 45th Annual Clemson University Bull Sale was a great event. The 49 bulls sold into six states. Sale averages for each breed were as follows: 31 Registered Angus bulls averaged $4,096, 9 Sim/ Angus averaged $3,861, 4 Simmental averaged $4,125, 1 Hereford averaged $4,750, 2 Braunvieh composites averaged $2,625, and 2 Gelbvieh averaged $1,875.
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q MARCH 2021
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SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available The U.S. Small Business Administration announced recently that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and private nonprofit organizations in North Carolina as a result of excessive rain that occurred from April 1-November 14, 2020. The loans are available in the f o l l o w i n g c o u n t i e s : A l e x a n d e r, Alleghany, Ashe, Beaufort, Bertie, Caldwell, Carteret, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Hyde, Iredell, Jones, Martin, Onslow, Pender, Surry, Tyrrell, Washington, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yadkin in North Carolina. “When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to
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eligible entities, affected by the same disaster,” said Kem Fleming, director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East. Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm related and non-farm related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Except for aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers. The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 3.75 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for private nonprofit organizations of all sizes, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity, and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at www. DisasterLoan.sba.gov and should apply under SBA declaration # 16871, not for the COVID-19 incident. Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800877-8339 for the deaf and hard-ofhearing) or by sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to:
U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center 14925 Kingsport Road Fort Worth, TX 76155. Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than October 12. About the U.S. Small Business Administration. The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
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Farm Credit News Deadlines Approaching for AgCarolina Farm Credit Scholarships. The deadline to submit applications for several scholarships is coming soon. College scholarships are one component of AgCarolina Farm Credit’s corporate giving program. Ag loans, special loan programs, educational seminars, grant funds, and financial sponsorships are provided by the lender to help young and beginning farmers succeed. The deadline for scholarships awarded to students attending N.C. State University and N.C. A&T State University has passed. However, scholarship opportunities are still available for the University of Mount Olive, as well as FFA and 4-H students residing within AgCarolina Farm Credit’s territory. Additionally, scholarship opportunities are available to the children and grandchildren of AgCarolina Farm Credit members. The deadline for the remaining scholarships is March 31. Eligibility
criteria for each scholarship can be found at www.agcarolina.com/resources/ community. The remaining available scholarships include: • University of Mount Olive - $1,000 (2) • At-Large - $1,000 (4) • Community College - $750 (5) • FFA - $500 (4) • 4-H - $500 (2) “Educating the future leaders of eastern North Carolina is a priority of our association,” says Dave Corum, AgCarolina’s President and CEO. “Through these scholarships, AgCarolina continues to show our desire to help create opportunities for young people.” About AgCarolina Farm Credit. AgCarolina Farm Credit is a farmer owned financial cooperative with headquarters in Raleigh. They are the leading provider of credit to farmers in central and eastern North Carolina. AgCarolina Farm Credit has over $1.5 billion in loans and commitments outstanding to nearly 3,400 North
Carolina farmers. Loans are made to finance land, homes, farm buildings, operating expenses, livestock, and equipment, as well as other purposes. Credit life insurance, appraisal services, and leasing are also available through
AgCarolina Farm Credit. Branch locations are in Ahoskie, Elizabeth City, Greenville, Halifax, La Grange, Louisburg, New Bern, Raleigh, Rocky Mount, Smithfield, Swan Quarter, and Williamston.
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New ruminant meta-analysis from Alltech addresses protein challenges, carbon footprint, and profitability. The tightening of global protein supplies is creating uncertainty for producers and the feed industry alike as to where this year’s protein supply will come from. Add to that the ever increasing pressure on producers to meet the growing global demand for milk and meat while also reducing their environmental impact and remaining financially viable. While striking a balance between these seemingly conflicting goals may seem impossible, Alltech has released data from a new meta-analysis for ruminants that proves otherwise. The results showed that Optigen®, a non-protein nitrogen ingredient, can replace vegetable protein sources and enable dairy and beef producers to simultaneously improve animal performance, reduce their carbon footprint, and increase profitability. The new data from the meta-analysis examining the effects of Optigen supplementation in dairy cows is based on the results of 17 studies carried out in six different countries, while the beef study was based on the results of 17 studies carried out in nine different countries. “The responsible sourcing of protein
Have you forgotten something? Make sure your cattlemen friends are members of your state association!
NEWS
for animal feeds is a crucial global issue in the livestock supply chain, and the use of plant protein sources in animal diets can be restricted based on availability, price volatility and associated environmental impact,” said Dr. Saheed Salami, research fellow at Alltech. “These meta-analysis studies have confirmed that Optigen is a viable substitute for plant protein sources in ruminant rations, resulting in improved feed efficiency, profitability, and environmental sustainability for dairy and beef production.” Dairy research key findings: • The use of Optigen in dairy diets resulted in a carbon savings of around 54 g of CO2-eq/kg milk. ◦ When extrapolated to the annual milk output of the Dutch dairy sector, for example, this would be equivalent to a carbon emission reduction of 574,004 tonnes of CO2-eq. Such a carbon saving represents 10 percent of the entire reduction target for agriculture and land use sectors required by the Dutch government by 2030. • Optigen partially replaced approximately 21 percent of soybean meal across all diets. • Dry matter intake (DMI), protein intake, and nitrogen intake decreased through space “saving” in the diet • Milk yield increased, and feed efficiency was improved by 3 percent in Optigen diets. • Nitrogen utilization efficiency in dairy cows increased by 4 percent, thanks to improved nitrogen capture in the rumen. This translates to a reduction of the manure nitrogen excretion by 12-13 g of nitrogen/cow/day. ◦ This data suggests, for example, that the use of Optigen could reduce the annual manure nitrogen excretion from Germany’s dairy sector by an average of 17,028 tonnes of nitrogen based on the annual milk output. • The environmental benefits Optigen brings are through the substitution of soybean and other high protein concentrates in combination with improved production efficiency. Beef research key findings: • The meta-analysis highlighted how the partial replacement of vegetable protein with Optigen exhibited a consistent improvement in the live weight gains and feed efficiency of beef cattle. • There was an 8 percent average increase in live weight gain and an 8 percent improvement in feed efficiency
with the inclusion of corn silage, enhancing the effects of Optigen. • A simulation analysis based on these benefits indicated that feeding Optigen to 1,000 head of cattle with the goal of each animal gaining 440 pounds would: ◦ Reduce time to slaughter by nine days. ◦ Lower feed costs by $18,000. ◦ Decrease the carbon footprint of the beef unit by 111.5 tonnes of CO2eq, contributing to a nearly 2.2 percent reduction in the carbon footprint of beef production. “Vegetable protein sources are volatile; they fluctuate in price and their nutritional composition is incredibly variable, while Optigen is the opposite and provides consistency in the rumen degradable protein supply that is critical for rumen function,” said Dr. Vaughn Holder, ruminant research group director at Alltech. “These new meta-analyses on both beef and dairy animals show the depth of our research in both areas, as well as the versatility of the product across dietary raw materials and global geographies.” As a concentrated nitrogen source, Optigen takes up less space in the diet compared to other nitrogen sources, such as soybean meal and rapeseed meal,
leaving room for more rumen friendly materials, such as homegrown forages. This additional space can also aid in allowing more energy into the diet. In some cases, dietary crude protein levels can also be decreased, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing the risk of nutrient wastage. These studies reaffirm that feeding Optigen offers unique economic and environmental benefits to dairy and beef production and positively impacts our food supply chain. For more information on Optigen and the meta-analysis data, visit www.alltech. com/optigen. Alltech and DLG announce joint venture focused on providing advanced animal nutrition to Scandinavian market. Global animal nutrition leaders Alltech and DLG Group (DLG) are joining forces for a second time, with a focus on delivering greater profitability and efficiency to livestock producers in Scandinavia. Alltech and DLG are finalizing the purchase of Finnish company Kärki-Agri, a joint venture that will strengthen their delivery of innovative, field proven animal nutrition. This collaboration follows the
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IRM Red Books Are Here The price of the books are again $5.00/each this year.
We would like to thank Performance Livestock & Feed Company and Carolina Stockyards for again sponsoring this book. Some highlights of the book are the international year letter designations for animal identification calving records Beef Quality Assurance best practices judicious use of antimicrobials in cattle injection site quality control health records pasture usage cattle sales A.I. breeding records analysis of calving activity and back by producer demand the addresses phone notes pages plus many other record keeping sections. Simply return the order form below, along with $5.00 for each book to: N.C. Cattlemen’s Association 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 You can now order them through our website at www.nccattle.com/resources/merchandise/red-book-order-form. You can also call our office at 919-552-9111 or email us at kim@nccattle.com.
