LMD Jan 2010

Livestock “The greatest homage we can pay to truth is to use it.”

– JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL JANUARY 15, 2010 •

Riding Herd

MARKET

Digest

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by LEE PITTS

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Volume 52 • No. 1

get a lot of fan mail, most of it addressed to Current Resident or Occupant. I bet I get more incoherent and childish mail than Santa Claus. And that’s just the junk mail I get from insurance and credit card companies. But once in a great while I leave my post office with a giddy feeling after having received a piece of fan mail. (Okay, so the only real fan mail I get is addressed, “Dear Idiot.”)

Most of the people who buy my books or read my column are country folks and over the years I’ve made the following generalization: People who live in the country have much simpler addresses than people who reside or work in the big cities of this nation. The closer you get to a metropolis the more complicated the address.

It seems this has always been the case. Theodore Roosevelt owned two ranches and you could send a letter to our Teddy bear of a President either at Elkhorn Ranch, 25 miles north of the railroad, Medora, North Dakota, or Chimney Butte Ranch 8 miles south of the railroad, Medora. And it would get there! Even today I get mail with just a town, zip code and a ranch name like Happy Valley or Whispering Pines Ranch.

Most mail I receive that originates in the country either has a P.O. Box number or something like HC 31, Box 1327. For you townies, the HC stands for “Highway Contract,” and refers to non-postal service employees who deliver the mail under contract to USPS. A lot of my mail that comes from Idaho and Utah carries an address like 30 W 20 S, which is a brilliant system for naming streets and roads that I’ve been told originated with the Mormons. You don’t need a GPS to find such an address!

What little city mail I get usually carries an impressive address with a company

I Grounds For Divorce

by Lee Pitts s with most marriages, the one between the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and the NCBA seems to be going through some tough times.

Although they’ve been doing their fighting behind closed doors for years, if you listened hard enough you could hear their squabbling. But recently their marriage problems exploded worse than Mrs. Woods when she learned of Tiger’s extracurricular activities. The only thing different is that the NCBA and CBB spat hasn’t surfaced in the media. Until now.

Although our detractors will probably call us the livestock industry’s equivalent of the National Enquirer, we’d argue that what follows was not something we made up. It came straight from letters from the Beef Board to the NCBA. And since it’s your money they are fighting over, we thought you deserved to know what’s going on.

As previously reported, the NCBA formed a Governance Task Force that’s been working since July 2008 on recommendations for changing NCBA’s governance structure. These were the first visible signs that the marriage wasn’t working. When the Task Force unveiled their “conceptual framework” it became obvious to anyone who

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“Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.” could read that their goal wasn’t so much about improving anything, but was more about grabbing the rest of the checkoff money they couldn’t stuff in the bag the first time around. And from all indications, the NCBA really needs the money.

Sometimes when you plant seeds good things grow. Two months ago we wrote about what NCBA was trying to get away with and in response we received information from, not just one, but two very disgruntled folks who shared documents with us that you were, no doubt, never meant to see. Even though it’s your money. We think these tipsters are real heroes, as is the Cattlemen’s Beef Board who are

putting up a good fight on your behalf. It’s finally dawned on them that marrying the checkoff with the NCBA might not have been a good idea after all. It’s not just us saying this . . . it’s them.

After NCBA’s Executive Committee sent out the task force’s recommendations the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee wrote a letter back to them expressing their concerns about the recommendations. Here are a few tidbits from that letter, dated October 31, from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee and addressed to Jan Lyons and John Queen, Co-Chairs of the Governance Task Force.

CBB “We were gratified to hear of your strong commitment to the maintenance of the “firewall” between checkoff and noncheckoff funds at NCBA. As we discussed this important issue, we realized there are two facets to the firewall. One facet of the firewall relates to the expenditure of funds, and the other facet relates to the firewall of governance over checkoff funds at the Federation.

Since there is an expectation of a separation of governance over Federation funds, we are very distressed to observe the proposed elimination of this separation.

When the leadership of CBB met with 12 industry organizations over the past 18 months, the strongest and most consistent message we heard was the insistence on a greater separation between the Federation of State Beef Councils (Federation) and the policy activities of NCBA. Your current proposed conceptual model is diametrically opposed to the expressed desire of the leadership of organizations representing an overwhelming majority of beef producers. We are, therefore, extremely concerned that you have not given adequate attention to this important issue.”

CBB “In 2004-2005, NCBA went through an exercise to identify steps that needed to be taken to build a stronger identity and continued on page two

We’re paying to have environmentalists sue us he federal government spends about the same amount of money funding environmental lawyers as it does to protect endangered species, said a Wyoming lawyer who defends ranchers involved in environmental lawsuits. During the New Mexico Joint Stockmen’s Convention in Albuquerque in December, attorney Karen BuddFalen said that she had been curious how much money the federal government paid the lawyers who initiated cases against her clients. Her inquiry into this, and other fees paid out by the government, uncovered more than $4.7 billion in taxpayer money that the government paid to environmental law firms between 2003 and 2007. That represents an average of $940 million a year, compared to $922 million spent directly on the 986 endangered and threatened species, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

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Service’s annual report.

According to her research, Budd-Falen found that three environmental groups — Western Watersheds Council, Forest Guardians and the Center for Biological Diversity — filed more than 700 lawsuits against the U.S. government between 2000 and 2009.

“That money is not going into programs to protect people, wildlife, plants and animals,” Budd-Falen told the Capital Press, “but to fund more lawsuits.”

According to Budd-Falen, environmental groups are eligible for government funds under the Equal Access to Justice Act, which provides for the award of attorney fees to “prevailing parties” in cases against the government. The firms also are accessing government funds continued on page four

continued on page nine

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January 15, 2010

Grounds For Divorce ownership of the Federation by members of the Federation and state beef councils. NCBA went so far as to have a separate session for Federation directors and a great deal of excitement and energy resulted. The structure you are now proposing totally rejects the valuable lessons learned over the past several years about the importance of a Federation whose directors feel a sense of purpose and ownership in the Federation. Several of our Executive Committee members were involved in those Federation exercises and are convinced that your current direction is misguided. In addition, your gap analysis indicated the need for a stronger identity for the Federation, yet your proposed structure basically eliminates the Federation.”

continued from page one

retary of Agriculture that we will ensure the accountability and integrity of the beef checkoff and ensure the checkoff works for the benefit of all beef producers and importers. As such we feel compelled to tell you that we believe the proposed structure will create a conflict of interest so significant that it could ultimately cause the demise of the beef checkoff program for which we have all worked hard and a program which NCBA itself has frequently touted as helping to improve beef demand and has even paid to defend. We strongly urge you to protect the identity of the Federation and maintain its responsibility to all beef producers by retaining the Federation as a separate body, which has as one of its duties the approval of its own

The separate divisions were maintained because of the strong desire of the state beef councils to retain the identity of the Federation and the control of the Federation . . .

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CBB “The merger of the Beef Industry Council and the National Cattlemen’s Association in 1996 was a partial merger in that separate divisions were maintained. The separate divisions were maintained because of the strong desire of the state beef councils to retain the identity of the Federation and the control of the Federation over checkoff funds managed by NCBA. Your current proposal results in more of a takeover of the Federation than a merger, which is a 180-degree reversal of the structure previously embraced by state beef councils.”

CBB “While we understand the need for a membership organization to ensure its “members” are fully engaged in and support the decisions of the organization, we view the requirement for the NCBA Board of Directors to sign an oath of loyalty to NCBA to be excessive and dangerous to the well-being and integrity of the beef checkoff. It is true that NCBA represents many beef producers who own a significant number of cattle, but NCBA as an organization, does not represent the majority of the producers and importers who pay into the beef checkoff. As a result, we are very concerned with your proposal that NCBA board members, who would only be loyal to NCBA, would also be responsible for approving the Federation budget.

CBB “We think this loyalty oath would constitute a conflict of interest of a magnitude that could destroy the very foundation of the beef checkoff program in the eyes of many beef producers who are not members of NCBA. As CBB members, we have sworn an oath on behalf of the U.S. Sec-

budget. Insofar as Federation funds are voluntary investments from state beef councils to be used for the benefit of all producers, we are obligated to point out that the expenditure of Federation funds must be determined by Federation directors only.”

CBB “In connection with the proposed Councils, we encourage you to take this opportunity to make checkoff-related Councils more open to other industry organizations rather than remaining so exclusive. A more inclusive or open approach to obtaining input to programs funded by the checkoff will be well received by producers who are not members of an NCBA affiliate, but who have a vested interest in the success of checkoff programs. This will also provide an opportunity for all producers to begin working together as we deal with well-funded adversaries who wish to turn consumers away from our product and ultimately eliminate animal agriculture in the U.S. We also encourage you to further develop your proposal concerning the manner in which other beef checkoff contractors would participate in the proposed structure because this issue is significant to many of the organizations that currently work with CBB and many of the state beef councils.”

CBB “In an effort to fully express how seriously we take our responsibilities, we are providing you with the oath that all Cattlemen’s Beef Board members swore to uphold when they accepted their appointments to the Board.”

THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE HAS APPOINTED EACH OF continued on page three

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

January 15, 2010

Grounds For Divorce YOU ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF YOUR FELLOW BEEF INDUSTRY PARTNERS, TO CARRY OUT THE BOARD’S RESPONSIBILITIES ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENTIRE BEEF INDUSTRY. YOUR NOMINATION AND SELECTION DEMONSTRATES THE RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE THAT YOU HAVE EARNED AS AN EFFECTIVE LEADER IN THE BEEF INDUSTRY. THIS IS A NATIONAL BOARD AND YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO REPRESENT ALL PERSONS WHO PAY THE CHECKOFF.” Wow! Repeating their marriage vows, in capital letters, no less!

So, the NCBA Governance Task Force went back into counseling to try and save their marriage with the checkoff. From this reporter’s view, it appears

We strongly encourage additional consideration by the GTF . . . that the marriage may be too far broken to save. To show that everyone is not living happily ever after we present tidbits from the next love letter that was dated December 8, 2009, and was the CBB’s response to the minor changes the Task Force made after the letter you just read.

Again it was addressed to Jan Lyons and John Queen.

CBB “We are gratified to learn that you revised some of your Recommendations in response to certain concerns expressed by our Executive Committee in its October 31, 2009 letter to the Governance Task Force (GTF), specifically removing the requirement for the Board of Directors to sign a loyalty oath to NCBA and creating more openness in program committee participation by allowing non-NCBA members to participate. However, we remain concerned about the following issues: CBB “We agree that a stronger Federation (of state beef councils) should be the cornerstone of any changes made to NCBA’s governance structure.

However, we do not agree that current recommendations would strengthen the Federation. In fact, we remained concerned about a loss of identity for Federation members since their only responsibility would be choosing two officers plus eight additional members to the Beef Promotion Operating Committee.

CBB “We also came to understand that you are recommending that state beef councils investing in the Federation would have only a 40 percent

continued from page two

vote in determining the expenditure of the checkoff funds they have invested in the NCBA. We are not sure we communicated our concern adequately in our discussion and wish to restate it here; namely, we are apprehensive that state beef councils will be less inclined to continue their current levels of investment in the Federation if they don’t see a strong role for the Federation and this could result in fewer funds available for national checkoff programs. This opinion is voiced based on Federation history.”

CBB “In addition, your Recommendations would result in 60 percent of the votes in the proposed House of Delegates at

NCBA being controlled by membership and service organizations, not state beef councils.

This recommendation is extremely troubling to us since the noncheckoff representatives of the proposed House of Delegates could recommend a Federation budget which would not be acceptable to 100 percent of the Federation representatives since they only have a combined 40 percent of the vote.”

CBB “We think it is very likely that members of other beefindustry trade organizations paying into the beef checkoff would be very distressed to learn that some of the monies they have invested in programs of beef promotion, research and education are being expended to develop regulatory or membership poli-

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cies of NCBA to which they may be diametrically opposed. We strongly encourage additional consideration by the GTF about the wisdom of using checkoff funds to reimburse expenses incurred while participating in policy development.”

CBB “While we recognize the desire to more fully achieve an additional level of integration, efficiency, unity and sense of ownership that is represented by one interpretation of the 1996 merger of BIC and NCA, we wish to offer some information for your further consideration.

As noted in the third paragraph of CBB’s Executive Committee letter of October, 31, 2009 to the GTF, there remains the stat-

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continued on page four

“BEEF’S BEST KEPT SECRET” The Beef Industry Needs a Genetic Overhaul CARCASS QUALITY & CUTOUT VALUES HAVE DECLINED TO THE LOWEST LEVEL IN THE HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRY F COW-CALF PRODUCERS WISH TO SURVIVE in today’s troubled market they

Choice grade. Recall that a few years back the standards to make Choice were lowered. With the old standards, the bulk of today’s Choice grade would be called Select. All of this brings up a serious question. If EPDs were to be the complete remedy for herd and breed improvement, why has the overall carcass quality declined to the lowest level in the history of the beef industry?

We are now hearing that a million dollar grant has been awarded three meat scientists to discover why the carcass quality has declined to such a low level. This question can be easily answered with one word: GENETICS. The gene pool in continuous crossbreeding programs becomes far to broad. This results in producing a multitude of different gene trait combina-

tions. Thus, consistency, predictability and uniformity do not appear in each must reduce their broad, evernew generation. This wide variation expanding genetic gene pools to a increases with each new generation as much smaller more highly concenthe gene pool is broadened. With trated level.

PURE, HIGHLY CONCENTRATED Back in the late 1930’s and early GENETICS, this variation does not 1940’s, Dr. J. Lush, a world renowned exist.

Iowa State University geneticist stated Keep in mind that the gene traits for that the hybrid vigor that results in early MATURITY and CONSISTENCY crossing two lines of pureblood would are the key to enjoying profitability. be short-lived. He stated that the gene The smallest number of days from traits for consistency would noticeably birth to slaughter usually determines DECREASE in the third generation. He the net return. If your cowherd exceeds continued by saying that if the CROSS 1300 pounds, the calf crop does not BREEDING continued many of the look alike, does not perform the same other essential gene traits would conand does not cut out the same. You tinue to DECREASE in each of the folshould return to the proven genetic lowing generations. theories of Basic Genetics 101. With A few decades later a number of so this in mind, we suggest that you view called “experts” in the beef industry our website: www.irishblacks.com or (many of whom had call Maurice Boney, never owned a cow or 970/587-2252 or Guy paid a feed bill) ignored Gould, 970/483-5184.

Dr. Lush’s proven genetic You will note that in theories. They proceeded just two generations you to introduce, “with big can be selling your calf hype” the idea that “bigcrops at the higher carger was better” and crosscass quality values that breeding would solved the industry enjoyed 30 some marketing problems years ago. During the past and increase net results.

25 years, 75% of the peoThis hype continues to ple who are using our this day. concentrated blood have The results of continunever paid us a visit. They continue to tell us that ous crossbreeding over the past 30 years has prothey wish they had discovered our concentrated duced a much larger cow genetics many years earlisize, the calf crops do not We consider R2W-3 to be one of our top donor cows. In herd improvement, er. Some of our bull cuslook alike, do not perwe, like the 23 Irish breeders that visited us, believe that 75% of the herd tomers have mentioned form the same and do not improvement is contributed by the female line. R2W-3 has had 2 bulls and that, since they joined our cut out the same.

