Purdue's Beef Blog
This blog was created by the Purdue Beef Team as an educational forum for beef producers and Extension educators. It includes timely news, issues, and management tips that have the potential to affect the beef business and decision-making process. Opinions expressed in the news clips do not necessarily represent those of Purdue University or the beef industry.
Updated: 7 hours 22 min ago
Proper antibiotic-use helps prevent livestock disease
What Will the Next Generation Farm Look Like?
What Will the Next Generation Farm Look Like?
Gary DiGiuseppe
American Cattlemen
Changes are coming to America’s cattle ranches. Operators and their employees will have new technology at their fingertips, and will require a new set of skills to employ it; the operators themselves will be changing, as will the sizes of their enterprises. And they’ll be less independent than they’ve been in the past.
Be Prepared for Calving Problems to Ensure Live Calf
Be Prepared for Calving Problems to Ensure Live Calf
Heather Smith Thomas
Cattle Today
Sometimes a calf cannot be born because he’s not in a position that allows him to enter the birth canal. In other situations he may not be able to progress through the birth canal because he’s too large, or a limb is caught on the pelvic brim, or the head is turned back. Knowing what’s wrong and how to correct it can make a difference in whether you end up with a live calf.
BeefTalk: Calving Time, So Far, So Good
BeefTalk: Calving Time, So Far, So Good
Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service
Compared with last year, the calving results are night and day different.
The calving season this year is far better than last year’s misery. Perhaps a regretful reminder is in order.
A year ago, the Dickinson Research Extension Center started calving with very mixed results. The season started with a dead calf and went downhill from there. The second heifer was a calf abuser and was taken away. Out of the first 26 heifers that calved last year, difficult pulls, cesarean sections and numerous general assists were the norm. There were three dead calves but the rest survived.
New Report Highlights Impacts Of Livestock Production
New Report Highlights Impacts Of Livestock Production
Thebeefsite.com
The growing worldwide demand for meat is likely to have a significant impact on human health, the environment and the global economy in the next 50 years, according to the report, Livestock in a Changing Landscape, released in March 2010.
National Beef Cattle Numbers
National Beef Cattle Numbers
KBTX
“We often talk about a cattle cycle, the cattle numbers go up, prices go down, and we start reducing herds, and then when the herd size gets cut back enough, prices go up and ranchers start expanding their herds, and that cycle, that cyclical nature of the industry has been much less pronounced over the last number of years.”
A cattleman’s letter to Granholm seeking a retraction of her Meat Out Day proclamation
A cattleman’s letter to Granholm seeking a retraction of her Meat Out Day proclamation
Detroit Free Press
Dear Governor Granholm,
On February 1, 2010, I completed my term as President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. For this Michigan citizen it was indeed a high honor. As I traveled the country, I received many questions about Michigan’s dismal economy and the lack of political leadership. Nothing, however, ever generated national outrage as much as your Meat Out Proclamation for National Ag Day. What were you thinking?
Scientists take animal breeding to the next level
Scientists take animal breeding to the next level
Michel Proulx
PhysOrg.com
Sequencing the genome of these two bulls enables scientists to more accurately identify the genetic markers that are responsible for economically important traits such as efficiency, yield, fatness and tenderness, say the scientists. Producers can use that information to breed healthier dairy cattle that produce more and higher quality milk as well as beef cattle that produce better quality beef.
Meat packer said his daughter cried when she learned about his job
Meat packer said his daughter cried when she learned about his job
Indianapolis Examiner
“Different industries use different raw materials. Automakers need steel, mufflers, and tires. Cloth makers need fabric and thread. The meat industry, uniquely, needs live animals to produce its products. This brings with it a significant responsibility and one that the meat packing industry takes seriously.”
Kids learn life lessons from raising livestock
Kids learn life lessons from raising livestock
Chiefland Citizen
MARK SCOHIER
Sixteen-year-old Kodie Meeks, of Chiefland, said she started raising homegrown feeder steers and entering them into contests when she was 9.
But last year was the first time she won. She was reserve champion at the 2009 Levy County Livestock Fair with a Black Angus Macros named Oakie.
“He was so sweet,” she said. “He was just like a big old Teddy Bear.”
Cattle Raisers Support Revisions to Water Quality Standards
Cattle Raisers Support Revisions to Water Quality Standards
KOSA
The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) today supported the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) proposal to revise the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards.
The revisions will provide more flexibility for the state to implement surface water quality standards and reduce excessive and unnecessary government regulation. This should save ranchers time and money while still protecting water quality.
‘Farm to fork’ harvests kudos
‘Farm to fork’ harvests kudos
Paul Wyche
The Journal Gazette
Quiet and cattle don’t usually go together, unless you’re at Heritage Farms in Jefferson Township, Whitley County.
Owner Pete Eshelman says serenity is necessary to properly raise his Japanese Wagyu livestock, which food experts call some of the finest-tasting beef around.
Spring Hereford Sire Summary Now Available
Give the people what they want: Savvy customer service for agriculture
Give the people what they want: Savvy customer service for agriculture
JOHN SCHLAGECK
Abilene Reflector-Chronicle
While almost every industry today does a less than stellar job of living by the motto “the customer is the most important part of business,” Kansas farmers and ranchers are one segment that adheres to this philosophy.
Kansas farmers and ranchers have always been willing to adapt to the ever changing consumer landscape. They approach each year with an open mind and the flexibility to develop new ways of marketing their livestock and crops.
What If We Awaken Some Day And There Are No Farmers To Be Found?
What If We Awaken Some Day And There Are No Farmers To Be Found?
The Farm Gate
What if the global consumer arose one morning for breakfast and there was neither food in the fridge nor enough US farmers to supply the demand for food? Oooooops. While technology is indeed making farmers more productive, there will still need to be farm operators and managers to produce food products for shipment to the processing and distribution industries. But that number of individuals is rapidly diminishing and there are some concerns being expressed.
Yearling Bull Management
Yearling Bull Management
Dr. Scott P. Greiner, Extension Animal Scientists, VA Tech
Winter and spring are the primary bull buying seasons in Virginia. A diligent amount of time spent studying performance information, EPD’s, pedigrees and other pertinent information is warranted as sire selection is the most important tool for making genetic progress in the herd.
Better Beef, Better Exhibitors
Better Beef, Better Exhibitors
Becky Mills
Angus Journal
When the Clarksville Area Better Beef Show started in 1950 it had worthy goals. “The purpose was to give young people in 4-H and FFA a place to show their animals. They develop leadership and citizenship, and it helps pay their way to college,” says John Bartee, Extension director for Montgomery County, Tenn.
Marketing cattle basics for successful producers
Marketing cattle basics for successful producers
Amanda Nolz
Tri State Livestock News
Sit around the coffee shop long enough and a passerby can hear producers talk shop. Ranchers gather for their morning gossip and tall tales start to develop. So and so has the biggest calves, his neighbor got the highest prices at the sale barn, and the producer down the road has the tallest corn in the community.