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Alltech News continued from the previous page successful 2017 joint venture undertaken by Alltech and DLG of AV Nutrismart Holdings, a premix business based in Orenburg, Russia. The companies will each hold a 50 percent share in the KärkiAgri joint venture, located in Seinäjoki, Finland. Kärki-Agri was founded in 1996 and specializes in serving Finnish cattle and dairy farms. Their offerings include animal health products, specialty feeds, and feed preservatives. The company also opened a premix plant in 2015, where they produce custom feeds and Nutrilix specialty blocks. “We are excited about the opportunity this will afford us to better serve our Scandinavian customers,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “This joint venture will
once again enable us to combine DLG’s excellence in premix manufacturing with Alltech’s cutting edge nutritional solutions.” “We have been an Alltech customer for over 20 years and trust their technology,” said Antti Kuoppamaki, majority stakeholder for Kärki-Agri. “I know that Alltech and DLG share our commitment to supporting producers, and I look forward to the future success of the business through the collaboration of Alltech and DLG.” “With this second joint venture with Alltech, we will strengthen our position and presence in Finland, which is located in a region that offers exciting opportunities,” said Jacob Holm Pedersen, CEO of the Vilofoss Group and Executive Vice President with
responsibility for Premix & Nutrition at DLG. “The synergies created through this cooperation will give customers better access to products that, by optimizing feed efficiency, improve production economy and increase their competitive advantage.” About Alltech. Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech delivers smarter, more sustainable solutions for agriculture. Our products improve the health and performance of plants and animals, resulting in better nutrition for consumers and a decreased environmental impact. We are a global leader in the animal health industry, producing additives, premix supplements, feed, and complete feed. Strengthened by more than 40 years
of scientific research, we carry forward a legacy of innovation and a unique culture that views challenges through an entrepreneurial lens. Our more than 5,000 talented team members worldwide share our vision for a Planet of Plenty™. We believe agriculture has the greatest potential to shape the future of our planet, but it will take all of us working together, led by science, technology, and a shared will to make a difference. Alltech is a private, family owned company, which allows us to adapt quickly to our customers’ needs and maintain focus on advanced innovation. Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Ken., Alltech has a strong presence in all regions of the world. For more information, visit www.alltech.com.
Jerry Bohn is Committed to the Future of Beef A Kansas native and cattle feeder that shares an appreciation, with many NCBA members, of a hard day’s work producing a quality protein, Jerry Bohn understands the pressures facing producers. As he takes the helm of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association this year, he will bring an important perspective to the job and is committed to working together to achieve crucial goals. “Like many of our members, I recall horrific winters in the early ‘90s, a March blizzard in 2008, and the cow that stole Christmas in 2003. I experienced the rise and fall of prices and the drought situation we went through from 2011-2014. And, of course, all the challenges our industry has faced due to the pandemic in 2020,” Bohn said. “Those tough times are a reminder of the resolve of cattlemen and women. As NCBA president, I’m looking forward to the chance to forge a stronger bond between our state and national associations as we work to improve the business climate for U.S. cattle producers. It’s NCBA’s goal during the year ahead to protect the industry from government regulation and showcase our positive impact on the environment.” As a former president of the Kansas Livestock Association, and after serving many leadership roles at both state and national levels, Bohn brings a wealth of knowledge
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about the issues to his new role. He also understands the importance of teamwork in tackling any job. Through his involvement in industry organizations over the years, Bohn said the goal and the purpose have often been the same. That’s the drive to protect the individual cattle producer’s ability to operate his or her business as they see fit and pass on a legacy to the next generation. The relationship between NCBA and its members and state affiliates is of the utmost importance to Bohn. “Local cattlemen and women provide the input that develops and directs NCBA policy work of the association. That’s how it should be and that’s what makes our organization strong and unique.” Bohn knows that working together and keeping focused on the association’s goals will be paramount for success
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during his term in 2021. The association’s commitment to helping producers through the pandemic coupled with a list of policy wins last year and ambitious policy priorities for the year ahead mean it’s important to get to work quickly, especially during the first year of a new White House administration. “I’ve been part of the successful completion of these long term, industry goals for many years. Last year, we were able to check important priorities off the list, from a replacement for WOTUS, to trade deals, to improvements to the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act, and more; we accomplished a great deal. We also succeeded in ensuring much needed relief was available to producers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. But there’s still a lot that we need to get done in the months ahead,” he said. Bohn points to the number one topic on the minds of cattlemen and cattlewomen: profitability. “NCBA is committed to improving the business climate for our members as a producer driven organization with a focus on issues like price discovery and transparency in cattle markets along with bolstering the risk management tools available to producers. These were topics brought forward by our state affiliates last year and we’re focused on working toward solutions in the year ahead,” Bohn continued. “Ensuring that all alternative protein products are held to fair and equal standards while doing away with false
marketing claims is also a top priority.” Another focus for NCBA in the year ahead is positioning the beef industry as a leader in sustainability with consumers and policymakers. “We need to be a leader in the sustainability conversation with a focus on science, the achievements of our industry, and a look at the dayto-day practices every cattleman and cattlewoman follow that protect our resources. We have an outstanding track record when it comes to sustainable production in the U.S., and we know our industry is a positive contributor to the environment. We need to show that our methods are the global model for sustainable beef production,” he said. While the next four years will be an adventure in Washington, D.C., Bohn is confident that NCBA will do what it has always done — build relationships, educate administration officials, and fight for your right to raise cattle. “We have a lot to do as an association and as an industry, not just during my term as president, but in the years ahead of us,” Bohn said. “This is a great industry and we have a great story to tell about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. It’s important for us to tell that story and to do so not just for ourselves but for the generations that follow us. That’s what we’re trying to do at NCBA, so I hope folks will join us and be a part of it.”
A Message from the CEO By COLIN WOODALL
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
Sustainability. Yes, I Said Sustainability Well, if you are still reading past the title of my column, then we are making progress. The topic of sustainability is one we have been talking about for years, and the response has been mixed. Some of you are interested in this topic, some of you get mad, and many of you just allow your eyes to glaze over. I believe all three reactions are warranted due to the many ways this topic has been presented. I have seen just about every presentation imaginable on sustainability, and to be honest, I have had all three reactions myself. I have seen the talks where cattle production is the root cause of climate change, and we must be more sustainable to save the planet. I have seen the talks where everybody else is to blame for climate change, and cattle production is actually the solution. There are presentations on consumer expectations, political ramifications, media hype, and more. Every speaker has their own approach, their own appeal, and
many times, their own science or facts. Political science seems to power far too much of this discussion. Remember when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released Livestock’s Long Shadow back in 2006? That report erroneously stated that livestock is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than transportation. The U.N. report’s allegations against livestock have been debunked and discredited, but here we are 14 years later, and that report is still being used against us. Activists who have committed every ounce of their being to their cause are rarely swayed by facts. Political science is their preferred tool, and that is why they are not deterred from using the U.N. report knowing it is wrong. Activists’ passion and commitment to their beliefs is one reason this topic is so difficult to navigate. It is hard to have productive and rational discussions about sustainability under passionate
circumstances. To be fair, our passions run high, too. We work hard to protect our natural resources, and it does not sit well when our own commitment is questioned. The difference is that we live on the land and actually manage these resources while the activists fight behind a computer screen. Our connection and dependence on natural resources is the reason we must lead and tackle sustainability head on. As former NCBA president J.D. Alexander said, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” Regardless of how you feel about climate change and sustainability, the issue is not going away. We hear about this from consumers, foodservice, retailers, and the government. President Biden has made it abundantly clear that tackling climate change is one of his priorities. Each group has a different take on what sustainability is, so that gives us a unique chance to engage and take the field playing offense. Some perceive sustainability as nothing more than the government or other groups trying to tell us how to produce cattle. That perception is not wrong, but I believe we can change that viewpoint. Many of you are producing cattle on land that has been in your family for generations. If that is not sustainable, then what is? Longevity
and success are how we play offense. Sustainability is about showcasing the great work this industry has done for years in protecting the land. We can produce the same amount of beef we did in 1977 with ⅓ fewer cattle. We improved our production practices to achieve this, and it is important to remember we did it without the government telling us what to do. We remain committed to continual improvement, so that means our industry will get even better at maximizing beef production on increasingly limited acres. Oh, and talking about acres, we must showcase the upcycling superpower of cattle. Upcycling is where we take plants of little or no value to us as humans, such as grass, and allow cattle to graze on them in order to convert their stored energy into the best-tasting protein on Earth. Our role in upcycling is one we can use to lead the discussion around cattle production and sustainability. I am going to spend more time in future columns digging into the facts we can use to lead this discussion, but for now, I am asking that you take another look at sustainability and recognize the strategic nature of charting our own course on this subject rather than having to play defense against more rules, regulations, and restrictions. The time is now. Leaders lead!
