Angus cattle may have taken the world by storm, but in Uruguay, Hereford cattle remain the most popular breed. Whiteface cattle account for 65 percent of the country’s 10.8 million beef cattle. Producers like the breed’s temperament and how it efficiently converts pasture into a good beef product. The national consumption per person is more than 60 kilograms (132.2 pounds) each year. These producers have pushed into more than 100 export markets, competing with Australia, Europe and the U.S.
Flax is the oily seed that contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and fiber that protect humans against Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and even cancer. Kansas State University’s 10-year flax seed study found that feeding flax seed to cattle five months before slaughter reduced inflammation and the need for antibiotics. It also had an unexpected benefit for consumers because they could get their omega-3s from beef rather than salmon, tuna or walnuts.
The May 1 Crop Progress reports the inventory of 14.2 million tons of hay stocks is the smallest since 2007 and smaller than any May 1 since 1973. Total U.S. hay stocks on May 1, 2013 are down 36 percent from the previous 10-year average. Reduced hay production due to a two year drought and extended winter demands this spring have pulled hay stocks to low levels. Experts predict hay production is likely to be below normal again in 2013.
We’ve got a great beef industry going, Mother Nature’s crankiness aside. It’s evolved so much from the days after the buffalo that those ol’ cattle barons wouldn’t even recognize it. Sure, we have some hurdles to overcome; everyone’s lane has a few. But we’ve got so much to be proud of as a holistic team from ranch to town; together we’re producing great tasting, safe, wholesome and affordable beef for an appreciative and trusting consumer. On top of that, over the generations we’ve become excellent stewards of the land in our care; family values remain important to us; and we’re passing on the independent, proudly patriotic spirit of the American rancher.
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Process Verified Program, that is
- by Merridee Wells
- Photo by Sage Pool
Process Verified Programs, or PVP’s as they are commonly called, are another of the many new-fangled phrases which are becoming commonplace in our cattle industry today. Breed associations draw them like a gun while marketing programs dazzle you with their PVP requirements and the auction companies brag on their value-added benefits.
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Make sure your cows are nutritionally ready
- by Gilda V. Bryant
- photo by Lucie Wiese
Minerals are important for herd health, reproduction and efficiency during winter. However, that is only part of the picture. Extra protein and energy are vital during cold, wet weather. Producers should also be aware of forage and by-product supplementation quality, as well as body condition scores.
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- by Dr. Arn Anderson, DVM
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A drive through the unloading pen with seven-foot tall pipe fence, double gates with two latches and two chains, a trained technician and a seven-foot perimeter fence; this litany of security measures clicked off in my brain as I ran toward my truck instinctively yelling “loose bull!”. Only moments before, 747, a dog-gentle 2200 lb, five year-old Limousin bull, had calmly walked off the trailer and into the large animal hospital. He had come for an exam to determine the cause of his lethargy and malaise.
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- by Corinne Brown
- photo by Amy Dugosh - Attagirl Photo
The M&M team in the steer doctoring at the Ring of Fire Ranch Rodeo in Boerne, Texas. That’s James Fitzgerald doing his crowd-pleasing Superman impression.
During a time when most Texans were stretched to the max by wildfires or drought, it’s encouraging to know that some folks down in the south part of the state responded by doing what they do best - getting on with the game and forming a brand new ranch rodeo association. Founded in 2010, this past October 22, 2011 marked the second annual finals of the newly formed South Texas Ranch Rodeo Association in Cotulla, Texas.
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Your secret weapon? Ionophores
by Melissa Albertson
photo by Malloree Barnes
As you consider all the different products available to help increase the performance for your herd, you can’t ignore the proven benefits of feeding ionophores: improved feed utilization, increased gain, prevention and control of coccidiosis, and cost effectiveness. Even so, while ionophore use is extremely common in feedlot finishing diets, they still are an underutilized product in grazing operations.
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