2 heifers sired by 3 different herd sires with an average ultra sound score breeding program, their Meat packers are now at 11 months of age = B.F. .14, IMF 4.38, REA 13.97. The first bull calf out of the heifer calf that is nursing R2W-3 scored B.F. .168, IMF 4.35, banker is much easier to informing us that only REA 13.16. Note consistency transmitted by highly concentrated genetics.

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Grounds For Divorce ed desire of many in the industry for a greater separation of Federation and policy/membership activities so there is a clearer understanding in the industry of Federation processes and expen-

continued from page three

NCBA Board of Directors to approve a Federation budget that was recommended by the Federation. Under NCBA’s current structure, Federation division members approve Federa-

We continue to think the Federation should control its budget and expenditures without the risk of modification by non-Federation representatives.” ditures. Your Recommendations appear to move in the opposite direction of those views and this change may elicit a very divisive reaction. It is possible that moving Federation Directors into one NCBA policy organization, as has been proposed, may create more difficulties than solutions. We also ask that you keep in mind there are a significant number, and in some states a majority, of state beef council directors who represent nonNCBA affiliate organizations. It would be unfortunate if the Recommendations yielded some unintended consequences.”

CBB “Your Recommendations for the NCBA Board of Directors to approve all Federation budgets raises concerns because there would be no requirement for a certain portion of the NCBA Board of Directors to be elected from Federation representatives and there would be no requirement for the

tion budgets. We acknowledge that the current bylaws authorize the full NCBA Board of Directors to modify the Federation budget, but that requires a super majority vote (66.6 percent). We continue to think the Federation should control its budget and expenditures without the risk of modification by non-Federation representatives.”

CBB “Your Document indicated a recommendation for the NCBA Board of Directors to approve committee formation and appointments of committee leadership, but was silent about the process for determining the committees and appointing committee leadership. Should CBB, the Federation and NCBA choose to continue working together through a joint committee structure, we think our current processes of jointly determining the committee structure and jointly appointing committee leadership would need to

January 15, 2010 continue.”

CBB “As you arrive at a final set of Recommendations, we encourage you to share your conceptual framework not only with state beef councils and affiliates, but also with other organizations within the beef industry whose members also feel a sense of ownership and pride in the Beef Checkoff Program.”

We realize at the Digest that the content of the two letters is a lot to digest, (pun intended), but reread this story a couple times and what you’ll discover is that the newly proposed structure the NCBA came up with would effectively “allow a restructured NCBA Board to have final say over

expenditures of the checkoff.”

And that was in their words, not ours.

We say “Hurray for the Cattlemen’s Beef Board,” who are simply trying to save your other pocket from being picked by the NCBA. It’s a tragic irony, really, that once again the NCBA Convention will be held in San Antonio. You may recall, that’s the place where the illegitimate NCBA was born in the first place. We’ll say again what we said then, “This was, and is, a marriage that never should have taken place and the sooner the CBB finds a good attorney and divorces this gold digger the better off we’ll all be."

Environmentalists

continued from page one

through the Judgment Fund, which is a line-item appropriation in the federal budget used for paying claims against the government.

“We tried to track the fees paid to environmental groups in certain federal courts.

These guys are charging between $350 and $450 an hour in legal fees.” BuddFalen said.

Budd-Falen found in one 15-month-long case that Earthjustice Legal Foundation and the Western Environmental Law Center filed for $479,242 in attorneys’ fees.

Brian Smith, a spokesman for Earthjustice, has been

quoted as saying the foundation counts on those fees because it represents groups free of charge and that if the government had been doing its job under the Bush administration, the foundation wouldn’t be so active. He believes the current Obama administration will reduce the need for environmental lawsuits.

However, Budd-Falen doubts the steady stream of lawsuits will stop, or even slow. “Why would you stop filing litigation when you can get that kind of money? They are not filing these suits to try and protect the environment.

They are filing these suits to make money.”

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January 15, 2010

APHIS May Alter Bovine TB Rules Cattle group says plan infringes on states’ rights

By TIM HEARDEN, Capital Press

he federal government may change the way it determines areas of risk for tuberculosis in cattle.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service finished taking comments this month on a conceptual plan to better manage bovine TB. The plan would include moving away from a state-by-state classification system to “a science-based zoning approach to address disease risk,” according to a summary issued by APHIS in July. Given the current low prevalence of TB in the United States, reclassifying an entire state when the disease is only present in a small area may be unnecessary and costly for producers, the document stated.

“APHIS is looking at a variety of changes to the TB program in general,” agency spokeswoman Lyndsay Cole said. “At this point, we’re going over all of the input we received from that process. Various states have been involved with this issue. Now it’s a matter of looking at those and making a decision of what the future program will look like.”

The government envisions imposing testing requirements and movement restrictions within zones rather than entire states. The change is part of a comprehensive plan that would also add requirements to cattle imported from Mexico, enhance TB surveillance and enhance management of TB-infected herds, including by applying animal-identification standards.

A vocal proponent of the zoning change is the California Cattlemen’s Association. The state lost its TB-free status after a few cows in the central San Joaquin Valley contracted the disease in late 2007. Under the state’s “accredited advanced” status, beef producers statewide must meet certain additional state and federal standards, including testing before any kind of breeding stock can move from state to state.

“It’s absolutely costly because you have to have a veterinarian out on two separate occasions with a 72-hour waiting period between,” CCA executive vice president Matt Byrne said.

“More to the point, if you have animals that are not tied into a heightened risk of TB, then it’s a moot point.

“You’re testing for the sake of testing rather than testing because you think you’re going to find anything,” he said.

However, the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America, or R-CALF USA, strenuously objects to the new zoning idea, arguing it would infringe on states’ rights and weaken U.S. disease eradication efforts.

Under APHIS’ proposal, the agency’s Veterinary Services office would have the authority

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to establish or dissolve TB containment zones around infected herds or other high-risk areas, according to the agency’s document, “A New Approach to Managing Bovine Tuberculosis.”

The office would identify conditions that would initiate a TB

zone and define the testing requirements and movement restrictions that states would apply and enforce. The federal government would also set up criteria for expanding or shrinking the zone, whose boundaries could cross state lines, and

Page 5

establish livestock surveillance requirements within the zone, the document states.

APHIS doesn’t know when the agency would come out with a proposed rule change. Such a change would likely involve another public comment period, Byrne said.

The USDA’s Bovine TB management concept paper can be found online at: www. aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/ bovine_tuberculosis/bovine_tb.shtml.

Carbon trading fraudsters pocket $7.3 billion in Europe arbon trading fraudsters may have accounted for up to 90 percent of all market activity in some European countries, with criminals pocketing an estimated $7.3 billion, mainly in Britain, France, Spain, Denmark and Holland, according to Europol, the European law enforcement agency.

The revelation caused embarrassment for European Union (EU) negotiators at the Copenhagen climate change summit recently, where they had been pushing for an expansion of their system across the globe to penalize heavy emitters of carbon dioxide: ■ Suspicions about an unprecedented level of carbon crime over the last 18 months have led investigators to believe criminals are using “missing trader” techniques to buy up carbon credits elsewhere in Europe where there is a cheaper rate of value added tax (VAT).

■ Then they sell on the credits in the United

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Kingdom, charging the domestic rate, and pocket the difference; this has been commonplace among trading of very mobile commodities across European borders, such as phones, computer chips and cigarettes.

■ British investigators made seven arrests earlier this year over a suspected $62 million VAT scam.

Europol said it had reason to believe the sophisticated techniques developed in the carbon market could soon migrate to the gas and electricity sectors. Figures from New Energy Finance show the value of the global market falling from $38 billion in the second quarter to $30 billion in the three months to the end of September after several countries cracked down, with volumes falling from 2.1 billion tons to 1.7 billion tons.

Europol has now set up a special unit to “identify and disrupt the organized criminal structures behind these fraud schemes.”

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80-90 Brangus and Angus Plus Bulls • Most with EPDs • Registered and Commercial • Fertility-, TB-, and Brucellosis-tested • These bulls have been bred and raised under Southwest range conditions.

• Most bulls rock-footed • Trich-tested to go anywhere

800-1,000 Females. . .

• Registered Open Heifers • Registered Bred Heifers and Bred Cows • Bred Cows and Pairs – 3- to 7-yrs.-old • Bred Heifers – Coming 2-yr.-olds • Open Yearling Heifers

Livestock Market Digest

Page 6

January 15, 2010

New Year Means New Regulation for Texas Cattle n January 1, Texas bulls that undergo a change of ownership (except to slaughter) must be either certified as a virgin bull or be tested first for cattle trichomoniasis (Trich), a protozoal disease that can cause cows to abort very early in pregnancy. Infected bulls carry the microscopic “bug” that causes trichomoniasis without any signs and can transmit the singlecelled protozoa to cows during breeding.

“There is no effective treatment for bulls, and once infected, they can continue to spread trichomoniasis when they breed,” said Dr. Dee Ellis, who, on January 1, became Texas’ new state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry health regulatory agency. “Infected cows may clear the infection, but only if they are given rest from breeding for 120 to 150 days — an expensive option, as a calf crop will be missed. A vaccine also is available to help in the management of infected cows, but it will not prevent infection.”

The country’s western states have longstanding cattle trichomoniasis regulations.

In April 2009, the TAHC enacted requirements for bulls entering Texas. Instate regulations were delayed until January 1, 2010. More than 600 accredited private veterinarians in Texas have been certified to collect samples for trichomoniasis testing, and we are ready to implement the intrastate regulations for bulls undergoing a change of ownership in Texas,” said Dr. Ellis.

Dr. Ellis said the regulations will apply

O

to bulls being sold, traded, leased or undergoing any change of ownership (except for slaughter). The regulations include three basic steps: Identify the bull. Identification is essential for matching animals with virgin bull certificates or test documents. One form of identification is needed, and it may be an official USDA ear tag, breed registry brand or tattoo, an 840 flap, bangle or an 840 radio frequency identification device. If the bull originated from another state, it may have that state’s official state of origin trichomoniasis ear tag (Texas does not have an official trich ear tag). An accredited veterinarian can apply an official USDA ear tag.

Certify virgin bulls. A breeder can certify the bull as a virgin, if the animal was raised away from cows after weaning, and the bull is 24 months of age or younger. A Texas-origin bull’s virgin status may be extended to 30 months, if the virgin certificate is signed also by the breeder’s accredited veterinarian. Virgin bulls are not required to have a trichomoniasis test prior to change of ownership. Virgin bull certificates are available at no cost on the TAHC web page at http://www.tahc. state.tx.us.

Test older or non-virgin bulls. Bulls older than 30 months or bulls that were maintained with cows after weaning must have a negative trichomoniasis test within 30 days prior to change of ownership. A certified, accredited veterinarian must collect the sample for testing at the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. While awaiting test results, which usu-

ally takes about a week, the bulls must be kept away from cows. Upon receipt of the negative test results, the animal is ready for change of ownership.

“Breeding bulls that haven’t been certified as virgins or tested are considered to be slaughter-only bulls,” said Dr. Ellis. “In some cases, however, buyers may want an untested bull, although they may be buying trouble. We have provisions under the regulations for untested bulls to be identified and moved under a TAHC-issued hold order and movement permit. The animal must be isolated from female cattle, and cannot be moved until it is tested within 30 days of purchase at the owner’s expense.”

“In Texas, two tests are accepted. One is the Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction test, or PCR, which looks for the DNA of the protozoa. Because only one PCR test is needed to detect infection, this may become the preferred method for producers who want to move cattle more quickly. The second acceptable test is the culture test, and it involves looking for the protozoa under a microscope. A series of three culture tests is needed, each conducted at least seven days apart,” said Dr. Ellis.

“Because cattle trichomoniasis is a reportable disease, we will be notified regarding test-positive animals,” explained Dr. Ellis. “Test-positive bulls may undergo a confirmation test, provided the owner or the accredited, certified veterinarian makes the request within five days of the positive results.”

Because there is no effective treat-

ment, infected bulls must go to slaughter within 30 days of confirmation. The remaining bulls in the herd will be held, isolated from female cattle, until they undergo two consecutive negative RTPCR tests, each conducted at least seven days apart, or three consecutive negative culture tests, with each of the tests conducted at least seven days apart. When they are confirmed negative for trichomoniasis, the bulls remaining in the herd are free to be moved or to be commingled with cows.

“The cattle trichomoniasis regulations can save cattle producers a lot of money in the long run, because this disease greatly affects calf production. If you are obtaining a breeding bull, make sure the animal has been certified as a virgin or was tested — for your herd’s sake,” said Dr. Ellis. “We will be reviewing the regulations on a yearly basis with an industry working group, to ensure that the rules remain timely and effective.”

Texas’ trichomoniasis entry requirements for breeding bulls is similar to the intrastate regulations, but allows out-ofstate bulls to be certified as virgins only until 24 months of age. Exhibition or competition bulls may enter Texas without a trichomoniasis test, but must be kept away from female cattle. The TAHC must be contacted in advance of entry for a waiver of the test requirement to be issued on exhibition bulls.

The TAHC’s cattle trichomoniasis regulations and additional information are available on the TAHC web site at: http://www. tahc.state.tx.us.

Temple Grandin Biopic To Debut On HBO — February 6, 2010

by JOE ROYBAL

he U.S. beef industry will be front and center of America on Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. (EST). That marks the premiere on HBO of a biopic entitled “Temple Grandin.” The work chronicles the developmental and early professional years of Temple Grandin, the noted animal behaviorist and designer of livestock-handling facilities.

Probably no person has had a greater effect over the past few decades on livestock handling in the U.S. or worldwide than Grandin, a Colorado State University professor of animal science. Grandin-designed facilities are in use throughout the world; in North America, almost half of all cattle are handled in a centertrack restrainer system she designed for meat plants. Her writings on the flight zone and other principles of grazing animal behavior have helped many people to reduce stress on their animals during handling.

But Grandin’s accomplishments are particularly noteworthy because she’s one of the world’s highest functioning autistics.

She’s worked to foster a better understanding of autism among the general population and is a

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prominent advocate for autism rights. And it’s that vein that the HBO presentation explores using the livestock industry as a backdrop to her personal discovery and development.

in a two-decade period that chronicles Grandin’s challenges, growth and triumphs in the 1960s and ’70s. Julia Ormond plays Grandin’s mother Eustacia, Catherine O’Hara is her Aunt

The HBO presentation explores autism using the livestock industry as a backdrop to Grandin's personal discovery and development.

“It’s a really important story to tell. We’ve got to get kids into good educational programs and we’ve got to show that people with autism can do things. There are a lot of successful people who have even mild autism; I see them in all kinds of fields – construction, computer programmers and engineering. I even recognized autism traits in some of the people on the HBO set,” she says.