Be a winner! Join your local cattlemen’s association AND your state cattlemen’s association! The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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NEWS
Embrace pivots in your BRD management program. Focus on finding the right BRD solution for your operation. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) can be a challenge for all stocker operations as they try to raise healthy, productive calves. However, there is no one magic solution for minimizing BRD that works across all herds. Jerry Armstrong, a stocker producer near Dime Box, Tex., recently saw that idea in action. A tale of 2 BRD programs — Armstrong has two stocker operations: one in Texas and one in Missouri. For years, his BRD management strategy has involved vaccinating calves with Bovi-Shield Gold One Shot ® upon arrival and under the supervision of his veterinary consultant, treating calves by pulse dosing the in-feed chlortetracycline product, Aureomycin®. While that management program has been successful on his Texas operation, it was not quite as effective in the Missouri operation. Instead, he discovered that vaccinating calves on arrival with a
combination of Inforce 3® respiratory vaccine and One Shot ® BVD, along with Draxxin® (tulathromycin injection) Injectable Solution, with the option of a pulse dose of Aureomycin if needed, produced better results for that operation. Looking at every angle — If Armstrong was trying to reduce the incidence of BRD on both operations, why did each one require a different set of solutions? On-arrival management involves more than just targeting a single type of disease — environmental and management factors play a key role in developing a BRD management plan. There are many dynamics that can influence the incidence and outcome of BRD, but Armstrong believes that Missouri’s wetter climate may have influenced the type and severity of disease that his calves developed. Also, his Missouri operation frequently purchases large groups of higher risk, commingled calves from sale barns, while his Texas operation tends to buy groups of moderate
2. Regularly assess your progress. If you’re consistently struggling to meet realistic expectations for BRD morbidity and mortality on your operation, consult your herd veterinarian to see if a different strategy might be better suited for your herd. 3. Don’t be afraid to pivot. Armstrong’s operations are a perfect example of how the tried and true method may not work best for every situation. Keep an open mind when it comes to ways of reducing the incidence of BRD because what has worked in the past may not be the most appropriate choice for your current situation. To ensure you’re employing the right strategy for BRD management on your operation, work with your herd veterinarian to establish an effective on-arrival program, and visit www.BRD-Solutions. com or www.CattleFeedAdditives.com for
to low risk cattle from local ranches. New calves could have respiratory disease prior to purchase, as well as more stress, which negatively impacts immune function. Since sale barn cattle have greater risk of BRD due to increased disease exposure and greater stress, the combination of Draxxin with Inforce 3 and One Shot BVD has proven to be an effective BRD management solution for Armstrong’s Missouri operation. Finding the right solution — While there is no one product that will control BRD on every operation, here are three steps you can take to help maximize the effectiveness of your on-arrival treatment program: 1. Set goals for BRD management. Use veterinarian recommendations as well as your operation’s size and location to set realistic benchmarks for your operation’s on-arrival BRD management program.
S.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of JANUARY 2021 Cattle Receipts: 10,089
•
Previous Month: 9,047
Feeder supply - 35% steers • 41% heifers • 24% bulls SLAUGHTER CLASSES
Avg. Wt. Price Cows - % Lean Breaker 1,461 $57.22 Boner 1,261 $58.20 Lean 972 $53.88
V Salers & Angus Beef Cattle
April 10, 2021 • 12:00 noon Springlake Stockyards - Moneta, Va.
Selling 40+ Lots! • Long Yearling/Yearling Bulls - Semen Tested • Spring & Fall Cow/Calf Pairs • Spring & Fall Calving Bred Females • Bred Heifers • Show Heifers • Purebreds • Salers/Angus Cross
SouthernEagleRanch
Bulls - Yield Grade 1-2
1,630
$84.20
FEEDER CLASSES
FEEDER STEERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 423 $155.33 $657.05 450-500 467 $147.88 $690.60 500-550 523 $135.79 $710.18 550-600 564 $135.19 $762.47 600-650 621 $123.35 $766.00 650-700 664 $120.48 $799.99
FEEDER BULLS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 423 $155.07 $655.95 450-500 467 $148.61 $694.01 500-550 517 $135.34 $699.71 550-600 567 $130.98 $742.66 600-650 616 $120.10 $739.82 650-700 671 $114.91 $771.05
FEEDER HEIFERS (Medium and Large 1-2) Wt. Range Avg. Wt. CWT Avg. Price 400-450 421 $124.33 $523.43 450-500 469 $122.01 $572.23 500-550 520 $119.06 $619.11 550-600 561 $117.77 $660.69 600-650 620 $109.73 $680.33 650-700 672 $102.66 $689.88
Source: N.C. Dept. of Agriculture - USDA Market News Service, Raleigh, N.C. - 919-707-3156
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complete animal health solutions. Turn outliers into a profit opportunity, not a loss equation. No one wants sick cattle. From well being concerns to unexpected costs, it can be a lose-lose situation. But when cattle do get sick, intentionally managing bovine respiratory disease (BRD) chronics and other outliers can help you improve animal well being and stop economic losses you might not even know exist. While outliers — those animals that are chronically ill or need surgical care — are an expected occurrence, especially on a feedlot, they might be undermining the profit opportunity of the whole pen or group of cattle if they aren’t managed intentionally. What are the real costs? Calculations suggest mismanaging just two out of 100 animals could be the difference between profit and loss. Consider that selling an animal as a realizer or railer is only going to provide about 40 percent of the forecasted sale price. That’s a lost opportunity cost of about $900 based on current fat cattle prices.1 Outlier napkin math: • $600 salvage price/animal • $1,500 average market price/animal - $600 salvage price = $900 saved/animal
• $900 x 2 outliers = $1,800 • $1,800 divided by a group of 100 head = $18/head gain just from better managing two out of 100 Add in the cost of space, labor, and treatment that you put into keeping a chronically ill animal in the sick pen, and you can start to picture the true losses. Don’t forget that shipping an animal at the wrong time — resulting in a violative residue — carries repercussions for the feedyard. A follow up inspection by state or federal authorities often occurs, and increased scrutiny when cattle are marketed may be instituted if multiple violative residues are detected. But in reality, you don’t want to just realize or salvage these animals; you want to get them back on the fat truck. And that may be possible in some outlier situations with intentional management. Intentionally managing these animals can set your business apart from others that might be just absorbing the losses. The path to intentional management — So, where can you start? Start by asking a few key questions for your operation: 1. How do you manage your outliers? 2. What is your relationship with your veterinarian for these animals?
Carolina Cooking Hearty Shepherd’s Pot Roast Pie Total Cooking Time - 55 minutes 1 package (17 ounces) refrigerated fully cooked boneless beef pot roast with gravy or au jus 1 package (24 ounces) refrigerated mashed potatoes ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed 1½ cups shredded Italian blend cheese 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables Heat oven to 450°F. Heat mashed potatoes according to package directions. Meanwhile, remove beef pot roast from container; reserve gravy or au jus for another use. Shred pot roast in a medium bowl with 2 forks; stir in thyme. Spray 8” x 8” glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spread ½ of the potatoes over the bottom of the dish; sprinkle with ½ cup cheese. Top evenly with shredded beef and vegetables; sprinkle with ½ cup cheese. Spread remaining potatoes over the top; sprinkle with remaining ½ cup cheese. Bake, covered, in 450°F oven for 15 minutes. Uncover; continue baking 10-
12 minutes or until heated through and edges begin to brown. Let stand, loosely covered, 10 minutes before serving. Makes 4 servings.
Hearty Shepherd’s Pot Roast Pie
3. How do you bill out your feed in your outlier pen? Are they getting a “free meal”? 4. How well and how often do you train employees on identifying and treating these animals? 5. What is the condemnation rate of your realizers? Remember: Your veterinarian is a critical part of this discussion to help you build protocols, prescribe treatments, develop management plans ,and provide medical care for outliers. Dr. Kynan Sturgess, co-owner of Hereford Veterinary Clinic in Hereford, Tex., has been talking with his customers about this topic. He says while the economic conversation makes sense, it all comes down to constant communication and training with employees. He suggests starting by: • Identifying the specific issue facing each animal and then treating it individually • Working with your local veterinarian to set up specific care plans for each condition • Training employees on surgical procedures or setting up a plan of care with your veterinarian • Focusing on follow up care for the animals — this could include nutrition, pain mitigation, specific environmental needs, and keeping them separate from their original pen While not every outlier case will be able to get back to optimum performance, intentionally treating and managing these
animals can help recover losses you might be overlooking. The bottom line — At the end of the day, it’s about considering how you are currently managing these animals and evaluating where you have unexpected losses. Once you clearly see the impact, work with your veterinarian to develop standard operating procedures so that management becomes turnkey and you can get these animals back on the right track. Want to get started? Zoetis is here to help. Reach out for a discussion with your veterinarian and Zoetis representative, and we’ll suggest processes to help you manage your outliers intentionally. Reference 1 CattleFax, Fed Steer Prices, 2020; accessed 1/4/2021 www.cattlefax.com/#!/ data/cattle/cf-prices/fed-steer/ About Zoetis. Zoetis is the leading animal health company dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses. Building on more than 65 years of experience in animal health, Zoetis discovers, develops, manufactures, and commercializes medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic products, which are complemented by biodevices, genetic tests, and precision livestock farming. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers, and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals with sales of its products in more than 100 countries. In 2019, the company generated annual revenue of $6.3 billion with approximately 10,600 employees. For more information, visit www.zoetisus.com.
