Volume XV Number 4 • August 2007
Table of Contents

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Editor's Desk
The increase of cattle feeding in the seven state area centered on Iowa was discussed at a meeting sponsored by Cargill in Sioux City, Iowa, in 2006. By looking at the Cattle on Feed reports, it is a noticeable trend. This is a seven state area comprised of some entire states and parts of others – Iowa, eastern South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, eastern Nebraska and Indiana. ...Read the Story...

Reducing Energy Waste -- Part 1: Boilers
In feeding operations utilizing steam flaking as the grain processing method, milling is the largest energy consumption component of the feedyard operation. With the exception of steam, however, the other principles discussed here will apply to all feed preparation.....Read the Story...

Packers, Producers Need Each Other
“I don’t mind paying a premium for good cattle.”
Art Wagner, of National Beef Packing Co. LLC, can say that because he knows the economics. “I make more money on the cattle that grade Choice and higher, than I do on Select, so I have no problem discounting those that are below par. I’d like every animal that walks through my doors to grade Choice or Prime,” says the procurement vice president. “Is that a reality? No, but the more we get, the more premiums we can pay out.” . ...Read the Story...

Putting a Dollar on Pharmaceutical Values
An innovative study puts dollar values on the use of pharmaceutical technologies in the beef industry. These technologies—parasite control, growth implants, subtherapeutic antibiotics, inonophores and beta-agonists—save cattlemen an estimated $360/head during an animal’s lifetime. ....Read the Story...

Chicken Soup for the Sick Pen
Okay, not really chicken soup. But think back to younger days and the soup and soda crackers that were consumed just after a childhood illness. Such foods provide some protein and energy along with salt, vitamins, and minerals in a bland, gentle manner. There was no need to put undue stress on the digestive system during recovery by ingesting rich foods. Besides, energy density matters very little in the first few days following illness, but will again be important in subsequent days. From a nutritional standpoint, this same logic may apply to calves that find their way to the sick pen. ......Read the Story...

Accuracy of Sensory Evaluation
Just how accurate are the taste, juiciness and tenderness studies we read about?
Ever wonder who were the judges, and how they were selected?
Elanco Animal Health sponsored an Animal Health Sensory Evaluation Briefing and Wet Lab at Iowa State University in Ames Iowa, May 15-16, 2007.   . ...Read the Story...

Pregnancy Checking Via Blood Test
There are several ways to tell if a cow is pregnant, including rectal palpation and ultrasound. The newest technique is a blood sample. This technology was developed by Dr.Garth Sasser, University of Idaho. He discovered a protein called Pregnancy Specific Protein B that is produced by the placenta and detectable in a blood sample. .. ....Read the Story...

Praising People Effectively
Praising employees has never been more important, nor has it been so hard to do effectively. Much of the challenge lies in the fact that our operations have become larger with a wide range of personalities, cultures and preferences working together. . ........Read the Story...

Preventing Bad Hires
It occasionally happens. The job applicant comes in, has a good attitude, answers all our questions, appears to have a good level of experience and our “gut” tells us that this person will work out fine. Unfortunately, three weeks later we realize they aren’t reliable, they don’t know which end of the steer goes in the head gate, and all that experience they talked about must have been in their dreams.
We wonder where we went wrong. Our history in hiring people proves that our gut is a pretty good indicator, but what happened this time? . . .....Read the Story...

Forecasting Feeder Cattle Basis with High Grain Prices
Using futures markets to manage risk requires that hedgers understand and be able to predict the relationship between cash prices at their local market and the futures market. The relationship, known as the basis, is simply cash price minus futures price. .. .....Read the Story...

Advantage of Harvesting Ear Corn as Earlage
The following report is from Eric Christensen of Christensen Partners in Weldona, Colorado. They have generously shared their knowledge on harvesting ear corn as earlage with Feed•Lot Magazine readers. The following is “in their own words.” .. .....Read the Story...

John Brethour: Opened Doors for Ultrasound
John Brethour, was a professor of Kansas State University, who worked at the experiment station at Hays, Kansas. He passed away after a long battle with cancer. He pioneered the research of sorting finished cattle with ultrasound to improve marketing profits. The Hays News said in the headline article on May 29, 2007, “Brethour: Hays man opened doors for ultrasound.” . ...Read the Story...

Tennessee Program a Success
A unique Tennessee program that provides cost-share funds for beef and dairy herds has made substantial strides in its first year. . ....Read the Story...

Horn Fly Control Can Improve Summer Productivity
During the warm summer months, grazing cattle are often subject to harassment by flying pests. In terms of economic loss, cattle producers are familiar with profit-robbing maladies such as Anaplasmosis and Bovine Respiratory Disease. Both result in estimated annual losses of up to $60 million and over $1 billion, respectively. Surprisingly though, neither represent the greatest economic threat to the cattle industry. The horn fly is the most pervasive and most costly external parasite affecting North American cattle. While the face fly, housefly, stable fly and horn fly all negatively impact grazing cattle, the horn fly is far and away the most damaging. . .. ...Read the Story...

Product to Improve Efficiency Shows No Effect on Taste
Intervet received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Zilmax in August 2006. The feed ingredient has been used successfully for eight years in Mexico and 12 years in South Africa. It is designed to improve production efficiencies in steers and heifers during the last 20-40 days of the feeding period, resulting in an end beef product that the industry can produce more efficiently. Zilmax is proven to increase hot carcass weight, as well as improve average daily gain and feed efficiency. It also improves yield grade and dressing percentage. ....Read the Story...