“Temple Grandin” is directed

by Mick Jackson from a screenplay by Christopher Monger and William Merritt Johnson that’s based on the books “Emergence,” by Grandin and Margaret Scariano, and “Thinking in Pictures” by Grandin. The production is studded with big names: Golden Globe winner Claire Danes portrays Grandin

Ann, and David Strathairn is her influential high school science teacher and mentor Dr. Carlock.

The film’s publicity notes describe the work this way: “The film chronicles Temple’s early diagnosis; her turbulent growth and development during her school years; the enduring support she received from her mother, her aunt and her science teacher; and her emergence as a woman with an innate sensitivity and understanding of animal behavior.”

The film provides a fascinating and unique blend of storytelling sprinkled with first-person perspective.

Viewers are schooled on Grandin’s autism by being taken inside her mind with a series of snapshot images that trace her self-perceptions and journey from childhood to the

beginning of her career.

Director Jackson explains: “Before Temple, nobody had said, ‘this is how it feels. This is what day to day, moment to moment, second to second, an autistic person goes through.’ And yet, through her writings and lectures, Temple had done that, and I thought this would be a wonderful and unique opportunity. We could use all the techniques of cinema to try and bring this very different perception of the world to light for other people.”

Credit for realization of the work goes to executive producer Emily Gerson Saines, mother of an autistic child. She was given Grandin’s book “Thinking in Pictures,” which helped her maneuver through her son’s very difficult early years.

“When I read Temple’s book it became my singular source of hope. It allowed me to believe that my son could one day contribute something to society,” she says.

Hoping to bring the moving story to life, Gerson Saines reached out to Grandin, whose familiarity with Gerson Saines’ cofounding of the Autism Coalition was the ticket to their collaboration. continued on page seven

Charolais registry expands to include one-half blood bulls motion was adopted at the fall Board of Directors meeting to create a separate registry for half-blood bulls in which either the sire or dam is purebred registered Charolais or both parents are at least halfblood Charolais. Requirement for registry are as follows: 1) No black cattle will be recorded.

2) Males can be recorded with either a dark or light nose.

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3) Males can be recorded if either their sire or dam is purebred registered Charolais or if both their sire and dam are recorded Charolais (1/2 blood or higher) 4) Males will not be recorded if they are less than half-blood Charolais.

5) Separate registry — cannot ever come into the purebred registry, no breeding up.

6) Any progeny out of these males will stay in the separate registry.

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

January 15, 2010

Good Deeds Gone Awry

Baxter BLACK ON

THE

EDGE

OF

ost of us in our daily lives have occasion to be a good Samaritan.

It’s a tenet in the Cowboy Code; to be kind to the less fortunate, to help someone in need. Selfless deeds like stopping to help a stranded motorist, feed the neighbors dogs and horses while they are away, or euthanize an old cat . . . well, maybe I shouldn’t count that as a good deed, but I am a veterinarian!

However, in spite of our good intentions, our generosity can backfire! Like offering to tune Willie Nelson’s guitar, or painting someone’s car while they were away, or as a surprise, cutting down the big oak tree in the neighbor’s yard so they can have a better view of the reclaimed open pit mine.

There are many versions of friends helping friends who are doing something in the dark that needs illumination; like siphoning gas, or adjusting the acetylene torch, or sticking a bloat! I can still hear the scratch of a

match and Hank saying, “Here, lemme hep ya! as my trocar penetrated the swollen rumen! The explosion lit the night sky, sterilized the surgical field, set the brim of my hat on fire and singed my moustache! But, he meant well.

I ran into Scott at the Wheat Growers meeting. He reminded me that he had come to a poetry gathering I had done in Ogden, Utah. He had worried that he would not be able to get a good seat, tickets were scarce. “But,” he said, “to my good fortune I managed to get a single on the fourth row center!

“It was great,” he told me, “There were lots of fancy lookin’ cowgirls prancing down the aisles, boots shinin’ and curls bouncin’. Maybe one or even two would have the seats next to mine!”

Five minutes before the curtain rose he heard the usher escorting an elderly lady down the aisle with her walker. They stopped at the end of his row.

Those seated rose so she could

“Temple’s story was that of a woman who didn’t overcome her autism, but who used her autism to great effect,” explains Gerson Saines. “Temple not only changed the face of the livestock industry, but she really changed the face of autism. She was able to tell people what it was she was feeling and, to a greater extent, how it made her feel.”

Grandin is very effectively portrayed in the film by Danes. In fact, anyone who actually knows Grandin should be awed by Danes’ accurate depiction of her mannerisms and speech. I have seen an advance copy of the film, and Danes’ depiction of Grandin is spot on; it’s an amazing and moving acting performance.

Danes says her experience in becoming Grandin was “both a visual and auditory exercise.”

The duo met for half a day in Danes’ New York apartment, and Grandin provided Danes with hours of her videotaped presentations.

During their meeting, Danes recorded some of their conversations, which her vocal coach then broke down into segments for her to download onto her iPod. Through a series of daily drills, Danes quickly adopted Grandin’s cadence and speech patterns.

Besides repeatedly viewing Grandin in videotapes and studying her language and body movements, Danes says she spent weeks reading literature on autism, observing at autistic schools, meeting with autistic teenage girls, and working with coaches to reproduce Grandin’s

speech and body movements.

“Temple describes herself as a visual thinker and that language is basically secondary for her,” Danes says. “I tried to see like that, to render that. Sometimes I would attempt to think the way that she does and I would find myself making sort of visual puns when I was in that mode.”

Grandin says she’s impressed by the final work. “I hope this movie will do a lot of things, better awareness of autism being one thing. But, I thought it was wonderful. I was watching Claire being me and it was like traveling in a time machine back to the 1960s and ’70s.”

Grandin’s involvement in the work was integral. “I read over the script and they changed things I hated. I was adamant that they depict me as I was. I never did a lot of boy chasing and dating; tons of romantic stuff is not part of my life. I have to admit I occasionally used a few swear words.

“And the cattle had to be right.

I didn’t want Holstein calves or a situation like in the movie ‘City Slickers’ where the cattle weren’t right,” Grandin says.

Overall, the production is true to actual events, though there is some time compression of events in order to fit the story, she says.

“I think the beef industry comes across very well in this movie. I had a lot of input into making my cattle stuff accurate and they showed a feedyard as a door to opportunity, so the beef industry was presented very well,” Grandin says.

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COMMON

SENSE

work her way to the seat right next to me! The usher stood her walker in the aisle.

Scott said the lady was nice and laughed a lot. She managed to stand up during the patriotic piece, and then later at the conclusion of the show. As she stood

to leave, she tottered and seemed to collapse! Scott slid his hands underneath her armpits and caught her. She was so light, so frail, he remembered. She said something he didn’t catch and then toppled over again! Once more he stepped in to save the day!

“Why don’t you just sit down and I’ll go get your walker,” Scott offered.

She turned to look at him and said, “I was trying to tell you, sonny, the usher’s got my walker and is waiting for me. And if you’ll just let me pick up my purse, I’ll go!”

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Livestock Market Digest

Page 8

January 15, 2010

Argentina could be forced to import beef rgentina, a nation that prides itself on having more cattle than people, may soon be forced to import beef to keep its meat-loving citizens happy at the dinner table.

Intense government efforts to keep meat affordable through taxes, export restrictions and price controls have enabled Argentines to eat record amounts of beef this year, but the short-term bonanza has come at a very steep cost. With little or no profit left in meat, ranchers are selling out, slaughtering even the female cows needed to maintain their herds.

President Cristina Fernandez, who famously dismissed soy as a “weed,” has said her government must protect consumers at a time when booming soy production has taken over 32 million acres (13 million hectares) of grassland once used for ranching.

Her government also has paid huge subsidies for massive feedlot operations where previously grass-fed cattle are fattened on corn and grain.

But it still takes three years

A

from the moment a calf is born for a cut of beef to reach the supermarket, where the price — set weekly by government bureaucrats — is roughly two dollars per pound (half kilo), less than the going rate for a pizza that takes minutes to make.

Those low prices have Argentines, already some of the world’s biggest beef consumers, practically gorging on steaks. By August of this year, Argentines devoured more than the average body weight in beef — nearly 165 pounds (73.9 kilos), the most in 15 years, according to the Chamber of Commerce of the Argentine Meat Industry.

Most Argentines stubbornly reject the idea of replacing beef with chicken, pork or other meats.

Despite rich South Atlantic fisheries, seafood is rarely seen on dinner tables, and vegetarians are generally seen as culturally suspect. A typical “parillada,” or mixed grill, includes ribs, steaks, sausages and even intestines.

Argentina’s meat industry slaughtered about 11 million head of cattle during the first eight months of last year, more

than any similar period in the past two decades. “It would be great news were it not for the fact that 50 percent of the cattle slaughtered were female,” said Miguel Schiariti, the chamber’s president.

To maintain meat supplies, the government has applied not only a 15 percent export tax, but other rules such as a requirement that butcher freezers allocate 60 percent of their cuts for domestic distribution.

“By 2011, the shortage will be evident and it will be impossible to continue without importing beef,” added Hugo Biolcati, president of the Argentine Rural Society, which called on its 10,000 members — mostly large property owners involved in ranching and farming — to join a recent anti-government protest in the capital.

The weather hasn’t helped: Argentina has suffered the worst drought in 70 years in about a third of its farmbelt, forcing some ranchers to sell off cattle with barely enough meat on their bones to slaughter.

J

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All this adds up to a bleak future for meat lovers: Once beef production fails to meet demand, either prices will rise significantly or fixed-price meat will suffer widespread shortages, and Argentines will either have to consume

30 Spring Bred Commercial Heifers 65 Coming Two Year Old Bulls Jauer Anchor 86 1021 - A deep, thick, 6807 granddaughter from our 2009 Sale.

less or import their beef.

“At this rate we're going to end up having to import beef from our neighbors," said Angel Girardi, president of the Argentine Association of Beef Producers. “Their meat will be sub-par in quality and much more expensive.”

At roughly 55 million head, cattle still outnumber the 49 million humans in Argentina, but that will flip in 2011 if current trends continue, according to beef industry consultant Victor Tonelli.

Argentina is expected to have

Does tofu constitute cruel and unusual punishment? ine inmates are suing over their soy-laden prison diet. Only one of the Danville Correctional Center plaintiffs, Kendrick Adams, has served time at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, but officials from that prison are among those being sued. Stateville warden Frank Shaw and Stateville’s health care unit administrator, listed as John Doe #5, are among the defendants.

Menu items recently served to inmates included soy-blend hot dogs, soy-spiked sloppy joes and several other soy-enhanced dishes.

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Soylent killer?

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3 million fewer calves next year — cattle that would have produced 600,000 tons of meat at slaughter.

The agricultural economy is already being hit hard, and that will likely mean less revenue for the government. Even with steep taxes, beef exports totaled 4.4 million tons in 2008, worth $1.5 billion. This year’s numbers aren’t in yet, but the chamber expects a steep decline in 2010.

To maintain meat supplies, the government has applied not only a 15 percent export tax, but other rules such as a requirement that butcher freezers allocate 60 percent of their cuts for domestic distribution.

The Fernandez administration has repeatedly modified these rules to adapt to market pressures, and the changing landscape has made it difficult for producers to make long-term investments in herds.

Juan Carlos Tolosa, president of the Yaguare Corporation, one of Argentina’s 700 butcher freezers, said the number of cows going to slaughter is already declining: His company slaughters only 3,500 cattle a week now, down from 5,000 a few years ago.

While a lot of health advocates say soy is better than meat, the federal lawsuit says the Illinois Department of Corrections is endangering inmates health by serving so much soy.

The inmates are seeking a soy-free diet and medical treatment for conditions they say are caused by the soy they’ve been forced to eat. Providing meals with “more than 25 grams of soy per day” constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment.”

The lawsuit says soybeans contain “potent endocrine disrupters and have thyroid suppressing effects when injested in quantity” and “anti-nutritional factors” including “oligosaccharides (which cause flatulence).”

The inmates say they have suffered heart problems, arterial blockages, fainting, irritable bowel syndrome, vomiting and more because of the soy. They say they haven’t received proper treatment for their soy-induced conditions, including failure to provide Metamucil.

Though the FDA’s guidelines allow up to 25 grams of soy per

day, the lawsuit claims that number is being examined in light of findings from Israel, Germany and France that indicate consuming a lot of soy may have effects on fertility and cause a higher risk of breast cancer.

Soy advocates Mayo Clinic’s website applauds soy as “an excellent source of dietary protein, including all essential amino acids” and says soy protein has been studied to help “cardiovascular disease risk factors, reducing menopausal symptoms, weight loss, arthritis, brain function, and exercise performance enhancement.” It may “decrease the risk of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men,” the site reports.

The Illinois Soybean Association says soy can help lower bad cholesterol. It’s no surprise that Illinois prisons are using soy.

Last year, 9,200 acres of Illinois land were planted with soybean, yielding 427,700 bushels. The Illinois Corrections Department says it started serving soyenhanced foods in 2004 as a cost-cutting measure.

The department has asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit and declined to comment on the pending litigation.

The lawsuit is funded by the Weston A. Price Foundation, which promotes traditional and largely unprocessed foods. If the lawsuit succeeds and the inmates get their wish, they may hope the foundation isn’t in charge of the new menu. The Weston A. Price Foundation advocates, among other things, the consumption of organ meats, like liver; cod liver oil; homemade bone broths; and raw milk.

January 15, 2010

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

Page 9

Congressional bill would “decimate U.S. livestock and poultry sector” ore than 20 million acres of cropland in the Corn Belt states would likely be converted to forests under a congressional plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to an Agriculture Department analysis.

Such reductions in cropland will not only raise commodity prices for farmers but also increase feed costs for livestock producers and lead to cuts in production of beef, pork and milk, raising retail food prices, the study found.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that the projected land shifts would be “disruptive to agriculture in some regions of the country” but questioned the accuracy of the projections, which are based on a computer model developed at Texas A&M University.

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Vilsack said the model’s assumptions may overestimate the amount of forest land likely to be created.

The projections are likely to make it more difficult for President Obama to convince farmstate senators on legislation that would create a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Under legislation that passed the House this year and is now being considered in the Senate, utilities, refiners and other companies would have to reduce greenhouse gases or else buy offsets, or credits, from landowners who have reduced carbon emissions by planting trees or altering farming methods.

According to the USDA analysis, about 59 million acres of land across the nation would be converted to forest by 2050 because

of the carbon-offset program.

Some 22.5 million acres of that new forest land would be in five Corn Belt states — Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri and Ohio.

Some of that land is now in pasture, but 20.6 million acres are now used for growing crops, according to the study.

The Department of Agriculture study said another 15.1 million acres of new forests would be created in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin to earn carbon credits.

Government economists have said the Texas A&M computer model is the best source for analyzing the agricultural impacts of climate legislation. However, Vilsack said the analysis should be updated to better reflect the legislation being considered in Congress.