West End Precast 276-228-5024 Wytheville, Virginia
8 ft Concrete Feed Bunks
U or J Bunks - $170-$180 • Calf Bunks - $120
Water Troughs • Pads • Silo Sides Septic Tanks • Reservoirs The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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NEWS New Purina Plus program helps give calves the healthy edge. The program combines complete nutrition, quality health protocols, and progressive management to help deliver high value, low risk calves. Purina Animal Nutrition introduces Purina Plus, an innovative feeder calf program, which aims to help cattle producers supply high value, low risk feeder calves to the marketplace. Purina Plus calves receive quality nutrition, vaccinations, and dewormers – indicators of a well raised, healthy calf with strong potential to perform through to the feedlot.1,2,3”With the Purina Plus program, producers have the opportunity to capture more value throughout the beef production chain,” says Brady Klatt, beef cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition. “Cow/calf producers benefit when buyers are willing to invest in calves that are ready to go, and buyers benefit when calves perform.” Nutrition is the cornerstone of Purina Plus. See why: Nutrition sets the foundation for calf health - Weaning disrupts a calf’s life and resets its basic needs – starting with nutrition and intake. “Producers have long trusted Purina’s knowledge in weaning and receiving cattle nutrition starting with the gold standard, Purina Precon Complete,” says N.T. Cosby, Ph.D., beef cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition. “We know how to get calves eating palatable, nutrient dense starter feeds, which is the first step to healthy and profitable calves. The Purina Plus program leverages
that knowledge to support producers in marketing their calf crop.” Giving calves the best chance for success in the weaning phase often starts with getting them eating right away. Providing their bodies with the quality nutrition resources they need for bodily functions, including creating a robust immune response, is paramount to establishing a foundation for lifetime performance. “Weaning is often the first time a calf is exposed to multiple stressors, all of which can compromise a calf’s immune system,” says Cosby. “Purina has continued to research weaning and starting programs and innovative natural additives to support calf health. Purina Plus offers producers a great package of solid nutrition combined with appropriate health protocols and management strategies.” Program protocols, backed by industry leaders - Purina worked with other industry leaders, including Zinpro, Elanco, Merck, Zoetis, and Boehringer Ingelheim, to establish the requirements for Purina Plus. The end goal was to set parameters that truly add value to cattle while giving cow/ calf producers the flexibility to use strategies that best fit their operation. The result is a program built around a portfolio of products that work to optimize weaning performance and help create a sale day advantage for the calves in it. Purina Plus calves must be: • Fed Purina starters at weaning initiation • Transitioned to a balanced nutrition program after starter feed • Weaned and on feed for a minimum
Y’all have stumbled on the best place to advertise expert A.I., superior genetics, the best in purebreds and outstanding farm supplies. Check the Classifieds in this issue! of 45 days prior to sale • Fed the appropriate amounts of vitamins and minerals through starters or supplements • Vaccinated and appropriately boosted for: ◦ Strains of Clostridium chauvoei, Clostridium septicum, Clostridium novyi, Clostridium sordellii, Clostridium perfringens (Types C & D) ◦ Strains of IBR, PI3, BRSV, and BVD (Type 1 and 2) through a Modified Live Vaccine ◦ Mannheimia haemolytica/ Pasteurella multocida • Dewormed of internal and external parasites with program approved products • All males must be castrated, all horned cattle must be dehorned ◦ Calves must be healed from management procedures at the time of sale “With basic nutrition needs met, health protocols and other management strategies are primed to be most effective,” says Klatt. “The Purina Plus program is rounded out with a strong health protocol which helps give calves the best chance for success as they transition to the next feeding phase.”
Benton’s Hay Farm * Custom Bermudagrass Sprigging * Tifton 85 and Coastal Bermuda FGFGFGF
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Timmy Benton Walterboro, S.C.
843-908-3222 - Cell • tormbenton@lowcountry.com PAGE 62
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
Selling Purina Plus tagged cattle is a small part of the program working for producers. The industry leaders outlined above are teaming up to work for producers trusting their products, creating new marketing opportunities through networking, specialized sale events, advertising, and more. Local Purina dealers are also working to collaborate with regional livestock auction markets to establish a reputation for Purina Plus and facilitate calf sales. How to get started - “If you’re interested in enrolling calves or finding program calves to purchase, start by reaching out to your local Purina dealer,” says Klatt. “Purina dealers are ready to help set up a plan to implement Purina Plus during your next weaning period.” Purina Plus has no enrollment fee. Find your local Purina dealer to discuss the Purina Plus program today. References 1 Derksen, B. and Hoppe, K. August 14, 2020. Progressive Cattle magazine. Linking vaccination and creep feeding practices. 2 McNeill, J. December 1999. Extension Animal Science, Texas A&M University. Value Added Calves. 3 Bremer, M. September 2015. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. UNL Beef. Preconditioning Calves: Can it Add Value? About Purina Animal Nutrition LLC. 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 LLC is headquartered in Arden Hills, Minn., and a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc. For more information, visit www.purinamills.com.
• Join one of the largest mineral buying groups in the Southeast • Trial opportunities available • Delivery available in most areas of North Carolina • Make your own buying group in your area
THE BARN LOFT
1475 National Highway • Thomasville, NC 27360 Store - 336-886-1737 • Cell - 336-250-0572 www.thebarnloft.com The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
Beef Checkoff News Consumers Crave Information in New Ways. Over the years, consumers have changed how they learn about products, make buying decisions, and shop. Beyond traditional print, radio, and television advertising, a new digital world exists to engage with customers. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), a contractor to the Beef Checkoff and manager of the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. brand is leveraging platforms such as Chicory, Nativo, and Spotify to encourage people to buy beef. Even before COVID-19, consumer shopping behaviors started shifting to online ordering, curbside pickup, and delivery. Consumers are looking for convenient ways to shop, and new digital tools make it easy for them to add beef to their online shopping carts. Thanks to cutting edge technology, powered by Chicory, www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner. com is now shoppable. Consumers click on any recipe, are taken to an online shopping cart for local grocery stores, add all the ingredients needed to prepare that meal, then have the ingredients delivered directly or ready for curbside pickup. Chicory is a leading digital shopper marketing platform, and its signature “Get Ingredients” button can be found on over 1,500 recipe websites, including Taste of Home, Delish, Betty Crocker, and thousands of influencer food blogs. Chicory creates the digital tools to take grocery shoppers from inspiration to checkout in a few clicks.1 With more people ordering groceries online, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. also uses e-commerce campaigns through Chicory to increase beef sales. Consumers who are shopping through online platforms are served ads featuring beef recipes and encouraged to add beef to their grocery cart. The United We Steak e-commerce campaign in summer 2020 used in-recipe ads to reach grillers and drive online sales. Nationally, the campaign generated 9.8 million impressions and nearly 19,000 clicks. One participating retailer achieved more than $415,000 in beef sales from those exposed to the ads, which represented a $4.21 return for every dollar invested in the advertising campaign. Have you ever read an article on your local news website that was identified as “sponsored content”? That is native advertising, and Nativo is one
of the leading native advertising firms in the U.S.2 This online platform allows advertisers, like Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., to fit into – and not disrupt – the online audience experience. For example, Nativo works to integrate and physically place existing Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. articles and content on hundreds of popular and trustworthy news, environment, and food related websites, such as U.S. News & World Report, Taste of Home, and local metro newspaper websites. For Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. specifically, Nativo locates the appropriate audiences for mass market topics such as ground beef recipes and finds audiences that are interested in reading about more highly focused issues such as sustainability. In September 2020, NCBA used Nativo to promote content about beef sustainability, beef in a healthy, sustainable environment, and beef’s role in greenhouse gas emissions. The native ads delivered 4.8 million impressions, with an average frequency of 1-2 times, reaching roughly 3.2 million consumers. Even though vinyl is making a comeback, streaming songs, creating playlists, and downloading podcasts is the wave of the future. Spotify is the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service with 320 million users.3 Consumers listen to Spotify across their day using music and podcasts to relax, commute, work out, entertain, and more. All of this listening fuels Spotify’s “streaming intelligence” database that helps identify the right time, place, and target to best advertise beef. This data helps determine how to disseminate Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. radio ad messaging to consumers, including those who are active cooking enthusiasts, those interested in health and fitness, and to folks who are self proclaimed “foodies.” Most recently, NCBA promoted beef for the holidays and utilized Spotify audio advertising for part of the campaign. Although Chicory may remind you of sipping a flavored coffee, and Spotify sounds like the latest stain removing technique, these digital platforms are powerful tools to help meet the consumer where they are listening, learning, and shopping: online. References 1 Chicory consumer data, 2020, www.
chicory.co/about 2 Nativo advertiser information, 2020, www.nativo.com/advertisers 3 Spotify company information, 2020, www.newsroom.spotify.com/company-info/ Cattlemen’s Beef Board Elects New Officers at 2021 Winter Meetings. Cattle producers Hugh Sanburg, Norman Voyles, Jr., and Jimmy Taylor are the new leaders of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). This officer team is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff throughout 2021. Sanburg, Voyles, and Taylor were elected by their fellow Beef Board members during their 2021 Winter Meetings, held virtually this year. Sanburg, the 2020 vice chair, will now serve as the CBB’s chair, while Voyles will transition from his role as the 2020 secretary/treasurer to become the 2021 vice chair. Taylor is the newest member of the officer team, taking on Voyles’s former responsibilities as secretary/ treasurer. The 2021 Chair, Hugh Sanburg, hails from Eckert, Colo., where he and his brother are managing partners of their primarily horned Hereford cow/calf operation, accompanied by a Registered
Hereford operation to complement the commercial herd. Sanburg graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a degree in mining engineering in 1983 before moving back to the home ranch in Western Colorado. For the past 30 plus years, Sanburg has been an active member of the Colorado Farm Bureau, serving on various boards. He is also a member of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and is a past chair of the Gunnison Basin Roundtable. In 2020, Sanburg received Colorado Farm Bureau’s Service to Ag Award. “As I begin my tenure as CBB chair, the beef industry continues to face many challenges,” Sanburg said. “2020 was certainly a difficult year for many beef producers, but I’m optimistic 2021 holds better days for all of us. The CBB is a group of everyday producers who take time away from their operations, and in the coming year, we will do our absolute best to advance the beef industry, make informed decisions, and encourage Checkoff contractors to execute programs and initiatives that accomplish our
Continued on the next page
December 4, 2021 • 12:00 noon Union County Livestock Market • Monroe, N.C.
