Beef Briefs

BOYLES EARNS NATIONAL BQA EDUCATOR AWARD

Each year the National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Award recognizes outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers, and educators that best demonstrate animal care and handling principles as part of the day-to-day activities on their respective operations. Dr. Steve Boyles, Ohio State University (OSU) beef cattle extension specialist, is the 2021 BQA Educator Award recipient. Boyles is originally from Southeast Ohio, where his family ran a research facility for OSU. Growing up on the farm cultivated his love for beef cattle. Boyles pursued that interest, eventually becoming a leading expert in BQA. He uses his knowledge and expertise to teach agriculture students, cattle producers and consumers alike on the importance of BQA. Award winners are selected by a committee comprised of BQA certified representatives from universities, state beef councils, sponsors and affiliated groups, who assess nominations based on their demonstrated commitment to BQA practices, their service as leaders in the beef industry and their dedication to promoting the BQA message to grow consumer confidence. The National BQA Awards are funded in part by the Beef Checkoff program and sponsored by Cargill.

2021 FARM SCIENCE REVIEW TO BE LIVE AND IN PERSON

The Ohio State University’s Farm Science Review, which was held online last year because of the pandemic, will return this year to be live and in person for the 59th annual event. The premier agricultural education and industry exposition is set for Sept. 21–23 at Ohio State’s Molly Caren Agricultural Center, 135 State Route 38, near London. “While research, teaching, and serving communities throughout Ohio never stopped during the pandemic, we are grateful to once again be in person, working together, to advance our industry,” said Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State’s vice president for agricultural administration and dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). CFAES is the host of Farm Science Review, which brings in more than 100,000 people annually. Featured at the event will be more than 100 educational sessions, including “Ask the Expert” talks; 600 exhibits; the most comprehensive field crop demonstrations in the United States; a career exploration fair; and immersive virtual reality videos of agricultural activities. Hours for Farm Science Review are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21–22 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets are $7 online, at county offices of OSU Extension, and at participating agribusinesses, and $10 at the gate. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free.

STATE OFFICIALS WARN LIVESTOCK OWNERS ABOUT EMERGING ASIAN LONGHORNED TICK The Asian Longhorned Tick (ALHT), Haemaphysalis longicornis, has recently been discovered in cattle herds in two Ohio counties. On July 30, 2021, the State Veterinarians Office was notified that the tick was detected in beef herds in Jackson and Monroe counties. Heavy infestations have led to some cattle deaths. This is significant as this marks the first known cattle (livestock) infestation in Ohio. In July 2020, ODA was informed that this tick was identified on a dog from Gallia County. In 2017, this non-native and invasive tick species was found for the first time in the United States (New Jersey). Since then, it has moved across several mid-Atlantic states into West Virginia and now Ohio. This tick poses a significant disease threat and economic impact to Ohio’s livestock industry as it transmits over a dozen diseases that have human and animal health impacts. There is great concern amongst animal health officials about the potential impacts on livestock and wildlife. This tick can feed in large populations (known as a tick mass) on warm-blooded host animals which can lead to reduced growth, animal production, and in severe cases sufficient blood loss can result in death. Thus far, 17 different mammal species and one avian species have been infested with Asian longhorned ticks. Mammals include sheep, goats, dogs, cats, horses, elk, cattle, deer, opossums, raccoons, foxes and humans. The ALHT is a three-host tick, indicating it will feed on a different host for each life stage. Additionally, this tick is can reproduce without mating with a male. A single female can lay between 2,000 and 4,000 eggs, leading to heavy populations in some areas. This wide host range and unique tick biology leads to endemic tick populations in the environment that are difficult to control. Producers are encouraged to treat their livestock regularly for ticks and other external parasites. Additionally, environmental control measures are recommended. For livestock owners these include keeping grass and weeds trimmed and clearing overgrown brush in pastures and yards. Consult with your local veterinarian regarding preventive strategies to control external parasites.