“In addition to reducing

greenhouse gas emissions, I strongly believe that energy and climate legislation should be structured to help farmers profit from new income opportunities

The projections are likely to make it more difficult for President Obama to convince farm-state senators on legislation that would create a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and that an outcome that damages agriculture is not anyone’s intent or interest,” Vilsack said.

Terry Francl, an economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said a cap-and-trade pro-

gram would harm rural businesses by reducing the number of U.S. farms and pushing crop and livestock production overseas.

“Less seed is sold, less fuel is sold, less fertilizer is sold, less money is lent,” Francl said. “The bottom line is that those who bear the brunt on that are going to be the rural communities.”

The forecast reduction in cropland would cut the U.S. corn harvest in 2050 by 22 percent from projected levels. Hog slaughter, in turn, would fall by 23 percent in 2050 and beef slaughter would drop 10 percent, according to the study.

The National Grain and Feed Association, which represents grain and feed processors, issued a statement warning that climate legislation “could decimate the U.S. livestock and poultry sector” while shifting crop production overseas.

Lifestyle Trends: The Good Old Days are now ife expectancy for Americans has never been longer, food has never been cheaper, and the U.S. economy has never been more energy efficient than today. These are just a few of many long-term trends that demonstrate that the “good old days” are now, and life for the average American keeps getting better and better all the time, says Mark J. Perry, a professor of economics and finance at the University of Michigan-Flint.

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control: ■ Life expectancy for Americans reached an all-time high of nearly 78 years (77.9) in 2007

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Riding Herd continued from page one

logo, name, title, building name and suite number. In general, the longer the address the more egotistical the person is, the only exceptions being preachers and inmates. Attorneys have the most highfalutin addresses and they nearly always add “esquire” to their names, which used to mean that the person was a candidate for knighthood. I fail to see how that applies to lawyers of today but I’m sure an attorney will write and tell me. (And I guarantee his or her address will be real long.)

Another thing I’ve noticed about mail from the country is that either the person writes their return address longhand or has a rubber stamp. You won’t believe this but in 25 years of selling books via mail order there were only two handwritten addresses that I could not decipher. Country folks take a lot of pride in the disappearing art of writing longhand legibly. Except for the feedlots that send me mail, I see very little personal stationery. Country folks are very conservative, thrifty, do not waste resources,

(most recent data available), the age-adjusted death rate dropped to a new all-time low, and life expectancy for black males reached a new record of 70 years.

■ Compared to the life expectancy in 1929 of only 57.1 years, the average American today can expect to live almost 21 years longer.

According to the USDA: ■ Food expenditures by families and individuals (both at home and at restaurants) as a share of disposable personal income reached an all-time record low of 9.6 percent in 2008.

■ Spending on food as a share of income was twice that high in the 1950s (average of 19.3 percent), and almost three times as

aren’t showy, and well over half the mail I receive is sent in small envelopes. Many country folks will paste on a return address sticker that features the Cowboy Hall of Fame, a picture of a bull or a patriotic theme such as “Support Our Troops.” You seldom see these types of stickers on mail from big city firms. Also, country folks put a lot more effort into the stamps they select.

I’ve also observed lately that the Post Office has slowed down. Back when California became a state the joke was that by the time it took the election results to get from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco by mail, a newly elected Senator from California might find his term of office had expired by the time he got to Washington. Considering the politicians from the Golden State lately, one can only hope for a return to the good old days.

I shouldn’t pick on the Post Office. For the most part they do a great job. Only recently I heard of an elderly person who, during a senior moment, addressed a letter to a person’s e-mail address and used their phone number instead of a zip code.

It got to its intended destination in just three days! Really.

high in the early 1930s.

According to data from the Energy Information Administration: ■ The energy consumption required (measured in thousands of British thermal units) to produce a real dollar of output (Gross Domestic Product) fell to an all-time record low of 8.52 in 2008.

■ Compared to 1970 when it took 18 Btus to produce a real dollar of GDP, today’s economy is more than twice as energy-efficient.

Source: Mark J. Perry, “Long-term Lifestyle Trends Prove Positive,” The American, Dec. 3, 2009.

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January 15, 2010

Ultrasound as a feedlot marketing tool sing ultrasound to measure carcass quality and establish EPDs in the purebred beef industry has long been accepted practice. Every cattleman knows that quality beef starts with quality genetics. And centralized processing labs like the CUP Lab™ have made ultrasound data accurate and reliable.

But using ultrasound technology in the feedlot side of the business is just beginning to catch on. The reason is simple:

U

Show me the money.

Certainly, in theory, using ultrasound to identify outliers and group cattle for targeted marketing makes sense. But in a world where every movement a calf makes can cost dollars and cents, and input costs can pile up faster than manure, producers need to see a financial advantage to investing in expensive equipment or hiring technicians, and increasing calf handling.

There are currently a variety of ultrasound software products on

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the market that measure live carcass traits and calculate an animal’s chances of scoring well on the grid. Ultrasound measurements can be very accurate predictors of carcass yield, and reasonable predictors of carcass quality, as A.R. Williams determined in a 2002 study. In fact, many studies have been conducted that show a strong correlation between ultrasound measurements taken at re-implant time (approximately 70-80 days before slaughter) and actual carcass data. In a 2000 study, J.R. Brethour concluded that ultrasound estimates of marbling and backfat during the feeding period could be used to predict carcass merit. His data show the increase in backfat thickness overtime is positively correlated to initial backfat thickness. Williams concurred that subcutaneous fat on a live carcass is directly related to carcass yield grade.

Backfat thickness is one of the most accurate ultrasound measurements. One study by T.L. Perkins et al. showed a correlation between the ultrasound and actual backfat measurements of 0.76-0.93. Likewise, Williams also determined rump fat can be a fairly accurate indication of an animal’s total carcass fat and thus its yield grade.

Measuring the ribeye area, or longissimus dorsimuscle area, may also be a clue as to the animal’s potential yield grade. Correlations between ultrasound estimates and actual measurements range from 0.43 (M.T. Smith et al.) to 0.95 (Perkins). Correlations between ultrasound intramuscular fat and actual carcass marbling scores range from 0.69 (Perkins) to 0.85 (Brethour), making it another potentially important data source.

OK, so studies have proven the correlation, but what about the economics? Can using this data to sort cattle into marketing pens be useful and economically beneficial?

In a 2000 study, S.R. Koontz et al. made the case for precision

marketing individual animals.

According to his published work, “There is an optimal slaughter date (days on feed) for each animal that maximizes profit, and there is an average loss in return of approximately $1 for each day that actual slaughter differs from the optimum.” The study evaluated the advantage of sorting cattle to different fed-cattle markets using ultrasound technology and growth curves and concluded that the returns on sorting are between $11 and $25 per head.

An experienced ultrasound technician can scan 80-100 head per hour at a cost of about $4-$8 per head. Depending on the Choice-Select spread, that may seem like a good investment.

Then, again, depending on the Choice-Select spread, it may not.

But it’s not just about working the spread.

One of the best uses of ultrasound in the feedlot is identifying animals that will not produce no matter how they are handled.

Just as ultrasound can help to eliminate inferior animals through breeding, feedlot software models can help to identify animals that are likely to produce Yield Grade 4+ carcasses before money is wasted on feeding them out. As Maro Ibarburu and John Lawrence said in the published account of their 2005 study, “Most feedlots use ultrasound to predict how long to feed an individual steer or heifer.

Perhaps “no longer” should be a choice.”

The study measured the benefit of individual animal predictions based on varying levels of information, with results ranging from $15-$35 per head additional gross profits. Specifically, results showed there is profitability in using individual animal data, including ultrasound, to accurately eliminate those that are likely to drain feed resources with little chance of producing dollars on the market.

But, once purchased and on the lot, an animal cannot be eliminated without cost.

In their study, Ibraburu and Lawrence included an assessment of cost to eliminate vs. cost to keep. They included factors such as trucking, sale barn commission, cattle owner overhead fee, feed, health treatments, insurance, less than optimum pen utilization, as well as the cost of carcass data collection, and calculated a “re-selling advantage,” or RSA, of nearly $5 per head based on the assumption that the feedlot re-sells the animal in an auction market.

As the health-conscious consumer continues to demand leaner beef and as overhead and feed costs rise, cattle that are too fat will continue to lose favor, making early assessment of an animal’s carcass even more crucial for the feedlot that wants to see a return on every dollar invested.

There are issues that limit ultrasound’s effectiveness as a market grade/feedlot profitability prediction and sorting tool. As yet, there is no reliable ultrasound measurement for tenderness, the Holy Grail of beef production. And measurements on young calves can lead to questionable predictions, as the animal has yet to realize its genetic potential.

But ultrasound is still the best tool around to guide a breeding program that will produce quality animals likely to do well in any feedlot setting and meet consumer expectations. No matter how they are sorted, cattle will only grade as well as their genetic potential allows. Using ultrasound to indentify superior genetics guarantees an edge on profit.

As the evidence shows, chuteside ultrasound measurements in the feedlot can enhance that innate value, by grouping calves into marketing pens and eliminating the animals that will ultimately cost more than they garner.

The bottom line is the bottom line. Feed costs continue to rise.

Ultrasound continues to evolve into an increasingly user-friendly and less costly technology. Do the math. Count the dollars.

Ultrasound scanning in a breeding program and in the feedlot makes sense (and cents).

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Animal rights vs. research: OSU halts study orried about stepped up activity by militant animal-rights groups, administrators at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater abruptly cancelled an anthrax vaccine study that would have killed dozens of baboons.

“There are regrettably some violent acts committed by animal-rights groups, and the president felt we should take our breath here and not do this project just yet,” OSU vicepresident of research, Stephen McKeever, told the journal Nature.

The “ResearchSaves” campaign stresses that animal studies have helped find better treatments for breast cancer, heart disease and a wide range of other ailments — including diseases that threaten animal health. Videos from the campaign are available here. The campaign is sponsored by the Foundation for Biomedical Research and the National Association for Biomedical Research.

In Oklahoma, the project, funded by the

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U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and led by Shinichiro Kurosawa of Boston University School of Medicine, had been approved by the OSU animal-care committee in September and was awaiting review by the biosafety committee when OSU President Burns Hargis vetoed it, calling the study “controversial,” Nature reported.

Kurosawa had hoped to use the OSU animal facility because it has the required level of biosafety containment for anthrax. Along with collaborators, he had planned to investigate the biochemical pathways that lead to death following anthrax infection, and to test an anthrax vaccine.

Scientists who conduct animal research in California found firebombs on their doorsteps and received threatening phone calls and emails last year, the Los Angeles Times reported. And animal-rights activists have infiltrated labs at the University of Utah this year and at the Oregon National Primate Research Center two years ago, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

January 15, 2010

Feeding round bales to cattle — improving the efficiency

by TREVOR LENNOX

inter feed often represents the largest single cost on a cowcalf operation.

Therefore when looking to reduce the cost-ofproduction, it is very important to take a long and hard look at winter feed costs.

Science tells us that a 1,300 lb. dry pregnant cow in good condition needs to eat about 27 lbs. of hay per day to maintain herself and grow a calf. But when beef producers project the feed inventory they need for the winter, they may actually estimate their cows feeding needs at 35-40 lbs. of hay per day. Where does the missing feed go? Producers are really tracking hay disappearance, rather than hay consumed by cows. Disappearance includes parts of bales spoiled during storage, dropped on the way to the feeder, and wasted or refused during the feeding process. Is there a way to improve this?

A beef producer can influence the feeding efficiency on their operation by helping to reduce the amount of feed the cows are wasting.

Cows are notorious wasters of feed, and there are some things a producer can do to minimize the amount of feed the cattle are wasting.

Research at the University of

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Missouri compared the efficiency of several hay feeding systems. The worst case scenario occurred with large round bales, fed-free choice without any feeder structure. In this situation the cows wasted 43 percent of the hay offered.

Unrolling large round bales in the field didn’t improve things much, if a week’s supply was placed at a time; losses remained in the 40 percent range.

Things improved significantly with feeding on a daily basis, where the amount of hay offered was appropriately matched to the dietary requirements of the group. Unrolling just enough feed to last each day reduced losses down to 12 percent. In this situation, cattle were actively competing for each mouthful and tended to cluster around the hay as it was being rolled out, so a relatively small amount was refused or spoiled.

Whether feeding on a daily or weekly schedule, using round bale feeders reduced waste.

When offering a week’s worth of feed at a time, they cut waste by 80 per cent relative to no feeder, in the range of five or six per cent of the total feed supplied.

Daily feeding using ring type feeders also had low wastage, in the five per cent range. If feeding daily, there must be enough feeders to allow each cow to eat at the same time. Feeding twice a week or once a week requires

less time and labour, but you need enough round bale feeders to hold the required total amount of feed.

A study at Michigan State University compared feed waste among different types of round bale feeders. Ring and ring/cone type feeders were the most efficient, resulting in an average of only 4.5 percent waste, while trailer type feeders had 11.4 percent waste. Cradle type feeders were the least efficient, with 14.6 percent of the hay wasted.

These results indicate that feeder choice is important.

In summary, no feeding system is perfect — the goal is to minimize feed wastage within a workable and cost-effective system. During the winter feeding period wastage can range from 5 percent to 40 percent, depending upon the type of feeding system.

Assuming that the price of hay is $90/ton, a five percent waste would equal an extra seven cents/cow/day while a 40 percent waste would equal an extra 54 cents/cow/day. Assuming a cattle herd of 100 cows and a feeding period of 150 days, feed waste for the winter would range from a low of $1,050 at five per cent waste to a high of $8,100 at 40 per cent waste. This is a difference of $7050, or 78 tons of feed. This example shows that by controlling waste, a livestock producer can reduce their costof-production.

Cubes vs. Hay I have been told that it is less costly and just as more beneficial to feed protein cubes to my herd instead of hay.

Can you tell me how many pounds of 20 percent protein cubes I would need to feed per week to keep my late-term cows in their current body condition or if this is even a good or bad idea? My cows weigh 1,000 to 1,150 pounds.

Q:

It depends. Hay is an energy source.

Depending on the quality, it could also be a good protein source, but in most situations hay would be fed to meet the energy needs of the beef cow. If the hay is alfalfa that is average quality or better, it would also be a good protein source. The 20 percent protein cube fits more as an energy cube and I would consider using it as a supplement when the diet is slightly deficient in both protein and energy. My rule of thumb is that a protein supplement has a protein percentage of between 28 percent and 36 percent and is fed in small amounts to meet a protein deficiency.

So if you are needing to supply a lot of energy to meet the needs of the cow, then hay is likely the most economical choice. If the diet is slightly deficient in both protein and energy, then the cube may be the route to go.

When I work with producers, first we determine the quality of the forage that we are feeding using a forage analysis. Then we determine if the forage meets the nutrient needs of the cow. If not, do we need to supplement protein, energy, or both. We then locate feeds that can be fed to meet the nutrient deficiency and the cost. After that we compare prices

A:

of the feeds on a per nutrient basis . . . price per lb. of protein basis, or price per pound of energy basis.

The objective of a good supplementation program should be to supply the required amount of protein rather than a specific amount of supplement. Therefore when choosing among various supplements a good strategy is to calculate the cost of each supplement on a cost per pound of crude protein then purchase in the most economical way.