704-219-1294 The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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Checkoff News continued from the previous page primary goal – driving demand for beef.” Vice Chair Norman Voyles, Jr. owns and operates a seventh generation grain and livestock farm near Martinsville, Ind., with his brother Jim and son Kyle. Voyles received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Purdue University and a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Nebraska. Voyles is a member of the Morgan County (Ind.) Beef Cattle Association and the Indiana Cattlemen’s Association. He’s a member of the Indiana Farm Bureau and a past member of the Farm Service Agency board of directors and the Morgan County Fair board. Secretary/Treasurer Jimmy Taylor and his wife Tracy run a commercial Angus herd near Cheyenne, Okla., consisting of approximately 600 females on 12,000 acres. Their ranching efforts have earned them the 2011 Certified Angus Beef Commitment to Excellence Award and the 2013 Oklahoma Angus Association Commercial Breeder of the Year. The use of artificial insemination, proper nutrition, genomics, and other new technologies play a large role in
obtaining the operation’s goal: to create a good eating experience for the consumer. Taylor has also served on several local and state boards. “We’re all very pleased to once again have such a strong leadership team to guide the CBB throughout the coming year,” said Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. “These gentlemen have given so much time and energy to the beef industry over the years, and their experience as both leaders and cattle producers will serve the CBB well. Hugh, Norm, and Jimmy fully understand the beef industry’s current challenges, as well as the many opportunities, and I know they will use their knowledge and expertise to help the CBB and the Beef Checkoff reach new levels of success in 2021.” To learn more about the Beef Checkoff and its programs, including promotion, research, foreign marketing, industry information, consumer information, and safety, visit www. DrivingDemandForBeef.com. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Partners with Chef’s Roll to Highlight
a
Virginia Herd Health Management Services, PC In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) & Embryo Transfer (ET) * On-farm aspiration of oocytes via Ultrasound Guided Ovum Pick-Up (OPU). * Embyos come back in 8 days for placement or direct thaw freezing on-farm. * Can do on donors aged 8 months and older, up to 120-150 days pregnant. Doesn’t interfere with pregnancy. * Pregnant cows work really well, so the cow doesn’t get out of her production group. * Can do a donor every 2 weeks.
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The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
the Beef Quality Assurance Program from Pasture to Plate. Five part video series pairs chefs with local farmers and ranchers for a unique look at how beef is raised. A series of videos developed and released through a new partnership between the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Chef ’s Roll, Inc., reached more than 1.3 million viewers in its initial launch. The videos highlight the importance of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program for the ranchers who raise the cattle and the chefs who serve high quality beef to their customers. Chef’s Roll is a global network of chefs and hospitality professionals that promotes its work through programs and original content like these videos. The five videos made in partnership with the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand feature the pasture-to-plate relationship between ranchers and chefs across the country. Each video follows a chef as they visit a local cattle operation to learn about how BQA practices are used to sustainably and responsibly raise high quality beef. The beef farmer or rancher then visits the chef’s kitchen to gain an understanding of how beef is prepared and featured on the chef’s menu. The experience is rounded out with a shared beef meal. The videos showcase five unique production and restaurant styles with the following rancher-chef relationships: • Arizona Ranch Manager Dean Fish discusses environmental stewardship and proper cattle handling techniques, and Executive Chef Ryan Clark of Casino Del Sol presents the Cowboy Ribeye. • Oklahoma Feedyard Manager Tom Fanning shows how the fourth generation cattle feedyard is dedicated to quality control, and Executive Chef Kathryn Mathis of BackdoorBBQ presents her contest winning smoked pastrami sandwich. • Georgia Cow/Calf Farmer Kristy Arnold talks about being a third generation owner of her farm, and Executive Chef Mark Keiser of Oak Steakhouse cooks a succulent, braised boneless beef short rib. • Idaho Rancher Kim Brackett explains that prioritizing animal welfare is the right and only way to ensure quality beef, and Executive Chef Shawn Smith of Coynes Restaurant shares his “Butler Steak Risotto” with flatiron steak. • California Rancher Jamie Mickelson speaks about the importance of cattle quality of life, and Chef Bob Simontacchi of Gravenstein Grill makes his Pimento Cheeseburger with aged, white cheddar. “These videos recognize and
celebrate the commitment of our cattle farmers and ranchers to Beef Quality Assurance standards, and the food industry professionals who serve their high quality beef,” said Sarah Reece, NCBA Senior Director of Influencer Engagement. “Whether a consumer is enjoying beef in a burger, as a steak, or with pasta, our hope is that by sharing what goes into how beef is raised, consumers continue to demand the amazing flavor of beef, and the nutrients it provides.” Released late last year, the videos garnered 658,790 views to date. The videos can be viewed at www. beefitswhatsfordinner.com/raising-beef/ bqa-and-chefs. To learn more about Chef’s Roll, visit www.chefsroll.com. To learn more about the latest Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. efforts, visit www. BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com. About the Beef Checkoff. The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States may retain up to 50¢ on the dollar and forward the other 50¢ per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval. About NCBA, a Contractor to the Beef Checkoff. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. The Beef Checkoff Program is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, with oversight provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. About Chef’s Roll. At its core, Chef’s Roll is a highly specialized community with unique influence, access, and credibility within the global professional chef and foodservice marketplace. Chef ’s Roll’s initial DNA was a peer-topeer network for working professional cooks, chefs, and foodservice decision makers. The network grew quickly and successfully. It was during this rapid growth and organic participation from its core membership of chefs from all over the world that the true power and uniqueness of Chef ’s Roll emerged. Our ability to promote chefs, products, events, and brands to a highly engaged chef audience through in-house content creation and pioneered programs. Additional strength lies in the reach and engagement of Chef ’s Roll’s more than 1.3 million member audience across its various social media platforms.
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Nutrition Helps Herd Thrive Through Stressors. Pandemics and politics have caused pandemonium during the last 12 months. But for livestock producers living in drought stricken areas, those topics might seem secondary in the grand scheme of life. For ranchers, making sure their livestock have the proper feed, water, and nutrition is paramount to their profitability and has an impact on every phase of production throughout the year. The Clayton Williams Ranch in West Texas is known for its long-standing tradition of raising high quality registered and commercial Brangus cattle. Their cattle span four ranch locations, and in 2019, Tyler Washington assumed the ranch manager duties of the Good Ranch Division in Borden County. After evaluating the cows at that location, he decided to make a change in their nutrition program and converted them to VitaFerm Concept•Aid Mineral Tubs. Washington says that the cow
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herd increased its efficiency in mineral consumption when he made the switch to VitaFerm and at the same time became fleshier, better looking cattle. “I saw a lower consumption rate compared to the competitors’ tubs and was getting more usage of vitamins and minerals from VitaFerm. With the old tubs, I was at a pound during the green months, and only half a pound of consumption during green months of VitaFerm. The cattle looked fabulous. During the winter months, with the competitors’ we were up to three pounds a day, with the VitaFerm, we got all the way up to 3/4 of a pound of consumption. So, it is more cost effective for us to feed VitaFerm because our cattle are still doing good, looking good, and our consumption rates are good,” Washington said. VitaFerm Concept•Aid Mineral Tub is a free choice vitamin and mineral cooked tub for beef cattle specifically designed for reproductive success when fed 60 days pre-calving through 60 days post breeding.
