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Predicting Cow Efficiency

Heifer intake and feed efficiency as indicators of cow intake and feed efficiency.

For the last several years, the beef industry has been abuzz about feed efficiency. According to University of Illinois animal scientist Dan Shike, the reason is fairly obvious. It’s because the industry now operates in a new era of feed prices, with increased price volatility. Feed costs are a big deal, considering that expenditures for feed represent 50%-70% of a cow-calf operation’s total production costs.


Speaking during the 2014 Beef Improvement Federation symposium in Lincoln, Neb., June 19, Shike admitted that little progress has been made in improving beef cow feed efficiency. That’s because the industry has focused more on increasing output, with increased input requirements as a consequence. However, Shike said studies suggest that the feed intake of a developing heifer is a likely indicator of her intake requirement as a mature cow. Read more.


Chris Jeffcoat

Chris Jeffcoat

Association Perspective

Increase the value of your calves through AngusSource® Genetic.

Would you like to increase the value of your Angus-sired feeder cattle and replacement heifers on top of the great prices we’re currently experiencing? As you look forward to marketing your calves this fall, it’s time to consider enrolling your calves in the AngusSource® Genetic program through the American Angus Association to increase their value.


Commodity feeder-calf prices are at record-setting levels, which has been a welcome sight for the cow-calf producer, but what continues to drive consumers to purchase beef at these higher prices is a quality product. Feedlot operators want quality cattle to feed because they are rewarded in the form of premiums for top-grading fed cattle, especially cattle that meet the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) standards. Therefore, order buyers are willing to pay more for feeders they know have top-performing genetics that will also allow feedlot operators to meet the CAB standards. Read more.


Personnel Changes

American Angus Association, Angus Productions Inc. hire five, promote one.

The American Angus Association and Angus Productions Inc. (API) announce the hiring of four regional managers and a director of Creative Media, as well as a promotion. Jay Nordhausen of Grant, Neb.; Jake Troutt of Emmett, Idaho; Casey Jentz, Belleville, Wis.; and Alex Tolbert, Frankfort, Ky., will serve as regional managers for the Colorado and Nebraska; Northwest; Great Lakes; and Kentucky-Ohio-Tennessee territories, respectively. Becky Terry is API’s new director of Creative Media. Jason Kenyon is director of information systems (IS). Read more.


Wolf Effect Observed

Animal trapping records reveal strong wolf effect across North America.

Scientists have used coyote and red fox fur trapping records across North America to document how the presence of wolves influences the balance of smaller predators further down the food chain.


From Alaska and Yukon to Nova Scotia and Maine, the researchers have demonstrated that a “wolf effect” exists, favoring red foxes where wolves are present and coyotes where wolves are absent. Read more.


What’s Inside …

In this June edition of the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, you'll find valuable articles devoted to the management, marketing, and health and nutrition of your beef enterprise. Select from the tabs at the top of the page to access this month's entire offering by category. A few select features include:


News Briefs …

The American Angus Association and its subsidiaries generate a wealth of information to keep members and affiliates informed of what's happening within the industry as well as with the programs and services they offer. Click here for easy access to the newsrooms of the American Angus Association and Certified Angus Beef LLC and the Angus Journal Daily archive recently made available in the API Virtual Library.


USDA Programs Conserve Land
and Help New Farmers

Programs allow producers to protect land and help new, minority and veteran farmers get their start in agriculture.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced June 4 that farmers, ranchers and landowners committed to protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive land may now sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Vilsack also announced that retiring farmers enrolled in CRP could receive incentives to transfer a portion of their land to beginning, disadvantaged or veteran farmers through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP).


“CRP is one of the largest voluntary conservation programs in the country,” said Vilsack. “This initiative helps farmers and ranchers lead the nation in preventing soil erosion, improving water quality and restoring wildlife habitat, all of which will make a difference for future generations.” Read more.


Your Health

 

Want to be Healthier, More Successful? Play.

Play is more than just fun. It’s essential to human functioning throughout the life span.

Have you ever noticed how often people respond with the word “busy” when you ask them how they’re doing? Many of us find ourselves feeling anxiety and stress because we have so much to do, and we feel there’s not enough time to do it all. We live in a culture that pressures us to be in a constant state of doing things — working, going to school, running errands and doing chores — and many adults and youth find themselves in structured activities from sunup to sundown. This dominant cultural value focused on being busy is reinforced by a steady stream of shame-based messages we hear throughout our lives. These messages connect our sense of self-worth to how much money we earn, what colleges we get into, what material things we acquire and other things external to us. Read more.


 

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