To calculate cost per pound of crude protein, simply divide the cost per ton of the supplement by the number of pounds of crude protein in a ton of the supplement. The result is the cost per pound of crude protein. When all supplement options are priced on a cost per pound of crude protein the most economical supplement can be identified.

There are other factors to consider when purchasing supplements. With today’s fuel prices purchasing a supplement with a greater concentration of crude protein may decrease delivery cost since fewer tons would be needed to supply the same amount of protein. And different supplements cost different amounts to feed and result in different amounts of waste. For example, alfalfa hay does not cost the same amount to deliver to cattle and results in more waste than feeding cubes but may still be the more economical supplement.

Producers can easily account for cost differences in transportation, feeding and waste in addition to purchase price of various supplements by using the “Feed Cost Calculator” found on the web at http://westcenral.unl.edu/agecon3.

Source: Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science, Animal Science, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lincoln, NE.

Page 11

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Page 12

January 15, 2010

Animal welfare and public perception Public wants animal husbandry, not industrialized ag, says CSU professor

Polled Herefords Dennis & Sonja Gallegos 505/685-0717 P.O. Box 306, Abiquiu, NM gallegos127@ windstream.net

by KINDRA GORDON

ddressing animal welfare issues, Colorado State Bernard University’s Rollin gave a candid presentation to attendees at the 21st Range Beef Cow Symposium in Casper, Wyo.

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Rollin, who is a distinguished professor of philosophy, animal sciences and a university bioethicist, introduced himself as a “friend of the beef industry for the last 25 years,” and said, “I understand the beef industry.”

But, he added, “A friend is someone who tells you what you need to hear — not what you want to hear.” To that point Rollin told beef producers in attendance that as the public’s focus on animal welfare issues intensifies the beef industry will need to adapt. Specifically, he said, “Your industry has got to get rid of hot-iron branding, dehorning without anesthesia

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your saving grace.”

Beef must market itself as producing an ethical, humane, sustainable product, Rollin said.

“There’s nothing more humane than Western ranching.”

Rollin concluded by noting that animal welfare does identify many legitimate concerns.

Industries must address the issues (such as hot-iron branding) that are not acceptable, he said. “Deal with it in a way you can manage. If you handle this properly you can make it an opportunity, not a threat. You’ve got to change the way you think, because if you don’t you’ll have management by referendum.”

Separate youngest and oldest females irst-calf heifers typically are the toughest females on the ranch to get rebred, says Oklahoma State University Extension cattle reproduction specialist Glenn Selk. These young females, he says, are being asked to continue to grow, produce milk, repair the reproductive tract and have enough stored body energy to return to heat cycles in a short time frame. In addition, their mouths are going through the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth.

Two-year-old cows are, on average, about 20 percent smaller than their full-grown herdmates, he says. If these young cows are pastured with the larger, mature cows in the herd, they very likely will be pushed aside when supplements are fed in a

F

LH

and castration without anesthesia.”

Rollin did compliment ranchers for their livestock care efforts. “The public wants animal husbandry, and you practice animal husbandry,” he said. “You practice it in spades.”

“Cow-calf is exactly what the public wants,” he added. “You are still animal husbandry that did not sell out to industry.

There is a difference between what you — the beef industry — do and what other livestock industries do.”

To that Rollin pointed out, “You are not the poultry industry or the swine industry, and that’s

bunk or on the ground. The result, Selk says, often is a lack of feed intake and lowered body condition, resulting in delayed return to heat cycles and a later calf crop or smaller calf crop the following year.

Selk also notes that the oldest cows in the herd — those 10 years of age and older — have declining dental soundness that makes it difficult for them to maintain feed intake and body condition.

If pasture availability will allow, it makes sense to sort very young cows with the very old cows and provide them with a better opportunity to compete for the feed supplies. By doing so, the rancher can improve the rebreeding percentages in the young cows and keep the very old cows from becoming too thin before culling time.

What is the economic impact eef producers need cows to become pregnant, deliver healthy calves, and wean productive calves to make their operations viable. The failure of breeding females to become pregnant directly impacts the economic viability of every beef operation, yet few producers realize how infertility impacts their individual operations.

Infertile beef cows and heifers can fall into three primary groups: 1) cows that fail to become pregnant during the breeding season (usually 60 to 120 days); 2) cows that become pregnant but fail to calve; and 3) cows that become pregnant late in the breeding season.

Infertility that leads to the failure of a cow or heifer to calve during the subsequent calving season results in the single largest economic loss to beef producers, because no economic return will be realized from those cows for at least one additional year (unless producers have multiple breeding seasons or a split breeding season).

Cows that fail to become pregnant during the breeding season do not give producers an opportunity to market a calf,

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becoming an economic liability to producers.

Beef females fail to become pregnant for numerous reasons, such as anestrous/prepuberty (cows and heifers that do not start their estrous cycles during the breeding season), disease, or sub-optimal management. In addition, cows may also become pregnant but fail to calve because they lose their pregnancy at some stage of gestation due to a disease or trauma event. Either way, the economic impacts of cows failing to calve is profound.

Approximately 34.5 percent of all U.S. beef producers utilize pregnancy detection as a management method to determine whether cows are pregnant and use the tool to make culling decisions. Pregnancy detection usually occurs about 30 to 90 days after the end of the breeding season. Pregnancy diagnosis affords producers an opportunity to cull cows that are not pregnant. However, in an effort to maintain a steady population of brood cows, removing these cows from the herd may reduce a producer’s flexibility to cull other cows that may fail to produce thrifty calves, or that should otherwise

be culled for more legitimate production characteristics such as poor genetics, temperament, structural concerns, and poor health. Previous reports indicate that approximately 4.5 percent of the cow herd is culled annually because they fail to become pregnant!

For the 65.5 percent of beef producers who do not use pregnancy diagnosis in their operations, the first opportunity that they have to determine which cows are not pregnant is after the subsequent calving season.

At that point, producers may decide to either retain the cows that failed to calve, or cull those cows prior to the next breeding season. Either way, there is a significant cost to the producer for maintaining those cows for a full year without producing a calf. With no calf sale, costs of supplemented feed, pasture, and other expenses directly decrease the lifetime profitability of open cows.

Often overlooked or neglected facets of infertility are the cows that become pregnant but fail to calve or calve later in the calving season. When cows are diagnosed as pregnant, but fail to calve or calve late in the calving season, they have a negative

January 15, 2010

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

Page 13

Analysts See Continued U.S. Cattle Herd Contraction In 2010

By LESTER ALDRICH, Dow Jones Newswires, Agriculture Online

he U.S. cattle herd could continue contracting in 2010 because the slow economic recovery has not found its way back to the cow-and-calf producer.

Feedlots may become more profitable later this year, reversing a two-to-three-year trend, but it will take time to filter back to producers and encourage them to begin rebuilding their herds, market analysts said.

Over the last few years, cattle industry losses have been reflected by a reduction in cow numbers, market analysts said. These are the mother cows that produce the calves that eventually wind up as fed cattle and meat on the table.

Initially it appears as though the cow herd is already expanding, said Richard Nelson, livestock market analyst at Allendale Inc. From January through October this year, beef cow slaughter, at 2.738 million head, was down 9.5 percent from the same period of 2008. Dairy cow slaughter is up 10 percent at 2.417 million, he said.

It’s misleading, Nelson said, because U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) slaughter data show that ranchers and dairymen are not retaining heifers. In addition, the 2009 cow slaughter data is being compared with 2008, in which total

T

cow slaughter was significantly larger than normal — up 12.4 percent versus 2007, and at 3.632 million head the largest cow-kill year since 1996 when it was 4.165 million head.

Much of the aggressive nature

tially higher feeder cattle prices.

The higher cost of feeder cattle could result in higher fed cattle prices, especially later in the year.

Beef demand will play an important role in fed cattle prices in 2010, and Nelson said

But even if the feedlots become more profitable sometime in 2010, it will take years for profits to percolate back up the system to encourage cow/calf producers to rebuild the herds. of the 2006 through 2008 cow slaughter was because of drought and a lack of pasture, said John Nalivka, president and market analyst of Sterling Marketing Inc. This year, much of the cow kill was from dairy cows because of low farm-level milk prices, he said.

The cattle industry won’t see 2009’s level of cow slaughter in 2010, Nalivka said. In fact, beef cow slaughter likely will continue to decline.

Milk prices at the farm level still aren’t healthy, so there could be more dairy cows sent to slaughter, but Nalivka didn’t expect a 2009 repeat since milk exports were rising and could continue higher in 2010. Nelson said he expected about three percent more dairy cows going to market next year, mostly in the first half.

Both analysts expected to see total cattle inventories decline in 2010, setting the stage for poten-

he expected a small turn upward as the economy stabilizes and employment rises. Because of continued reductions in herd sizes, Nelson and Nalivka said they expected lower cattle and beef supplies in the second, third and fourth quarters. This could mean a long-lasting supply based fed cattle rally.

Backing up those estimates was the USDA’s November cattle-on-feed report. It showed that cattle feeders placed fewer cattle into the feedlots than many expected. Market analysts and traders, however, said rising feed costs linked to greater ethanol use, possible cap-andtrade legislation and other expenses could limit the desire or ability to place cattle on feed in 2010.

Lower demand for feeders would pressure cow/calf operators to reduce their herds even more, market analysts said. Assuming

of infertility in beef cattle? impact on the return a producer may realize from the sale of calves. For instance, infertility during the early stages of the breeding season that resolves with time can manifest itself in the form of reduced calf weight. As an example, calves gain between 1.5 and 2 pounds per day while suckling their dam. A calf conceived on the first day of the calving season has the opportunity to gain 90 to 120 more pounds than a calf born 60 days into the breeding season. Reducing infertility will ensure that more females calve toward the beginning of the calving season.

Producers can calculate the impact of fertility on their own operations, by simply calculating the revenue generated by exposed cows in the herd.

Using recent data (CattleFax, 2008) the following example demonstrates the cost of infertility on a typical Florida operation. Example: Calf price for 500 weight feeder calves is $1.00/lb; percentage of pregnant cows is 85 percent; and, weaning weights average 500 pounds. Therefore, the following calculation may be used (assuming that there is little or no difference in the mainte-

nance costs of a pregnant or nonpregnant cow): ■ Value of weaned calf per exposed cow if 100 perccent cows are pregnant = 500 lbs x 100% x $1.00/lb = $500 per cow ■ Value of weaned calf per exposed cow when 85 percent cows are pregnant = 500 lbs x 85% x $1.00/lb = $425 per cow ■ Loss due to failure to become pregnant during the breeding season = $500 - $425 = $75 Thus, this case demonstrates that infertility costs the producer $75 per exposed cow (or $5 per exposed cow for every 1 percent decrease in pregnancy rate). In addition, there are additional costs associated with calf mortality after calving and late-calving cows that also decrease the overall revenue per exposed cow. Obviously producers cannot overcome all infertility, but understanding the costs associated with infertility may ensure that changes occur to enhance the factors responsible for improving fertility and reduce the negative influences on fertility.

Management related factors

are: 1) nutritional management to ensure that postpartum anestrus or prepuberty can be overcome; 2) selection of fertile animals among breeds and within breeds; 3) use of crossbreeding for hybrid vigor; 4) selection and handling of animals in ways that reduce stress; 5) use of reproductive management tools such as estrous synchronization and artificial insemination to alter the calving distribution; 6) following a stringent vaccination program to reduce the incidence of disease; 7) use of bulls that have passed a breeding soundness exam and are capable of breeding all of the cows in a pasture or herd. Environmental factors are: 1) heat stress that reduces conception and pregnancy rates; 2) overly extensive beef operations that limit the implementation of sound management procedures; and, 3) excessive rain and mud that reduce fertility.

The cost of infertility to the entire U.S. cattle industry, with a cow population of 42.5 million cows, likely reduces revenue in excess of $1.06 billion.

Source: G. Cliff Lamb, Carl Dahlen, and Mary Maddox, University of Florida.

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But even if the feedlots become more profitable sometime in 2010, it will take years for profits to percolate back up the system to encourage cow/calf producers to rebuild the herds.

When it does, it could take another three years before the first feeder cattle hit the market.

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Livestock Market Digest

Page 14

Nuclear power and the U.S. energy future uclear power is a safe and reliable source of energy.

The technology exists today for nuclear power to safely provide America’s energy needs. Policymakers should remove barriers that prevent nuclear energy from being fully utilized, say Sterling Burnett, a Senior Fellow, and James Franko, a Legislative Assistant, both with the National Center for Policy Analysis.

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■ Nuclear power is reliable: Not counting hydropower, renewable energy represents less than 2 percent of total generating capacity.

This includes solar and wind, which supply an unpredictable amount of power because the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow, or blow within an acceptable range of speeds to provide either baseload power (required to keep electric power flowing) or peaking power (required to meet

daily spikes in demand).

Thus, solar and wind require backup from coal, natural gas or nuclear power plants for day-today baseload power or for ondemand peaking power.

By contrast, the output from nuclear power plants can be adjusted based on user demand and to keep the electric grid at maximum efficiency.

■ Nuclear power is sustainable: At current rates of consumption with present technologies, uranium reserves in the U.S. can supply all of the world’s existing reactors for 300 years.

An additional supply of nuclear fuel is readily available, after reprocessing, in the morethan-15,000 plutonium pits removed from dismantled U.S. nuclear weapons.

There are additional supplies of plutonium from dismantled Soviet warheads that have been shipped to the U.S for disposal; a reprocessing plant is being built in

South Carolina to turn these warheads into a reliable power supply.

■ An even larger fuel supply can be found in spent fuel rods from existing reactors: One kilogram of natural uranium contains as much energy as 38.5 tons of coal, but conventional nuclear reactors only utilize approximately 3 percent of that energy, thus, recycling could provide an almost unlimited supply of nuclear fuel in the United States.

Recycling spent fuel would significantly decrease the problem of nuclear waste disposal; reprocessing can also be a boon to local communities and create jobs.

For example, two reprocessing facilities in France employ 11,000 workers and generate more than $600 million for the local economy.

Source: H. Sterling Burnett and James Franko, "Nuclear Power and the U.S. Energy Future," National Center for Policy Analysis, Brief Analysis No. 683, December 30, 2009.

The worst scientific scandal of our generation he reason why there has been an expression of total shock and dismay over the leaked University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU) emails is that the senders and recipients of the mails constitute a cast list of scientific elite. They are the authors of global temperature record that is the most important of the four sets of temperature data on which the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and governments rely — not least for their predictions that the world will warm to catastrophic levels unless trillions of dollars are spent to avert it, says author Christopher Booker.

There are three threads in particular in the leaked documents which have sent a shock wave through informed observers across the world, says Booker: ■ A series of emails shows how Professor Philip Jones, head of the CRU, and his colleagues have for years been discussing the devious tactics whereby they could avoid releasing their data to outsiders under freedom of information laws; scien-

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tists are advised to delete large chunks of data, which, when this is done after receipt of a freedom of information request, is a criminal offence.