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
Its key ingredient is Amaferm, a precision based prebiotic that impacts intake, feed digestibility, and nutrient absorption for optimum health and performance. In addition, it contains 2.5 times the NRC for quicker impact, high levels of Vitamin E for reproductive tract repair, and organic trace minerals for 57 times more stability. Amaferm is research proven to increase the energy available to the animal resulting in more milk production as well as the ability to initiate and maintain pregnancy and fertility. At the Borden County division, Washington has converted the herd from a fall calving to a spring calving herd and will calve for 90 days starting in February. He saw a significant jump in his conception rates with the introduction of VitaFerm Concept•Aid. And that is during a drought, too. He said from March 2020 until some recent late December snow, rainfall has only measured about five inches on the ranch. “Our conception rates went from 84-92 percent with all natural service. These VitaFerm tubs have weathered the time because through this drought, I am not feeding any more than what I would normally feed because these tubs are
helping keep these cows in such good shape,” Washington said. Once he and other ranch employees saw the results with the VitaFerm tubs at his location, the Clayton Williams Ranch started expanding its use of the BioZyme product lines and started using more products across other locations. Washington said another product he has been pleased with is the Vita Charge Stress Tubs, especially at weaning time. The calves he weans go to a grow yard at the Fort Stockton location for a specialty beef program. He said the Stress Tubs keep the calves calm and relaxed when weaned on “diesel smoke.” He explains. “We absolutely love the Stress Tubs for our weaning calves. Our calves have already been on the VitaFerm tubs, so they know what they (tubs) are and go to them and go directly to feed. I gather them, I separate them from the cow, and early the next morning I ship them to Fort Stockton. There’s not much short weaning or fence weaning because I don’t have the facilities. But when they get to the pens down there (Fort Stockton), they get on those Stress Tubs, and they relax. Their health is good, and they go on feed. They are getting on feed quicker, so they are
converting feed better and then they are just kind of chill. They aren’t bouncing off the wall like most weaning calves are,” Washington said. Vita Charge Stress Tubs contain the prebiotic Amaferm to help jump start their digestive systems. In addition, the Stress Tubs also contain MOS to trap and expel pathogens, limiting their ability to do harm, and a probiotic to help restore the gut microbiome during times of stress. Another product that has helped with converting pounds and increasing conception rate during summer stressors is the VitaFerm HEAT Tubs. He puts these cooked vitamin and mineral tubs out during the summer to help mitigate heat stress. They too contain Amaferm to impact intake, feed digestibility, and nutrient absorption for maintaining performance during heat stress. In addition, they contain a unique blend of clove, cinnamon, and chili pepper to help maintain circulation to support animal performance in both heat and fescue situations, and garlic considered a natural insect repellant. “I love the HEAT Tub. Instead of being shaded up from about 9:3010:00 a.m. in the summer, the cows are still out and consuming grass, gaining and maintaining. My fly population is relatively lower because of the garlic in the HEAT tub. We have noticed that our bulls are more active longer in the day. They aren’t shaded up. They will be servicing cows at 10:30-11:00 a.m., instead of being shaded up at that time,” he said. Livestock producers face enough stress on the ranch. But with a nutrition program like VitaFerm with the Amaferm advantage, the stress of consumption, conversion, and conception rates during
N.C. Weekly Auctions Report
Feeder Cattle - Medium and Large 1-2 (Week ending FEBRUARY 4, 2021) Kind Avg. Wt. $/lb Steers 300-400 $123.00 - 164.00 400-500 $120.00 - 160.00 500-600 $117.00 - 148.00 600-700 $100.00 - 130.00 700-800 $118.00 - 123.00 800-900 $97.00 Heifers
300-400 400-500 500-600 600-700 700-800 800-900
$114.00 - 128.00 $100.00 - 132.00 $100.00 - 120.00 $90.00 - 116.50 $111.00 $------- - -------
Slaughter Cows: (over 850 lbs) Breakers (70-80% lean) $51.00 - 79.00 Boners (80-85% lean) $45.50 - 75.00 High Dressing (70-85% lean) $58.00 - 82.00 Source: N.C. Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services - USDA Market News, Raleigh, N.C. • 919-707-3156
drought and heat can be lessened. Give your cow herd the jump start they deserve to get the nutrients they need. Give them the Amaferm advantage. Help your Herd Reach its Potential with Quality Nutrition. Every living being has a purpose. For the cows that graze Alder’s Ranch, at Midway, Tex., halfway between Dallas and Houston, their purpose is to convert grass to milk and pounds of beef. The diverse cow/calf operation is home to 1,800 mama cows – Angus and Angus Plus – that run on land that ranges from river bottom to sand country. They background calves at their home place, market replacement females and feeder steers, all while raising crops to feed the cattle. According to Ranch Manager J.D. Georg, they produce most of their own seedstock, and seldom do they buy cattle to bring into the herd. In an environment that receives more than 40 inches of rain per year, their stocking rates are high per acre. Grass grows fast and is washy; therefore, the cows have to eat more of it to convert it into milk to raise a calf. “We believe in making that cow take that poor quality forage and turn it into beef, into milk while raising those calves. Our grass is not that good, but we have a lot of it,” Georg said with a smile. “That is where the Amaferm in the VitaFerm comes into play. I truly believe the Amaferm helps those cows with that process.” Georg said he feeds a combination of two VitaFerm minerals to his herd throughout the year, the VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S and VitaFerm Cattleman’s Blend™. Both contain Amaferm and organic copper for maximum bioavailability to the animal to support immunity. The VitaFerm Concept•Aid 5/S contains 5 percent phosphorus, the ideal level of phosphorus for use with average to good quality forages, to promote milk production and higher calf weaning weights. In addition, it provides organic copper, zinc, and manganese to ensure maximum bioavailability of nutrients to the animal and high levels of vitamin E and selenium to promote optimized fertility. Although the Concept•Aid 5/S is most generally recognized as a breeding mineral, and he does feed it 45 days prebreeding through 30 days post breeding, he primarily appreciates the overall quality components of the mineral. “It’s not only a breed back mineral for us, for which it does a tremendous job. We have conception rates anywhere from 90-95 percent with the Concept•Aid. Overall, the quality is better than any other mineral. That’s one thing I would
hang my hat on as far as VitaFerm is concerned, the ingredients they use for VitaFerm are better and more easily absorbed than any other. You can compare tags, but you don’t get the same outcome. The hair coat is a testimony by itself,” he said. Georg explained that in his area that is copper deficient and with the sulfur in the water that ties up the copper, his black cattle often appear with a brown or red tint, especially at the point of their shoulders. Since he started feeding the VitaFerm minerals nearly seven years ago, his black cattle are all black, something he couldn’t accomplish with other minerals. Yes, every animal does have a purpose. Particularly in a diversified setting like a ranch that grows its own feed, including corn silage and hay, has an intense breeding program that includes embryo transfer, A.I. and natural service, calves in both the spring and fall, backgrounds calves, and markets steers. Georg said he is blessed to have a ranch owner who lets him have a say
in the decisions, especially when one of those decisions has been to feed VitaFerm products. “We try to make the cow work for us and not work for the cow.” To learn more about VitaFerm, visit www.vitaferm.com. About BioZyme ® Inc. BioZyme Inc., founded in 1951, develops and manufactures natural, proprietary products focused on animal nutrition, health, and microbiology. With a continued commitment to research, BioZyme offers a complete line of feed additives and high density, highly available vitamin, mineral, trace mineral, and protein supplements for a variety of animals, including cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. BioZyme brands include Amaferm ®, VitaFerm®, Vita Charge®, Sure Champ®, Vitalize®, and DuraFerm®. With headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri, the company reaches a global market of customers that stretches into countries across five continents. For more information about BioZyme, visit www.biozymeinc.com.
The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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Economist Cautions COOL Could Come with Added Costs By TYNE MORGAN After five years, Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) may be back on the table, but it’s far from a done deal. COOL was just one topic brought up this week during Tom Vilsack’s confirmation hearing with the Senate Agriculture Committee. It’s a familiar topic for Vilsack, who spent eight years serving as Agriculture Secretary during the Obama Administration. The history of COOL is decades old, but on December 18, 2015, Congress repealed the original COOL law for beef and pork. It was part of the omnibus budget bill and responded to a series of WTO rulings that prohibited labels based on country of origin on some products. When asked if he’d consider COOL again if confirmed as the next Secretary of Agriculture, Vilsack was clear any type of possible rule would need to be updated and improved. “If it’s the same policy as it was four years ago when I left, the answer is no,” Vilsack told the committee. “We made every concerted effort to try to create better transparency, better information for consumers, because we understand and appreciate that consumers want to know where their food comes from. They want to know when they’re buying U.S.
The 2021 Global Conference on Sustainable Beef - Embracing Global Goals will be held on April 14-15. Embracing Global Goals will be an interactive online event that will provide an exciting worldwide virtual platform to launch the vital and significant GRSB global goals to be implemented over the next ten years. The development and adoption of these goals are important in demonstrating the beef value chain’s commitment and progress in achieving more sustainable global practices. The upcoming global conference offers a format that will allow participants to build their own itinerary from live and on-demand content. The live sessions will be repeated with a Q & A session so that all GRSB members and others interested in beef sustainability may participate at the time most convenient to them, allowing true global participation. Registration and more information about the conference can be found at www.grsbeef.org/UpcomingEvents.