CATTLEFAX FORECASTS RECORD BEEF DEMAND; PROSPECTS FOR TIGHTER SUPPLIES

The beef cattle industry is bouncing back from the pandemic, and continued progress is expected in 2022. Beef prices are near record high, and consumer and wholesale beef demand are both at 30-year highs as the U.S. and global economy recover. While drought remains a significant concern with weather threatening pasture conditions in the Northern Plains and West, strong demand, combined with higher cattle prices, signal an optimistic future for the beef industry, according to CattleFax. According to CattleFax CEO Randy Blach, the cattle market is still dealing with a burdensome supply of market-ready fed cattle. The influence of that supply will diminish as three years of herd liquidation will reduce feedyard placements. As this occurs, the value of calves, feeder cattle and fed cattle will increase several hundred dollars per head over the next few years. Kevin Good, vice president of industry relations and analysis at CattleFax, reported that the most recent cattle cycle saw cattle inventories peak at 94.8 million head and that those numbers are still in the system due to the COVID-19 induced slowdown in harvest over the past year. “As drought, market volatility and processing capacity challenges unnerved producers over the past 24 months, the industry is liquidating the beef cowherd which is expected to decline 400,000 head by Jan. 1 reaching 30.7 million head,” Good said. The feeder cattle and calf supply will decline roughly 1 million head from its peak during this contraction phase. Fed cattle slaughter will remain larger through 2021 as carryover from pandemic disruptions works through a processing segment hindered by labor issues, he added. “While fed cattle slaughter nearly equals 2019 highs at 26.5 million head this year, we expect a 500,000-head decline in 2022,” Good said. “This, combined with plans for new packing plants and expansions possibly adding near 25,000 head per week of slaughter capacity over the next few years, should restore leverage back to the producer.” Good forecasted the average 2022 fed steer price at $135/cwt., up $14/ cwt. from 2021, with a range of $120 to $150/cwt. throughout the year. All cattle classes are expected to trade higher, and prices are expected to improve over the next three years. The 800-lb. steer price is expected to average $165/cwt. with a range of $150 to $180/cwt., and the 550-lb. steer price is expected to average $200/cwt., with a range of $170 to $230/cwt. Finally, Good forecasted utility cows at an average of $70/cwt. with a range of $60 to $80/cwt., and bred cows at an average of $1,750/cwt. with a range of $1,600 to $1,900 for load lots of quality, running-age cows. According to Good, the boxed beef cutout peaked at $336/cwt. in June, while retail beef prices pushed to annual high at $7.11/lb. “Customer traffic remained strong at restaurants and retail – even as those segments pushed on the higher costs, proving consumers are willing to pay more for beef,” he said. Wholesale demand will be softer in 2022, as a bigger decline in beef supplies will offset a smaller increase in beef prices with the cutout expected to increase $5 to $265/cwt. Retailers and restaurants continue to adjust prices higher to cover costs. Good added the retail beef prices are expected to average $6.80/lb. in 2021 and increase to $6.85/ lb. in 2022. Global protein demand has increased and U.S. beef exports have posted new record highs for two consecutive months, even with high wholesale prices. The increases were led by large, year-over-year gains into China, and Japan and South Korea remaining strong trade partners for protein. “The tightening of global protein supplies will support stronger U.S. red meat exports in 2022. U.S. beef exports are expected to grow 15 percent in 2021 and another 5 percent in 2022,” Good said.

STATE-OF-THE-ART ANIMAL FACILITY COMING TO OSU

Photo courtesy of Ohio State CFAES A Multi-Species Animal Learning Center will be coming to the Columbus campus of Ohio State at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory, which is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). This new facility will allow students the opportunity to take classes in handling animals, among other subjects, and school children and the general public can see the dayto-day workings of modern livestock production. The first floor of the new building will include classrooms and animal barns and the second floor will be open to the public. Visitors will have access to a viewing area and interactive educational displays. The new facility will also replace outdated buildings to allow students to learn the best techniques and practices for modern-day livestock production. It will also be open for 4-H competitions and Extension programs. Along with the new facility is a plan to modernize Waterman’s dairy barn with an added robotic milking system to allow cows to freely come and go to be milked. The system will also collect and range of data, a key part of modern dairy operations. Construction for the Learning Center is expected to begin in two years.