■ Other emails show how the scientists manipulate data through their tortuous computer programs, always to point in only the one desired direction — to lower past temperatures and to “adjust” recent temperatures upwards, in order to convey the impression of an accelerated warming.

■ Lastly, the emails demonstrate the ruthless way in which these academics have silenced any expert questioning of the findings they have arrived at by such dubious methods — not just by refusing to disclose their basic data but by discrediting and freezing out any scientific journal which dares to publish their critics’ work.

Recently, the former Chancellor Lord (Nigel) Lawson called for a independent inquiry into the maze of skullduggery revealed by the CRU leaks.

Source: Christopher Booker, “Climate Change: This is the Worst Scientific Scandal of Our Generation,” The Telegraph, November 28, 2009.

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The Senate Health Bill: What they don’t want you to know enate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) 2,074page health care reform bill depends on budget gimmicks and unrealistic assumptions and projected savings to achieve its $900 billion threshold goal over the 10-year budget window, says the Heritage Foundation.

In fact, there are four outrageous budget tricks contained in the new bill, says Heritage.

The bill excludes the costly “doctor fix”: ■ Senate bill conveniently ignores the over $200 billion price tag associated with stopping the unavoidable cuts to physicians under the Medicare program.

■ The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that combining the House bill (H.R. 3961) with the “Doctor Fix” bill (H.R. 3962) would actually “add $89 billion to budget deficits over the 2010-2019 period.”

The bill manipulates the new CLASS Act: ■ The Senate bill, like the House, also includes a new government health care program for long-term health insurance, the

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CLASS Act. ■ The CBO points out that the CLASS Act would eventually lead to net outlays when benefits exceed premiums.

Delays costly benefits: ■ The Senate bill is designed to gather revenues (higher taxes, fees, and other offsets) over the full 10-year window but delays paying out the major benefits, like subsidies, until the last six years.

■ So, the 2010-2019 estimate is not a full cost estimate of all provisions fully implemented and will certainly add significantly to the true cost of the bill.

Depends on uncertain cuts to Medicare: ■ The Senate bill depends on using cuts to Medicare to pay for its $1.2 trillion coverage expansion.

■ These cuts include over $118 billion in “savings” resulting from changes to the highly popular Medicare Advantage plans, a move that will directly impact the benefits of millions of seniors.

Source: Nina Owcharenko, “The Senate Health Bill: The True Costs Are Unknown,” Heritage Foundation, November 20, 2009.

Analysis of Global Beef Market report issued in by Koncept Analytics, India, early December analyses the global beef industry on different parameters including production, consumption and trade.

It also discusses the countries which have significant contribution in global beef industry.

Beef is one of the important sources of protein. With the growth in world economy, beef consumption has seen a significant rise in past and hence it is now the third most preferred source of protein in meat consumption. World beef production and consumption is growing steadily and is expected to grow further. As the income level of consumers has increased over the years, the food consumption pattern is seeing a shift to premium food products (which includes beef) which offer more nutrition.

Due to this shift in consumption pattern, the global beef trade has become more significant and is showing an increasing trend. Some of the countries have clear dominance in beef industry while others are solely dependent on these countries.

The report analyses these countries and the key features which strengthen the presence of these countries in the market.

The other aspect that the report covers is interesting facts about the industry in terms of the opportunities available in the markets. With emerging markets growing at a faster rate, the consumption pattern has seen a significant shift in food items. Also, few countries have a declining trend in beef production and increasing domestic beef demand compelling them to be significant importers of beef products.

The report also covers the

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unique features of different regions which have contributed significantly to world beef industry. For example, Brazil is the leading beef exporter in world.

Beef consumption in Australia is much less, and most of the beef is produced for export, hence making it a strong market for beef industry. The U.S. is a significant beef importer and exporter and heading towards equilibrium in both export and imports. The report also highlights the emerging market of beef trade in India, which has a huge potential in the beef industry as it has one of the highest cattle numbers in world.

For more info., visit www.konceptanalytics. com/reportDetail.aspx?reportID=191.

Peterson to lead Meat Export Federation ontana rancher Jim Peterson was elected U.S. Meat Export Federation chairman for the coming year at the organization’s conference in Denver. He succeeds Iowa pork producer Jon Caspers.

In addition to his ranching operation near Buffalo, Peterson is the majority leader of the Montana State Senate and associate dean of agriculture at Montana State University. He previously was the executive vice president of the Montana Stockgrowers’ Association and the executive secretary of the Montana Public Land Council.

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“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

January 15, 2010

NASA-Gate hat’s become known as “Climategate” may be about to explode on this side of the pond as well.

Chris Horner, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, has threatened a lawsuit against NASA if by year-end the agency doesn’t honor his Freedom of Information (FOI) requests for information on how and why its climate numbers have been consistently adjusted for errors.

“I assume that what is there is highly damaging,” says Horner, who suspects, based on the public record, the same type of data fudging, manipulation and suppression that has occurred at Britain’s East Anglia Climate Research Unit (CRU). “These guys (NASA) are quite clearly determined not to reveal their internal discussions about this.”

They may have good reason, says Investor’s Business Daily (IBD): ■ NASA was caught with its thermometers down when James Hansen, head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, announced that 1998 was the country’s hottest year on record, with 2006 the third hottest.

■ NASA and Goddard were forced to correct the record in 2007 to show that 1934, decades before the advent of the SUV, was in fact the warmest; in fact,

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the new numbers showed that four of the country’s 10 warmest years were in the 1930s.

■ Hansen, who began the climate scare some two decades ago, was caught fudging the numbers again in declaring October 2008 the warmest on record.

■ This despite the fact that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had registered 63 local snowfall records and 115 lowest-ever temperatures for the month, and ranked it as only the 70thwarmest October in 114 years.

■ Scores of temperature records from Russia and elsewhere were not based on that October’s readings at all; figures from the previous month had simply been carried over and repeated two months running.

Was Hansen, like his CRU counterpart Michael Mann, trying to “hide the decline” in temperatures, asks IBD? Hansen has said in the past that “heads of major fossil-fuel companies who spread disinformation about global warming should be tried for high crimes against humanity and nature.”

What penalties would he recommend for himself and his CRU colleagues, asks IBD? Source: Editorial, “NASA-Gate,” IBD, Dec. 7, 2009.

Oklahoma Firm Recalls Beef Steak Products Due To Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination ational Steak and Poultry, an Owasso, Okla., establishment, is recalling approximately 248,000 pounds of beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.

FSIS became aware of the problem during the course of an investigation of a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses. Working with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and state health and agriculture departments, FSIS determined that there is an association between non-intact steaks (blade tenderized prior to further processing) and illnesses in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Washington.

FSIS is continuing to work with the CDC and affected state public health partners on the investigation. Anyone with signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should consult a physician.

The products subject to recall include several brands of boneless beek steak. Each package bears a label with the establishment number “EST. 6010T” inside the USDA mark of inspection, respective case codes cited above, and packaging dates of “10/12/2009,” “10/13/2009,”

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Group Says ABC News Should Worry Less About Its Anchors and More About Its Integrity BC News should focus less on the retirement of Charlie Gibson and his replacement

by Diane Sawyer and more on integrity, says the National Center for Public Policy Research, which just completed an advertising review of ABC’s nightly World News.

The multi-month review, using data collected by executive director David Almasi and analyzed by policy analyst Matt Patterson, was conducted after ABC allowed President Obama to pitch his health care proposal in a special edition of ABC’s Primetime hosted by Gibson and Sawyer in June. Obama was given additional airtime to pitch his health care agenda that evening on Nightline.

That night, ABC News refused to allow the conservative group Conservatives for Patients Rights to purchase paid advertising to put forth an alternative perspective.

In the 98 days of ABC World News advertising logged by Almasi and analyzed by Patterson, the broadcast featured 1,102 commercials, 597 of which were placed by member companies of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) trade association, representing 54.17 percent of total commercials aired.

PhRMA very aggressively supports President Obama’s health care agenda.

“It’s clear that World News relies on the members of PhRMA to sponsor it,” said Almasi. “Ford and Proctor and Gamble are reliable sponsors, but the overwhelming amount of paid ads were for drugs pushed by the members of this very powerful and very political trade association. Ad after ad on World News comes from members of the drug lobby group PhRMA. It’s almost laughable how many ads they run each day. If they were to stop, it would seem doubtful the broadcasts could continue.”

Says Patterson, “ABC News seems to have a

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Page 15

significant financial stake in the success of ObamaCare. Should we be surprised that they hand over an hour to Obama to promote his plan, while shutting out opposing views?”

“There was not one day in which the members of PhRMA were not major advertisers on World News,” continued Almasi. “It’s hard to believe that the producers of the program don’t have this on their minds when they are selecting the issues they cover. CBS burned off the series Swingtown two summers ago because the network found advertisers weren’t interested. NBC cancelled Southland before the second season even aired because of concerns the show would be unacceptable to advertisers. The concerns of advertisers do drive content. With so many PhRMA members sponsoring World News, it would be hard not to think that people at the network are always mindful of who is paying their bills. PhRMA makes no bones about its support for ObamaCare, and PhRMA’s member companies appear to be the lifeblood of ABC’s flagship World News program.”

Patterson recalls that White House Communications Director Anita Dunn attacked the legitimacy of Fox News in October and White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod said of Fox’s news programming, “it’s really not news.” Patterson notes that the White House has shown no similar concern for objectivity at ABC: “ABC appears willing to turn over large chunks of its news programming to a politician, if that politician is backed by companies representing more than half of their advertisements. And for the president, it seems it’s OK for a news organization to support a point of view — so long as it’s his.”

For more information, download “Obama Buys the News,” by Matt Patterson, at www.nationalcenter.org/NPA595.html.

“10/14/2009,” or “10/21/2009.”

These products were shipped to restaurants nationwide.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef or ground beef patties that have been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to be sure ground beef is cooked to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food ther-

mometer to measure the internal temperature.

Consumer questions regarding the recall should be directed the company’s hotline at 866/439-7348. Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. The tollfree USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1888/674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(Eastern Time) Monday-Friday.

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January 15, 2010

Which source & age verified program is right for you? s the Japanese and other foreign markets reopened to U.S. beef, there became increasing demand for source- and ageverified cattle. These export markets require that age and source claims be documented and verified through a recognized USDA program. These programs include the USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) or a USDA Quality System Assessment (QSA), two separate programs that will meet the export requirements of all our trading partners. Once a producer has decided to market animals as source and age verified, the difficult question becomes which program is the best one to use.

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What Is the Difference Between These Programs?

The USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) provides suppliers of agricultural products or services the opportunity to assure customers of their ability to provide consistent quality products or services.

It is limited to programs or portions of programs where specified process verified points are supported by a documented quality management system. The specified process verified points are identified by the supplier.

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process. This includes detailed procedures, record systems and audit processes. In the case of age and source verification, PVP programs create a documented, auditable procedure for the collection and transfer of age and source information.

There are currently 28 USDA PVP companies/ organizations.

Examples of PVP companies include beef processors (Cargill, Smithfield Beef Group, PM Beef Group, Creek-stone Farms) and information management companies (AgInfoLink, IMI Global, etc).

Obtaining PVP certification is complex and extremely expensive. A portion of the company’s employees will be dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the program, managing records and handling audits. Process Verified Program Certification is not something an individual producer or even a group of producers will likely undertake.

The USDA Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program provides suppliers of agricultural products and services the opportunity to assure customers of their ability to provide consistent quality products or services. It is limited to programs or portions

of programs where specified product requirements are supported by a documented quality management system. The specified product requirements may be identified by the supplier or in a USDA Export Veri-fication (EV) Program.

Quality System Assessment programs are similar to PVP programs in many ways, although a QSA generally involves a system that may involve several entities.

These companies or groups have certified through USDA a system of records and procedures that can verify their claims to specific attributes of their product. For source and age verification, most beef processors have an approved QSA for exporting beef. This QSA describes how age/source will be documented by the packer with cooperation from source feedlots and their producer suppliers (cow-calf producers).

As with a PVP, QSA certification requires considerable records, labor and capital to establish. The program is regularly audited and must have auditing procedures as part of its Entities with certification. approved USDA QSA programs include packers and large beef feeders (AgriBeef, Cargill and Texas Cattle Feeders). The State of Arkansas, and other states, under the direction of the Depart-ment of Agriculture, is currently working to establish a state-sponsored QSA program.

It is too early to tell when the program will be operational or what costs will be involved, but it will be an option to cattle producers in the near future.

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Role of PVP and QSA Programs in Exporting Beef USDA has established Beef Export Verification (EV) Program requirements for selling beef internationally. These requirements outline the specific requirements for each country, including which products may be exported, processing regulations and stipulations for the cattle producing the beef. In the case of Japan, a specific requirement is that the beef be from cattle 20 months of age or less.

For most other countries (Hong Kong, Mexico, Canada), the age requirement is 30 months or less. These EV age regulations must be met through cattle from a USDA Process Verified Program that requires age verification or from a USDA QSA Program that requires age verification.

Simply put, beef is not eligible for export to Japan unless it comes from cattle less than 20 months of age and from cattle certified through a PVP or QSA.

So What Does This Mean For A Cow-Calf Producer?

Age and source verification have taken on a new meaning.

For calves to be truly source and age verified, they must be enrolled in a PVP or QSA as previously described. Simply stating “source and age verified” may quickly become equivalent to stating the cattle “have had all their shots.” It has been established that a signed affidavit will not substitute for documentation provided through a USDAapproved PVP or QSA. To sell calves as source and age verified, cow-calf producers will most likely be providing information to a PVP or QSA program. When participating in a PVP program, producers will supply the necessary documentation for source and age and be able to sell their calves as “USDA Process Verified.” Thereby, these calves would be recognized in the industry as being Source and Age Verified, and this verification could be utilized by cattle feeders and processors to fulfill the requirements of their QSA for Export Verification. Therefore, PVP-certified cattle for age should meet the documentation requirements for any cattle feeder or packer (i.e., PVP cattle will meet the requirements of multiple QSA programs).

Currently, producers retaining ownership are working with their feeders to provide the necessary documentation and paperwork to fulfill the requirements of a packer QSA. These QSAs are specific for each packer, and each has different forms and procedures.

In many cases, the producer needs to receive training from the feedlot as part of the requirement of the QSA. In some instances, producers who have sold feeder cattle have been contacted by feedyards requesting the information for a QSA.

What Records Do I Need to Keep?

The key item in this new era of source and age verification is records and documentation.

Unfortunately, there are no standardized forms that fit all PVP or QSA programs (although the required information is essentially the same). Each program has its own forms, but by keeping certain basic types of information, you can be ready for source and age verification.

Here are basic recommendations for records to keep and procedures to perform: 1. Tag all calves with a unique number in your herd at or near birth. Ideally, all cows should also be identified. Freeze branding cows or recording Bangs tag numbers is not a bad idea as a backup to lost ear tags.

2. Keep detailed calving records. This includes calf ID, dam ID calving date and sex of calf. At the very least, record the date the first calf was born and the day the last calf was born.