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or when they’re buying something from someplace else.” Vilsack went on to remind the committee why COOL was ultimately repealed. “We attempted on three occasions to sort of strengthen the country of origin labeling unsuccessfully because of the WTO challenges by our Canadian friends, which would have resulted obviously in retaliation,” Vilsack said. “I am absolutely willing to listen to anybody and everybody who’s got an idea about how we can circumvent or get to a point where the WTO doesn’t necessarily slap it down, creating retaliatory impacts on American agriculture.” One of the authors of the economic study sent to Congress during 2015 is Glynn Tonsor with Kansas State University. He acknowledges economics are different today than they were then. “Labor costs are higher today than they used to be, and we have more automation today than we used to,” Tonsor says. “What’s the net of that would have to be sorted out.” While the economics have changed, Tonsor says the basic findings in 2015 are still the same. “It is costly to track and segregate
News
The GRSB and its stakeholders would like to thank the following organizations for their contributions to the Global Beef Sustainability Acceleration Fund: McDonald’s Corporation, Cargill, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, the World Wildlife Fund, the National Wildlife Federation, the European Roundtable for Beef Sustainability, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, Tyson Foods, the East Foundation, JBS USA, Rabobank, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. About the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. GRSB is a global, multi-stakeholder initiative developed to advance continuous improvement in sustainability of the global beef value chain through leadership, science, and multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration. The GRSB envisions a world in which all aspects of the beef value chain are environmentally sound, socially responsible, and economically viable.
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
meat products,” adds Tonsor. “We have a decent ability to track live animals. But once you break down the animal and try to keep ground beef packages from rib eyes and so on, I’m not saying it’s impossible. It is doable, but it is expensive.” In the economic research rooted in the 2015 report, Tonsor says the numbers showed COOL’s cost outweighed the demand. “Origin is rarely a top issue for consumers,” he said. “Price, safety, taste, other things, often are leading protein purchasing decision makers. That’s not to say origin traceability doesn’t matter. Don’t overreact to that, but relative importance of those things drives the purchasing decision.” The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) says history shows demand for meat is growing around the world, no matter how it’s labeled. “Those demand dynamics haven’t changed, whether the Country of Origin Labeling is an issue or isn’t an issue,” says Dan Halstrom, USMEF president and CEO. “The demand appears to continue to grow.” Halstrom acknowledges some key exporting markets buy just because it’s American grown and raised. “It’s a very obvious selling point in markets like Japan, for example,” he says. “Every chance we get, we distinguish U.S. beef versus Australian, or even domestic beef in Japan.”
However, the American label isn’t a selling point everywhere. Halstrom says some key trading partners see it as a volatile topic. “In a market like Colombia, you have to be very careful about flying the red, white, and blue [flag], because their domestic pork industry in particular is very strong,” he says. While USMEF says COOL is a topic the organization won’t take a stance on, continuing to market American raised beef and pork will happen with some countries in the future, whether it’s driven by policy or not. “Produced in and high quality from the USA is without a doubt a selling point,” he added. “We use that in a lot of markets. But I don’t think it’s so much a policy discussion. Whatever policy happens, happens. We’re still going to be flying the red, white and blue flag anyway, where it’s appropriate.” Tonsor says no matter the decision in the future, from a demand standpoint, it all boils down to price. Any labeling requirement that could add to the cost for consumers could be a dangerous path to head down. “And we’ve got to be cognizant of that – not to impose things that cost and therefore raise the price, and in aggregate, reduce interest of consumers in buying the product,” Tonsor says. “That’s my word of caution on this.”
ALL Regular Copy for the
APRIL ISSUE by MARCH 5! ALL Spotlight Material for the APRIL ISSUE by MARCH 1!
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LASSIFIED PUREBRED C ATTLE BREEDERS BACK CREEK ANGUS
Joe and Robin Hampton
A NIMAL H EALTH
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345 Withrows Creek Lane Mt. Ulla, NC 28125
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Black Crest Farm
W.R. “Billy” McLeod
1320 Old Manning Rd., Sumter, SC 29150
803-481-2011
williammcleod@ftc-i.net • www.blackcrestfarm.com
Walter D. Shealy III and Family
20977 US Hwy 76 • Newberry, SC 29108 Walter Shealy • 803-924-1000 Dixon Shealy • 803-629-1174 walter@blackgrove.com • dixon@blackgrove.com www.blackgrove.com
“Cattle with Something Extra”
QUALITY GELBVIEH, ANGUS, & BALANCER CATTLE Duane Cell: 336-964-6277 • Wendy Cell: 336-964-5127 Home: 336-381-3640 • Fax: 910-428-4568 ccrosscattle@yahoo.com • ccrosscattle.com THE HERD THAT CONSISTENTLY PRODUCES CATTLE WITH PERFORMANCE, CARCASS, AND EYE APPEAL.
REGISTERED POLLED HEREFORDS • EST. 1998 “Quality Cattle For Quality People”
Cattle Available Private Treaty John Wheeler • 910-489-0024 doublejfarm@yahoo.com • www.doublejfarmllc.com Headquarters - 775 Clacton Circle • Earlysville, VA 22936 Cattle located in Traphill, N.C.
More than 70 years of breeding grass type cattle! Carcass Data • Fescue Suited • Southern Bred EPDs Breeding Soundness Exam on Two-Year-Old Bulls
Norris Fowler • 864-219-0182 www.fowkenfarm.com
SPRINGFIELD ANGUS 104 Springfield Lane Louisburg, NC 27549
Phil Goodson: 919-880-9062 Alex Askew: 910-260-2889
• Performance Tested • Ultrasound and 50K Evaluated • Registered Angus Bulls
KEEP POSTED FOR UPDATES ON THE 2021 Tarheel Angus/4K Farm Production Sale RICHARD KIRKMAN, DVM
Autryville, NC 28318 www.howardbrosfarms.com
Darryl Howard Cell: 910-990-2791
SENEPOL CATTLE FOR SALE Black & Red Available
THE YON FAMILY 318 Aiken Road • Ridge Spring, SC 29129 www.yonfamilyfarm.com
Angus • SimAngus • Ultrablacks
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WHITEHALL BEEFMASTERS Joe and Ann Logan 214 Cowhead Creek Road Greenwood, SC 29646
Telephone: 864-538-3004
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Jim Traynham Wingate, N.C. 704-233-5366 Cell - 704-292-4217
Brent Glenn, DVM Lancaster, S.C.
The Josey Agency, Inc. Douglas Josey Multi-Line Agent
Cell: 803-385-8161 Email: djosey@truvista.net
519 Morgan Mill Rd., Monroe, NC 28112 704-289-5083 • 704-289-1696 • 800-222-8638
Ernest B. Harris President
2610 Kee Moore Drive Chester, SC 29706
Phone: 252-257-2140 Mobile: 252-430-9595 ®
DUANE & WENDY STRIDER, OWNERS
328 Fowken Farm Rd. • Jonesville, SC
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Great for grass programs! Heat Tolerant • Calving Ease Gentle Natured • Tender Carcass
H.J. WHITE FARMS
PO Box 215 • Bladenboro, NC 28320 910-648-6171 (day) • 910-863-3170 (night)
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3200 NC Hwy. 58 • Warrenton, NC 27589 NCAL #1468 • NC#C#4264 • VAL #146 • SCAL #3895 Email: ebharris@ebharris.com www.ebharris.com
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13th Annual EBS Farms Select Bull & Female Sale ..................... 15 13th Annual SimAngus Solution Sale …...................................... 32 14th Annual Southern Synergy Angus Female Production Sale …....................................... 10 2021 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show — Rescheduled …................................................................. 2 2021 IRM Red Books ….............................................................. 57 28th Annual Grassy Valley Angus Production Sale …................. 12 33rd Partners in Progress Angus, Hereford, & Baldy Female Sale ….......................... 28 37th Annual NCAA Spring Fever Sale …...................................... 13 4K Farms/Tarheel Angus …........................................................ 71 42nd Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale/ BCIA Influenced VA Premium Assured Plus Bred Heifer Sale ….............................................................. 44 46th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale …..... 65 48th Annual Breeders of the Carolinas Sale …........................... 41 53rd Annual N.C. Hereford Classic Sale ….................................. 29 Alltech/CPC — Weather Pro ….................................................. 56 American Angus Association …................................................. 13 American National Insurance — The Josey Agency ….............. 71 American Red …......................................................................... 25 Apple Brandy Prime Cuts …....................................................... 45 Back Creek Angus …................................................................... 71 Benton’s Hay Farm …................................................................ 62 BioZyme Incorporated — VitaFerm Concept•Aid …................. 68 Black Crest Farm …..................................................................... 71 Black Grove Angus ….................................................................. 71 Bowman Farms Complete Dispersion Sale …........................... 53 Brubaker Family Angus ….......................................................... 71 C-Cross Cattle Company …......................................................... 71 Callicrate Banders ….................................................................. 30 Cargill — Right Now® Mineral …................................................ 20 Carolinas Animal Health …........................................................ 71 Châtel Farms — Bulls for Sale …................................................ 18 Conquest Insurance Agency, Inc. …........................................... 71 Double J Farms …....................................................................... 71 Dura•Cast …............................................................................... 19 E.B. Harris Auctioneers, Inc. ….................................................. 71 First Choice Insurance — Donna Byrum …................................ 16 Fowken Farms — CATTLE FOR SALE …...................................... 71 Fred Smith Company Ranch …................................................... 71 G&E Virginia Premium Assured Heifer Sale …............................ 6 Got to Be NC Agriculture …........................................................ 59
