Volume XVI Number 1 • February 2008
Table of Contents

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Editor's Desk
You have to be there, when it comes to forums, seminars, meetings and conventions.
The old saying ‘You Won’t Know Until You Find Out’ is true. Of course, it really becomes a matter of do you have time to be there? Is it worth your time? With forums, seminars, meeting and conventions – the reason for attending is the transfer of information or a learning experience, and they can be exceptional.. ...Read the Story...

Feeding Quality Forum...Structural Changes in Agriculture
This report is one of several articles from the Feeding Quality Forum that will be published in Feed-Lot Magazine. The lead off speaker at the forum, Dan Basse is an independent economist. He said, “We are in a Golden Age of Agriculture…with a challenging year ahead.” Basse’s firm, AgResources, is a domestic and international advisory research firm. He implied, “But unlike 2007, the challenges for 2008” will be different.....Read the Story...

Adapt Programs for Modern Calves
Cattle genetics have changed and backgrounders may need to react in order to produce the best beef.
Frank Brazle, retired Kansas State University Extension beef specialist, has studied the stocker industry for more than 30 years.. ...Read the Story...

Hoop Barn Works for Cattle Feeder
When Iowa's boom in ethanol plant development began generating large quantities of distiller’s grains as a byproduct of the fuel, cattle feeders began taking note of the opportunity that the new product provided.
Brad Harvey of Akron is just one of Iowa’s livestock feeders who began searching for ways to improve their production process. ...Read the Story...

Market Updates via Text Messaging Available
Chicago Board of Trade prices can be literally at a cattleman’s fingertips thanks to cell telephone text messaging technology. Intervet Cattle Business Messaging provides near month fed-cattle futures market data three times a day—at market open, midday, and close of market, with the closing information also listing the volume traded that day. The midday and close of market messages also give corn futures. Subscribers are alerted when cattle cash trade occurs and of major breaking news relevant to the cattle industry.....Read the Story...

Modernizing Employee Policies
Over time our Employee Management Policies need to be modernized to accommodate changes in the business, employee needs, and legal precedence. One area that is often overlooked is the need to update policies based on new technologies. ...Read the Story...

Give 'Em a Chance: How to Get More for Calves at the Auction Barn
In an auction barn, every feeder calf is judged for a few seconds before its value is determined.
Cow-calf producers who sell at auction should take note of research by the University of Arkansas that documented distinct traits and management practices that can add dollars. In 2000 and 2005, the University worked with USDA Livestock Market News reporters to track data from 17 markets across the state.
The results showed the largest differences in price were due to health, muscle score, breed and body fill.....Read the Story...

Researchers Say It's Too Soon for Conclusions on Feeding Ethanol Byproduct to Cattle
Scientists at Kansas State University who are studying the effect of feeding distiller’s grains to beef cattle said that more research is needed before cattle feeders and the public should reach definitive conclusions....Read the Story...

Profit Points in Cattle Feeding
The strategy of a major player in cattle feeding was explained at the Beef Quality Forum by Tom Brink, of Five Rivers Cattle Feeding Company. Brink explained that the balance of keeping the yard reasonably full and maintaining low breakeven closeouts is highly correlated to profitability, compared to other factors such as cost of gain and daily gain. .....Read the Story...

USDA Proposing Voluntary Standards for Natural Beef
The USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service is soliciting comments on a proposed voluntary standard for a naturally raised marketing claim as a certified Quality System Verification Program, according to a Texas A&M Beef Cattle Browsing Newsletter.   ...Read the Story...

Changes in Winter Feeding Programs May Be Necessary After Drought
As the weather has turned colder and the days shorter, many beef producers are busy marketing calves and implementing a feeding program for the winter season. In some areas of the U.S., the summer drought and subsequent shortage of water, pastures and hay have necessitated many changes even to the basics of beef production. ...Read the Story...

Benefits of Harvesting Manure
Harvesting manure in a timely manner can greatly control feedyard dust and thus stretch scarce water resources. Timely harvesting also helps feedyards meet the quality specifications for manure sold to ethanol plants,
“ I recommend May 1-May 15 as a target for getting the entire feedyard in good shape for the year. That is when people start bringing their sprinkler systems out of their winter state and putting water out as needed,” said Brent Auvermann, an ag engineer at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Amarillo. ....Read the Story...

Staggered Rotary Mixers — An Evolution of Mixer Boxes
The latest innovation in the evolution of feed mixers for feedlots is the rotary mixer with blades rather than a bar the full length of the unit. The Roto-Mix Company which was the original developer of the rotary mixing boxes developed the staggered rotor system to improve the mixing of heavy rations. It uses a combination of blades on the rotor with augers to further mix the ration......Read the Story...

Dealing with Hiplock When Pulling Calves
Sometimes in a difficult birth, the calf comes partway out, only to get stuck at the hips because they’re too wide to come through. To avoid this, take advantage of what room the cow or heifer has — her pelvic opening is widest toward the top. Remember that the calf starts out down in the uterus, low in her abdomen, and must come up and over the pelvic brim in an arc. As his body comes out, start pulling downward, toward the cow’s hocks and feet. . ...Read the Story...