Keep records in a safe, readily accessible location.

3. Keep records of all cattle sales.

4. Become a BQA-certified producer.

5. Keep BQA records up to date as required. Record all vaccinations, dewormings, implanting or health treatments.

Will keeping these records make my calves eligible for all PVP or QSA programs? Maintaining items one, two and three listed above will provide the minimum information needed for many programs. Adding items four and five may increase your options, realizing that some programs may have additional requirements.

Records need to be kept for three years after birth of the animal.

Producers will need to show the actual records to auditors from the PVP or QSA program if requested. In almost all cases, cattle destined for a source and age verification program will need to be tagged with an RFID (electronic) ear tag. Whether the tag will have to be applied by the cow-calf producer (most often) or at the feedyard will be determined by the particular program or feeder who purchases or receives the cattle.

Summary Do you need to enroll your cattle in a PVP or QSA program right now? No, that is up to you as an individual. It will be important to continue to keep up with the situation as programs and opportunities are constantly evolving. Source and age verification is an excellent way to differentiate and add value to your calves at marketing. It does require more record-keeping and possible extra expense, but for most producers who sell more than 50 calves each year, the increase in value of the calf outweighs the expense of the program.

For more information on source and age verification programs, contact your local county extension office. Source: Brett Barham, University of Arkansas.

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

January 15, 2010

Page 17

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KELLY CREEK RANCH: This reputation Oregon ranch has 2,400 deeded acres, free water with 1869 water rights, large flood irrigated meadows, and no irrigation wells.

Improvements include three homes, three hay barns, three horse barns, two sets of corrals, with scales, feed lot with 450' of fence line bunk space and miscellaneous other buildings. Water fowl, deer, and many other wildlife species are abundant on the ranch. This is an easy operating ranch with one hired man. Price quick sale reduced from $3,750,000 to $2,995,000

“EAGER SELLERS” 1,350 -1,400 AU’s YEAR ROUND – WINTER RANGE – 11,750 DEEDED PLUS BLM and STATE LEASES - ONE CONTIGUOUS BLOCK - LOW OVERHEAD – GOOD IMPROVEMENTS – 10 MINUTES TO TOWN and SCHOOLS -$6,000,000 – CAN CUT TO 1,000 HD AND REDUCE PRICE! – P BAR 225 – 250 AU’s - 850 DEEDED (650 irrigated) – 1-1/2 MILE RIVER - NICE MEADOWS – MODEST IMPROVEMENTS WITH GREAT WORKING FACILITIES – CLOSE TO TOWN and SCHOOLS - $1,800,000 – WANT OFFER -CAN ADD CUSTOM HOME AND 80 ACRES – GREAT STOCKER OPERATION – LYMAN – RAE @ 208-761-9553 LIFESTYLE RANCH 55 MILES TO BOISE – 2,213 DEEDED ACRES PLUS STATE AND BLM – DROP DEAD PRIVATE – 2 MILES MAJOR STREAM – BEHIND LOCKED GATE – COMFORTABLE IMPROVEMENTS – ELK, DEER, TURKEY, CHUKAR, HUNS, QUAIL, WATERFOWL - BEAR, LION AND VARMINT – TROUT and BASS PONDS - $1,400,000 – WANT OFFER – TURKEY CREEK LIFESTYLE – 320 DEEDED ACRES (105 irrigated) COMFORTABLE IMPROVEMENTS – SPECTACULAR VIEWS – BORDERS FEDERAL LANDS – ELK, DEER, TURKEY – ONLY MINUTES TO SOME OF THE FINEST YEAR LONG FISHING IN THE NORTHWEST – STEELHEAD, STURGEN, TROUT, BASS, CRAPPY AND MORE - $690,000 – WANT OFFER – POSY -RAE @ 208-761-9553 LIFESTYLE/INCOME – POSSIBLY THE FINEST WILDLIFE VARIETY/QUANITY AVAILABLE – 1,160 DEEDED ACRES (180 irrigated) – 2-1/2 MILES RIVER – 2 BASS PONDS – PLENTIFUL QUAIL, CHUKAR, DOVE, PHEASANT, WATERFOWL, DEER and AND VARMINTS - EXCELLENT IMPROVEMENTS – COW/CALF AND/OR STOCKER OPERATION FOR INCOME /TAX ADVANTAGE - $1,900,000 – LANDRETH

AGRILANDS Real Estate www.agrilandsrealestate.com Vale, Oregon • 541/473-3100 • jack@fmtcblue.com

1,360 ACRES, near Ravendale, Calif. Develop this property into a hay ranch. Excellent area for irrigation wells.

Two older homes plus outbuildings. Priced at: $600,000

WAHOO RANCH: Approximately 39,976 acres: 10,600 deeded, 6,984 BLM, 912 state, 40 uncontrolled and 21,440 forest. Beautiful cattle ranch located on the east slope of the Black Range Mountains north of Winston, N.M., on State Road 52. Three hours from either Albuquerque or El Paso.The ranch is bounded on the east by the Alamosa Creek Valley and on the west by the Wahoo Mountains ranging in elevation from 6,000' to 8,796'. There are 5 houses/cabins, 3 sets of working corrals (2 with scales) and numerous shops and outbuildings. It is very well watered with many wells, springs, dirt tanks and pipelines. The topography and vegetation is a combination of grass covered hills (primarily gramma grasses), with many cedar, piñon and live oak covered canyons as well as the forested Wahoo Mountains. There are plentiful elk and deer as well as antelope, turkey, bear, mountain lion and javelina (49 elk tags in 2008).

Absolutely one of the nicest combination cattle/hunting ranches to be found in the SW. Price reduced to $8,500,000.

SAN JUAN RANCH: Located 10 miles south of Deming off Hwy. 11 (Columbus Hwy) approximately 26,964 total acres consisting of 3,964± deeded, 3,800± state lease, 14,360± BLM and 4,840± Uncontrolled.

The allotment is for 216 head (AUYL). There are 278± acres of ground water irrigation rights (not currently being farmed) as well as 9 solar powered stock wells and metal storage tanks and approx. 6½ miles pipeline. The ranch begins on the north end at the beautiful Mahoney Park high up in the Florida mountains and runs 5½ miles down the mountains to their south end. It continues another 7½ miles south across their foothills and onto the flats. The ranch has a very diverse landscape with plentiful wildlife including quail, dove, rabbits, deer and ibex. Lots of potential & a good buy at $1,200,000.

REDROCK CANYON RANCH: Located in Redrock, N.M. Approx. 7,268 total acres consisting of 1,908± private, 1,040± state, 4,320± BLM, 120 head grazing permit and 24 acres of farm land. 3½ miles of the Gila river runs thru the middle of the ranch. Deer, javelina, quail and great fishing. Topography consists of large hills and mesas, bi-sected by the cottonwood lined Gila River Valley. Very well fenced and watered. Priced at $2,100,000 258-ACRE FARM BETWEEN LAS CRUCES, N.M. AND EL PASO, TEXAS: Hwy. 28 frontage with 178 acres irrigated, 80 acres sandhills, full EBID (surface water) plus 2 supplemental irrigation wells, cement ditches and large equipment warehouse. Will sell 45± irrigated acres separate. Reasonably priced at $2,652,000.

118.8-ACRE FARM: Located on Afton Road south of La Mesa, N.M. Paved road frontage, full EBID (surface water) plus 2 supplemental irrigation wells with cement ditches. Will divide into 2 tracts – 50.47 acres and 68.32 acres. Priced at $14,500/acre, $1,722,600.

BEAUTIFUL 143.81-ACRE NORTH VALLEY FARM located in Las Cruces, N.M. next to the Rio Grande River. Great views of the Organ Mountains. Cement ditches, 2 irrigation wells and EBID. 2 older houses and shed sold “as is”. Priced at $13,212/acre - $1,900,000. Will consider dividing.

OTHER FARMS FOR SALE: In Doña Ana County. All located near Las Cruces, N.M. 8, 11, 14 and 27.5 acres. $11,111/acre to $17,000/acre. All have EBID (surface water rights from the Rio Grande River) and several have supplemental irrigation wells. If you are interested in farm land in Doña Ana County, give me a call.

DAN DELANEY R E A L E S TAT E , L L C

318 W. Amador Ave. • Las Cruces, NM 88005 (O) 575/647-5041 • (C) 575/644-0776 nmlandman@zianet.com • www.zianet.com/nmlandman

Livestock Market Digest

Page 18

Cattle Ranch For Sale Scythe & Spade Companies 418 Acres in Yuma County, Ariz.

Controlled Under a State Ag Lease AND

Turn Key 1,788.5-Acre Farm and Ranch Combo — Plus Equipment 866/676-3276 www.ag-management.com

Attention Ranch Brokers If you sell farms and ranches, you can improve your business by advertising in the Livestock Market Digest The Digest reaches owners of the big ranches in the western states. You can sell more property and list more property when you keep your business at the forefront of our readers’ attention.

Visit our website: www.livestock.com and put your company on our free Advertisers’ Guide, then call Debbie at 505/332-3675 to learn how you can benefit from the most cost effective Real Estate advertising in the livestock industry.

L

ocated in Southeastern New Mexico approximately 25 miles west of Jal, N.M. along and on both sides of N.M. State Hwy. 128 situated in both Eddy and Lea Counties. 28,666 total acres with 2,250 deeded. BLM grazing permit for 370 AUYL. Eleven pastures and traps. No cattle since March, excellent grass. Headquarters with residence, shop, hay barn and shipping pens with scales. Price: $1,100,000

Bar M

Contact: Scott McNally, Qualifying Broker, 575/622-5867

REAL ESTATE

www.ranchesnm.com

P.O. BO X 428 • RO SW ELL, NEW M EXIC O 88202

Wild West Properties, L.L.C.

7400 Gila Rd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87109

A Very Happy New Year to All! THE GOLDEN RULE ISN’T JUST A RULE; IT’S A WAY OF LIFE.

Give me a call or see our website for the following properties: Extraordinary 39,000 Deeded Acre Hunting Ranch 474-Acre Hunting Paradise near Luna, NM (under contract) 66-Acre MRGCD irrigated farm south of Veguita, NM 145-Head Cattle Ranch near Magdalena, NM 2,800-Acre Cattle Ranch near Quemado, NM (pending offer)

SOLD

9,400-Acre Ranch next to Capitan, NM 14-Acre MRGCD irrigated farm near Las Nutrias, NM 190-Acre Irrigated Horse Ranch near Ruidoso, NM 500-Head Cattle Ranch near Trinidad, CO. 3,200-Acre Ranch near Marquez, NM

RANDY J. WOOD, Qualifiying Broker • O: 505/980-8019 • F: 505/823-2262 Email: rjwood5@comcast.net • www.wildwestproperties.com

CALL DEBBIE at 505/332-3675

NEVADA RANCHES and FARMS

TEXAS & OKLA. FARMS & RANCHES • 503 Ac. So. Navarro Co., Texas.

It’s got it all. $1,950/ac.

• 632-acre CATTLE and HUNTING, N.E. Texas ranch, elaborate home, one-mile highway frontage.

OWNER FINANCE at $2,200/ac.

• 274 acres in the shadow of Dallas.

Secluded lakes, trees, excellent grass. Hunting and fishing, dream home sites. $3,850/ac.

• 126 ac. jewel on Red River, Tex. – Nice river frontage, irrigation well, excellent soils for crops, nursery stock, cattle grazing, you name it! $3,250/ac.

• 1,700-acre classic N.E. Texas cattle and hunting ranch. $2,750/ac. Some mineral production.

• Texas Jewel, 7,000 ac. – 1,000 per ac., run cow to 10 ac.

• 126 ac. – Red River Co., Tex. Home, barns, pipe fence. $225,000.

Joe Priest Real Estate 1205 N. Hwy 175, Seagoville, TX 75159

972/287-4548 • 214/676-6973 1-800/671-4548 www.joepriest.com joepriestre@earthlink.com

January 15, 2010

OREGON OPPORTUNITIES Real Estate

~ SOUTHERN OREGON ~ Farm/Ranch ~ Rural ~ Timber Recreational Properties View available properties at: www.orop.com

11110 Hwy. 140: An efficient working livestock ranch. 1,038.93 acres, well balanced with irrigation, dryland pasture and feed lots. Currently raising beef on a farm to market program. Four home and a rustic cabin. Five barns , a shop and two sets of working corrals. A beautiful setting. Deer, elk quail and other game. 20 minutes to central services. 10 minutes from mountain recreation sites. $4,200,000 MLS 267279 6222-6210 Hwy. 140: Prime, close-in acreage with fantastic equestrian facilities.

Multiple dwellings, with a potential of two spectacular additional homesites on 362.70 acres. 220 acres of irrigated ground. Wine Grape study shows 180 potential vineyard. OFFERED AT WELL BELOW REPLACEMENT COST. From the engineered drainage system to the well-designed 240x120 covered arena with attached viewing area and multiple wash rack tack and fitting facility to the 40x40 vet barn with two stalls and all the amenities, as well as 26 shed row stalls all with runs, there is little that could be added for the horse enthusiast. $5,300,000 MLS 2906279 Rocky Form Ranch: 1,704 acres, 2-1/4 miles of Upper Williamson River frontage.

Bordering National Forrest with meadows, timber and rustic seclusion. World-class fly fishing waters. Rustic cabin and shop on site. Power by generator. $2,450,000 MLS 2717548 16575 Elk Creek Rd.: Mountain Shadows Ranch, 182 tranquil acres. Existing home plus second approved home site. 1.1 million net board feet of marketable timber, including a year around creek and pond with water rights. 36 acres of irrigated hayfield and pasture. A gravity flow spring produces abundant water. $2,184,000 MLS 2807875

Tom Harrison, CCIM • 800/772-7284 • harrison@orop.com

Tenney’s 4U Land & Real Estate 4520 West Airport Rd. Willcox, Arizona 85643 jimassist@vtc.net

J.L. (JIM) TENNEY

Office 520/384-2834 Cell 520/906-7335 Fax 520/384-6396

Our family trains roping and barrel horses, so the cattle we have are Corriente Cattle we use for training our horses. My primary business is brokering real estate.

41 Acres: Irrigation well with new Submersible pumping system that produces 260 GPM, concrete water distribution system, just 6 miles NW of Willcox in Stewart District, great location with all utilities and nice views ¾-mile from paved Rd. $240,000 with Owner financing. Additional acreage available.

100 Acres: New 30'x60'x17', concrete-floored, open front, sheet metal barn, very high producing irrigation well (tested over 2,000 GPM) new pump and electric motor in place, domestic well with submersible pump and pressure system, electric, phone & new septic system ready for your new home. Abundance of water ready to put in to farming. $275,000.

640 AC + 600 AC State Lease in livestock grazing. This property lies along Birch Road, a main paved road that connects Hwy. 191 and Kansas Settlement Road, the 2 main southern routes, in Sulfur Springs Valley. $1,120,000 2,240 Acres, 10 wells, all videoed showing water depths and condition of wells.