H.J. White Farms ….................................................................. 71 Howard Brothers Farms …...................................................... 71 Hunt’s H+ Brangus ….............................................................. 71 Hutton & Sons Herefords ….................................................... 71 Knoll Crest Farm Spring Bull & Female Sale …....................... 23 Moly Manufacturing …............................................................ 55 N.C. Angus Association Directory ….......................................... 7 N.C. Cattlemen’s Association Membership Application …..... 40 N.C. Meat Suite …..................................................................... 69 N.C. Simmental Association …................................................ 33 National Beef Checkoff/ North Carolina Cattle Industry Assessment …............... 39 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association 2021 Policy Priorities …................................................... 47 Nationwide® AgriBusiness Insurance — The Wills Agency ..... 54 Nationwide® AgriBusiness Insurance — The Wills Agency ….. 71 P.H. White Company …............................................................. 34 Pearson Livestock Equipment …............................................... 3 Pennington Seed — Mohawk …............................................... 26 Piedmont Regional Beef Conference Webinar Series …......... 52 Post Drivers USA ….................................................................. 27 Premier Select Sires — 2021 Spring Specials …..................... 14 Ragan & Massey — UF-Riata …................................................ 46 Red Angus Association of the Carolinas Directory …............. 24 Rusty Thomson & Family Cattle Fencing and Equipment ….. 67 South Carolina Private Treaty Sale Checkoff Investment Form ….......................................... 43 Southeast Livestock Exchange — Upcoming Sale Schedule ............................................ 17 Southern Eagle Ranch Generations of Genetics Production Sale V …......................................................... 60 Springfield Angus …................................................................ 71 The Barn Loft — Purina Wind & Rain ….................................. 63 The Carolina Cattle Connection 2021 Spotlight Schedule ….. 49 The Carolina Cattle Connection Advertising Rates and Sizes …........................................ 31 Virginia Herd Health Management Services ......................... 66 West End Precast — Feed Bunks ….......................................... 61 West End Precast — Feed Bunks & Troughs …........................ 51 Whitehall Beefmasters …........................................................ 71 Whitestone Farm 28th Annual Pasture Performance Tested Angus Bull & Female Sale ….............................................. 9 Wilkes Livestock Exchange ….................................................. 22 Yon Family Farms …................................................................. 71
The Carolina Cattle Connection
q MARCH 2021
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VENTS ANGUS Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C. Mar. 21 — Virginia BCIA/SW VA Bull Test Open House, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 22 — 33rd Partners in Progress Angus, Hereford, & Baldy Female Sale Mar. 27 — G&E Virginia Premium Assured Heifer Sale, Gretna, Va. Mar. 27 — 42nd Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 27 — BCIA Influenced Virginia Premium Assured Plus Bred Heifer Sale, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 27 — Whitestone Farm 28th Annual Pasture Performance Tested Angus Bull & Female Sale, Aldie, Va. Apr. 3 — 28th Annual Grassy Valley Angus Production Sale, Greeneville, Tenn. Apr. 10 — Knoll Crest Farm Spring Bull & Female Sale, Red House, Va. Apr. 10 — Southern Eagle Ranch Generations of Genetics Sale V Moneta, Va. Apr. 10 — 14th Annual Southern Synergy Angus Female Production Sale, Wadley, Ga. Apr. 24 — Lazy Acres Angus ‘Focus Now, Value Later’ Bull and Female Sale, Rocky Mount, Va. Apr. 24 — 37th Annual NCAA Spring Fever Sale, Union Grove, N.C. Oct. 9 — Black Grove Farms Female Sale, Newberry, S.C. Oct. 16 — Fred Smith Company Ranch Extra Effort Bull & Female Sale, Clayton, N.C. Nov. 6 — Barnett Angus 2nd Annual Bull Sale, Washington, Ga. Nov. 6 — 13th SimAngus Solution Sale, Burlington, N.C. Dec. 4 — 46th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C. 2022 Jan. 1 — 13th Annual EBS Farms Select Bull & Female Sale, Norwood, N.C. Charolais Mar. 21 — Virginia BCIA/SW VA Bull Test Open House, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 27 — 42nd Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 27 — BCIA Influenced Virginia Premium Assured Plus Bred Heifer Sale, Wytheville, Va. GELBVIEH Mar. 21 — Virginia BCIA/Southwest Virginia Bull Test Open House, Wytheville, Va.
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Mar. 27 — 42nd Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 27 — BCIA Influenced Virginia Premium Assured Plus Bred Heifer Sale, Wytheville, Va. Apr. 10 — Knoll Crest Farm Spring Bull & Female Sale, Red House, Va. Dec. 4 — 46th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C. HEREFORD Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C. Mar. 21 — Virginia BCIA/SW VA Bull Test Open House, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 22 — 33rd Partners in Progress Angus, Hereford, & Baldy Female Sale Mar. 27 — 53rd Annual N.C. Hereford Classic Sale, Statesville, N.C. Mar. 27 — 42nd Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 27 — BCIA Influenced Virginia Premium Assured Plus Bred Heifer Sale, Wytheville, Va. Apr. 10 — Knoll Crest Farm Spring Bull & Female Sale, Red House, Va. Red angus Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C. salers Apr. 10 — Southern Eagle Ranch Generations of Genetics Sale V, Moneta, Va. Santa Gertrudis May 8 — 48th Annual Breeders of the Carolinas Sale, Chester, S.C. SIMMENTAL Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C. Mar. 21 — Virginia BCIA/SW VA Bull Test Open House, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 27 — 42nd Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 27 — BCIA Influenced Virginia Premium Assured Plus Bred Heifer Sale, Wytheville, Va. Oct. 16 — Fred Smith Company Ranch Extra Effort Bull & Female Sale, Clayton, N.C. Nov. 6 — 13th SimAngus Solution Sale, Burlington, N.C. Dec. 4 — 46th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.
The Carolina Cattle Connection q MARCH 2021
WAGYU Mar. 27 — Bowman Farms Complete Dispersion Sale, Roaring River, N.C. OTHER EVENTS Mar. 2 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Mar. 2 — Southeast Livestock Exchange Video Auction Mar. 4 — Piedmont Regional Beef Conference Webinar Series Mar. 11 — Piedmont Regional Beef Conference Webinar Series Mar. 13 — March Madness Replacement Female & Bull Sale, Chester, S.C. Mar. 16 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Mar. 18 — Piedmont Regional Beef Conference Webinar Series Mar. 21 — Virginia BCIA/SW VA Bull Test Open House, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 22 — 33rd Partners in Progress Angus, Hereford, & Baldy Female Sale Mar. 25 — Piedmont Regional Beef Conference Webinar Series Mar. 25 — Weaned Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C. Mar. 27 — G&E Virginia Premium Assured Heifer Sale, Gretna, Va. Mar. 27 — 42nd Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale, Wytheville, Va. Mar. 27 — BCIA Influenced Virginia Premium Assured Plus Bred Heifer Sale, Wytheville, Va. Apr. 6 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Apr. 20 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction May 4 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction May 6 — Non-Weaned Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C.
May 15 — Cattlemen’s Top Cut Commercial Replacement Female Sale, Washington, Ga. May 18 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Jun. 1 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Jun. 15 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Jun.17 — Weaned Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C. Jul. 6 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Jul. 20 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Aug. 3 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Aug. 5 — Weaned Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C. Aug. 10-12 — NCBA Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show, Nashville, Tenn. Aug. 17 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Sep. 7 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Sep. 9 — Weaned Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C. Sep. 21 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Oct. 5 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Oct. 19 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Nov. 2 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Nov. 16 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction Dec. 4 — 46th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C. Dec. 7 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction
IGHTER A General of the U.S. Air Force decided that he would personally intervene in the recruiting crisis affecting all of our armed services. As he and his staff were standing near a brand new F-15 Fighter, a pair of twin brothers who looked like they had just stepped off a Marine Corps recruiting class walked up to them. The chief of staff walked up to them, stuck out his hand and introduced himself. He looked at the first young man and asked, “Son, what skills can you bring to the Air Force?” The young man looks at him and says, “I’m can pilot!” The general gets all excited, turns to his aide and says, “Sign him today, do all the paper work get on with it”
IDE
The aide hustles the young man off. The general looks at the second young man and asked, “What skills to you bring to the Air Force?” The young man says, “I chop wood!” “Son,” the general replies, “We don’t need wood choppers in the Air Force, what do you know how to do?” “I chop wood!” “Young man,” huffs the general, “You are not listening to me, we don’t need wood choppers, this is the 21st century!” “Well,” the young man says, “You hired my brother!” “Of course we did,” says the general, “He can pilot!” The young man rolls his eyes and says, “Dang it, I have to chop it before he can pile it!”