Paved road to corner of property, on Bell Ranch Road. 2 miles North of Hwy 181. In a farming area with Pat Hills as backdrop.Well located for development property or re-development as farm and/or dairy. Has annual government crop payments and can be leased out for grazing to keep taxes to a minimum. $5,600,000.

This should be a great investment property ideal for a 1031 exchange!

Deeded sheep base in Elko Co: 10,960 deeded acres plus a 29 percent public BLM permit in the mountains just northeast of Elko. Fifty percent of the mineral rights included. Good summer spring and summer range for sheep or cattle. Annual lease income, plus inexpensive ag taxes. Price: $1,425,800.

Dawley Creek Ranch — located in one of the most beautiful ranching valleys of the West: Ruby Valley: Set at the foot of the majestic Ruby Mountains with approx. 1,100 acres of lush meadows and good private pasture. This ranch has approx.

6,000 deeded acres. Approx. 700 acres are currently being cut for meadow hay plus two 110 acre piviots with alfalfa/orchard grass hay. This ranch runs approx. 500 pair plus heifers and bulls year long and around 30 head of horses. No water fights in this case as the water doesn’t run off the ranch but rather fills a snow water lake called Franklin Lake. This ranch has been a target for conservation easements. Priced at $4,500,000. And contingent upon being able to complete a 1031 exchange into another acceptable property.

Waddy Creek Ranch: located in a remote Nevada ranching valley called Charleston which sits at the foot of the Jarbidge Wilderness which is part of the Humboldt National Forest. The ranch is bounded on two sides by forest. There is no power in the valley but there is land line phone. Two creeks provide irrigation water for approx. 138 acres of historic meadow. This property has Quaken aspen groves and is quite beautiful. Access is on a county road. There is a BLM grazing permit attached to the ranch for 71 head. Price: $500,000. Terms considered.

Indian Creek Ranch: White Pine County, Nevada. This is a great property for a hunter as it is surrounded by public lands and has plentiful mule deer, antelope and elk. There is a large spring arising on high ground that could provide pressure for hydro power, or gravity flow domestic or irrigation water. This is an old historic ranch base and can provide summer pasture for cattle or horses and includes approx. 200 acres in three separate parcels. Piñon pine and Utah juniper plus some cottonwood, willows and Quaken aspen.

Very scenic. Approx. ½ mile off county maintained road. Price: $425,000.

Bottari Realty Out West Realty Network Affiliate

PAUL D. BOTTARI, BROKER www.bottarirealty.com • paul@bottarirealty.com

Ofc.: 775/752-3040 Res: 775/752-3809 • Fax: 775/752-3021

ARIZONA RANCH Real Estate

NEW MEXICO RReal ANCH Estate !

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WE HAVE AGENTS SCATTERED OUT ALL ACROSS TWO STATES TO SERVE YOU! View Listings at:

www.azranchrealestate.com www.nmranchrealestate.com

“America’s Favorite Livestock Newspaper”

January 15, 2010

Ben G. Scott, Krystal M. Nelson, Brokers 1301 Front St., Dimmitt, TX 79027 • 1-800/933-9698 day/night w ww. sco ttlandcom pany. co m

HUNTERS – 270 Acres:

Trophy deer and turkey. Joins 100’s of acres hunting retreat.

Close to Bryant Creek Access and Rockbridge Trout Farm. Be neighbors with Ricky Clunn (Bass Pro-Sponsored Fisherman / Outdoorsman). MLS# 4824129.

483 Acres, Hunter Mania: Nature at his best. Dont miss out on this one. Live water (two creeks). 70+ acres open in bottom hayfields and upland grazing. Lots of timber (marketable and young) for the best hunting and fishing (Table Rock, Taney Como and Bull Shoals Lake) Really cute 3-bd., 1-ba stone home. Secluded yes, but easy access to Forsyth-Branson, Ozark and Springfield. Property joins National Forest.

MLS#908571 90 Acres: Just north of Phillipsburg off I-44. 80 percent open, pond and a well. Build your dream home and enjoy. MLS#910997

Page 19

RANCH & FARM REAL ESTATE —— TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO ——

This ad is just a small sample of the properties that we currently have for sale. Please check our website and give us a call!

We need your listings both large and small, all types of ag properties (ESP. CRP).

HEART OF THE PLAINS – 8-section ranch with new set of pens, concrete bunks, truck/cattle scale and commodity barn, mobile home, watered by subs, mill and pipeline, on pavement, hour from Lubbock.

SOUTH WICHITA RIVER RANCH – ABUNDUNT DEER, QUAIL, DOVE & TURKEY – 12-¼ section ranch, fronts on two highways, 466 ac. in farmland, hunting facilities, new set of steel pens.

To list your herd here, please contact Debbie Cisneros: 505/332-3675, or email: debbie@aaalivestock.com

Call Paul on any of these great listings.

PAUL McGILLIARD

g•u•i•d•e

All Breeds

HEREFORD

Cell: 417/839-5096 • 1-800/743-0336

MURNEY ASSOC., REALTORS

Southern Plains Land Company

SPRINGFIELD, MO 65804

Idaho-Oregon Call 208/345-3163 for catalog.

KNIPE LAND CO.

RANCHES FARMS COM’L. Established 1944

Oklahoma & Texas Real Estate Ranches, Farms, Commercial Kalin Flournoy, Associate +%%' * "( +++ %)( &$ " !$' $ %#

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Jeff Schmidt 509/488-2158

Performance-Tested Bulls, Spring & Fall

angus

LIMOUSIN

Bell Key Angus

Seven Mile Limousin Red, Black and Polled Limousin and Herefords A good selection at private treaty.

Dennis Boehlke 208/467-2747 Cell. 208/989-1612

Digest

Classifieds Auctions SMITHFIELD Livestock Auction • REGULAR CATTLE SALES EVERY THURSDAY • DAIRY 1st and 3rd FRIDAYS Lane or Dean Parker 435/757-4643 SALE BARN 435/563-3259 P.O. Box 155, Smithfield, UT 84321

Auction Schools COME TRAIN WITH THE CHAMPIONS. Join the financially rewarding world of auctioneering. World Wide College of Auctioneering.

Free catalog. 1-800/423-5242, www.worldwidecollegeofauctioneering.com.

Businesses For Sale

Feedlot: 630 ACRES WEST TEXAS, 40,000-hd. permit.

Owner retiring. #66729JE International Business Exchange 512/310-2966 ibectx@aol.com

Kaddatz Auctioneering & Farm Equipment Sales

Equipment

Automotive

NEW HOLLAND pull type bale wagons: 1033, 104 bales, $5,100; 1034, 104 bales, unloads both ways, $4,400; 1044, 120 bales, $3,700; 1063, 160 bales, $10,800; 1010, 56 bales, $1,200. Also have self propelled wagons. Delivery available. 785/ 336-6103, www.roederimp.com.

POWDER RIVER LIVESTOCK EQUIPMENT. Best prices with delivery available. CONLIN SUPPLY CO. INC., Oakdale, CA. 209/847-8977.

LASATER

“THE PEDIGREE IS IN THE NAME” Foundation Herd of the Beefmaster Breed

The Lasater Ranch, Matheson, CO 80830 719/541-BULL (2855) • (F) 719/541-2888 lasater@rmi.net • www.lasaterranch.com

A SOURCE FOR PROVEN SUPERIOR RED ANGUS GENETICS 14298 N. Atkins Rd., Lodi, CA 95240

209/727-3335

New and used tractors, equipment, parts and salvage yard. www.kaddatzequipment.com • 254/582-3000

BRANGUS

Livestock Haulers

SANTA GERTRUDIS

Santa Gertrudis Breeders International

DANE STUHAAN 559/688-7695 Cell: 559/731-7695 • Pager: 559/735-2822

LIVESTOCK HAULING

Come by anytime and see our herd.

Red & Tender By Design

Dan Wendt

R.L. Robbs 520/384-3654 4995 Arzberger Rd. Willcox, AZ 85643

California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Idaho

BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG PROBLEMS? Don’t risk having to do it over again with ineffective products. Rozol Prairie Dog Bait is a restricted-use pesticide approved for use by state certified applicators on blacktailed prairie dogs in CO, KS, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX and WY. Made with food-grade winter wheat, a preferred food source, to ensure quick rodent acceptance and control. No prebaiting required. Proven in university trials on over 11,000 burrows to provide over 94% control in a single application. For use in-burrow only. It is the responsibility of the user to read and follow all label directions. Protect your range and pastureland from damage with Rozol. For info call: 888-331-7900 or visit www.rodent-control.com

P.O. Box 1257 Kingsville, Texas 78364 361/592-9357 361/592-8572, fax www.santagertrudis.ws

DEES BROTHERS BRANGUS Yuma, Arizona High-Quality Brangus Breeding Stock Available

S

Santa Gertrudis Cattle Polled and Horned HERD ESTABLISHED 1953

S

LEARN AUCTIONEERING for the 2000s!

Nashville Auction School “Free Catalog” 800/543-7061, learntoauction.com, 112 W. Lauderdale St., Tullahoma, TN 37388.

RED ANGUS

BEEFMASTER

BEEFMASTERS

Prairie Dog Bait

BE AN AUCTIONEER – Missouri Auction School, world’s largest since 1905. Free CD and catalog. Call toll-free 1-800/8351955, ext. 5. www.auctionschool.com.

FOR SALE: Two certified school buses.

Five Studebaker cars (‘59-’64). One International 56 twine tie baker with motor. Elk Park Bus and Ranch, 111 East Elk Park, Butte, MT 59701, 406/494-3954.

Equipment

A few Choice Bulls Available at Private Treaty. NAMPA, IDAHO

S

MENDENHALL SCHOOL of Auctioneering, P.O. Box 7344, High Point, NC 27264, “America’s top-quality auction school.” www.Mendenhallschool.com, 336/8871165, fax 336/887-1107. Free catalog.

Call Debbie at to 505/332-3675, e! er h place your ad

ERIC HERR 208/584-3515

S

ALEX DEES • 760/572-5261 • Cell. 928/920-3800 www.deesbrothersbrangus.com

Call: 979/245-5100 • Fax 979/244-4383 5473 FM 457, Bay City, Texas 77414 dwendt@1skyconnect.net

HEREFORD

Shorthorn

ART

Washington’s Oldest Source of Herefords

FAMILY

“SINCE 1938” Selling Range Bulls in Volume (Top Replacement Heifers)

SCHUSTER CLAY SCHUSTER 509/773-5089 Home 541/980-7464 Cell

GOLDENDALE, WA 99620

AMERICAN SHORTHORN ASSOCIATION 877/274-0686 8288 HASKELL ST., OMAHA, NE 68124 W W W. SHORTHORN. ORG I NFO@ SHORTHORN. ORG

Livestock Market Digest

Page 20

January 15, 2010

Cow-calf producers have been on the defensive nomic indicators suggest that the worst of the recession is behind us and that we should see recovery that leads to improved beef demand in the next few months.

The timing is, of course, uncertain. The macroeconomic signals are a mixed bag right now. The stock market has made a significant recovery from the low in early 2009. GDP growth was positive in the third quarter is likely to show growth, albeit modest growth, in 2010. However, unemployment is still rising and likely has not peaked yet.

Consumer spending remains limited as consumers work to repair their balance sheets.

Recovery of beef demand

ow-calf producers, like most in the cattle industry, have been on the defensive for the past three years.

First buffeted by unprecedented high feed and other input costs in 2007 and early 2008, profitability remained weak as cattle prices collapsed under the weight of the recession and poor beef demand this past year. Poor profitability stalled out the fledgling cow herd expansion that began in 2005 and by 2007 the cow herd was declining.

That sets up the situation in late 2009. Beef production is decreasing and projected to continue decreasing for a couple more years. Several macroeco-

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depends on consumers having the financial ability to purchase more beef, along with other things.

The good news is that beef demand is fundamentally sound.

Consumers still want to purchase and eat beef and they will as soon as they can afford to.

That will lead to higher prices and the incentive for the beef industry to expand production when it occurs. This scenario is likely to kick in sometime in 2010 and could be relatively strong in the last part of the year.

However, because of the current herd inventory situation, the beef industry has limited ability to expand very quickly. The ini-

tial stages of expansion will pull even more heifers out of feedlots and further squeeze beef production.

The beef herd expands or contracts on a more or less annual basis due to the seasonality of forage production. It is unlikely that the recovery described above will be in place and obvious enough for the beef industry as a whole to begin much expansion in 2010. However, individual producers may well want to think about how to be positioned for beef market opportunities in the next year without necessarily committing to an aggressive expansion until the macro picture clears a bit better.

P.O. BOX 99 QUEMADO, NM 87829

What does this have to do with basketball? Basketball is full of transitions from defense to offensive and vice versa. The key to transitioning into offense is anticipating it and how you play out the final stages of the defensive phase. This is similar to the situation for cow-calf producers.

Cattle industry expansion begins with cow herd expansion and cow-calf producers have an opportunity now to think about positioning themselves to be ahead of the game when it comes time to be on the offense.

Decisions to expand in 2010 or at least building the flexibility to begin expansion mostly need to be made in the first few months of the year before summer grazing. This might involve returning cow numbers to normal if they are currently low or it might involve saving a few more heifers to set up herd growth in the next 12-18 months or it might involve producing replacement heifers that may get to be in strong demand in late 2010 or in 2011. Producers should think about how they can be prepared for a more aggressive production plan and what signals will trigger them to act ahead of the pack and perhaps a full year ahead of the industry in capitalizing on beef market opportunities that could break out quite dramatically when they happen.

Source: Derrell Peel, Oklah. State University.

Angus Plus and Brangus Cattle

In 2010 . . .

Annual Bull Sale FEBRUARY 26, 2010 a t 1 : 0 0 p.m.

Cattleme

ns Livestock A uction BELEN, NEW ME XICO

ANGUS

TM

PLUS Enough Ear, But Not Too Much.

Offering 40 h ead 2-year-old Angus Plus B ulls

Rick & Maggie Hubbell 575/773-4770 • Mark Hubbell 575/773-4567 hubbell@wildblue.net

Korean demand for U.S. beef stengthens eekly statistics for U.S. beef exported to South Korea show a steady rebound of sales, with the pace in late November reaching the second-highest level for all of 2009 and the highest level since February. Although the velocity of beef consumption remains below that of the preBSE period, there are clear signs of gains in U.S. beef distribution and usage by the foodservice sector. That sector accounted for an estimated 65 percent of U.S. beef consumption in 2003.

Particularly encouraging is growing usage by small- to medium-size independent barbecue and rib soup establishments, whose collective potential demand for U.S. beef is considered the largest among all sectors. Elly Sung, U.S. Meat Export Federation assistant marketing manager for Korea, says, several months ago, restaurants were reticent to use U.S. beef because of requirements which obligate them to display the country of origin. He says, these concerns are abating.

Large U.S. beef stocks have clouded domestic wholesale marketplace psychology. However, USMEF estimates these stocks may have shrunk by about 25 percent in the past two months.

Local traders point out that as U.S. beef usage increases, the ratio of stocks to annual consumption, has declined to more normal levels.

W