News Update
March 3, 2009

Association Provides AM Fact Sheet

In an effort to keep Association members and commercial bull buyers informed about arthrogryposis multiplex (AM), the American Angus Association has developed a one-page fact sheet that describes briefly what AM is and how it is inherited. The fact sheet can be used as a sale book insert or as a tool to explain AM to the commercial cattle producer in simple terms. Download the fact sheet at www.angus.org/pubs/sale_book_inserts.html or contact the Association if you have further questions.

Sen. Johanns Undergoing Surgery

A statement released today by the office of Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) reports the senator and former U.S. Agriculture Secretary is having surgery on his left lung today following the discovery of a spot last November.

Johanns’ Press Secretary Sarah Pompei referred to the surgery as a cautionary step, but said it could involve the removal of the lower lobe of the lung. The nature of the spot, including whether it’s cancerous, will be determined in surgery being conducted at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va.

According to Pompei, Johanns is expected back in his office by March 16. 

Prior to being elected last fall as a U.S. Senator, Johanns served as Secretary of Agriculture under President George W. Bush for almost three years, beginning in January 2005. Prior to that, Johanns served as Nebraska’s governor from 1999 to 2005.

KAA to Sponsor Commercial Angus and Angus-influenced Female Sale

The Kansas Angus Association (KAA) is seeking consignments for its annual spring Angus-influenced female sale at JC Livestock Sales, Junction City, Kan., on Saturday, March 28.

Females will be consigned in minimum five-head lots, with all females being eight years of age or younger. To qualify for this special sale, the females must meet Certified Angus Beef® (CAB) live specifications.

The sale welcomes bred cows and heifers; fall pairs, and open heifers. Those interested in consigning cattle or buying may contact Debbie Lyons Blythe, sale chairman, at 785-349-2652 or debbie@blytheangus.com. Entries will be taken up to sale day; however, those entries submitted prior to March 20 will be advertised.

Angus seedstock producers are encouraged to help inform their commercial bull customers of this sale as an option for producers to market source-verified Angus replacement females. Consigners do not have to be members of the Kansas Angus Association.

The sale is sponsored by the Kansas Angus Association. Another KAA commercial female sale is scheduled for Dec. 5, 2009, in Pratt, Kan.

For more information on the Kansas Angus Association and its projects visit www.kansasangus.org  or contact Anne Lampe, secretary/manager, at 620-872-3915 or kansasangus@wbsnet.org.

— Release provided by KAA.

CME Report: Markets Reflect Concern for Grain Demand

As farmers plan to break ground on the new planting season, Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) contributors to the “Daily Livestock Report” note the bearish tone of the markets.

According to CME, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) preliminary estimates presented at the Annual Agriculture Forum in Washington, D.C., point to worry in the markets regarding corn prices going forward.

Planted acres this spring are expected to show little change from a year ago thanks in part to ethanol mandates, CME reports. In addition, USDA further lowered expected feed use for 2009-2010, likely reflecting the continued reduction of the U.S. beef herd and a projected smaller calf crop as well as reduced pork and poultry output.

— Information from CME’s “Daily Livestock Report.”

Factors Affecting Beef Flavor

Following is a summary of key points for producing consistently flavorful beef, offered by Rick Rasby, professor of animal science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).

• Production/management factors that influence beef flavor do so primarily via effect on amount and composition of fat.
  
• Beef flavor desirability increases as intramuscular fat (marbling) increases. Marbling scores of Modest or greater provide the greatest assurance of desirable beef flavor characteristics.
• If the goal is to consistently produce beef with exemplary flavor, then management practices that have been shown to reduce marbling deposition (e.g., ineffective animal health programs, delayed castration of male calves, restriction of dietary energy during the growing period, and aggressive use of growth enhancement technologies) should be avoided. In addition, selecting cattle for increased levels of marbling would, over time, result in favorable effects on beef flavor.
  
• Grain feeding improves beef flavor. In general, grain-finishing periods of approximately 100 days or longer are effective for developing the desirable beef characteristics commonly associated with grain-fed beef. Moreover, corn-based diets seem to produce beef flavor characteristics preferred by most U.S. consumers.
  
• Preharvest stress, resulting in dark cutting beef, has a negative effect on beef flavor. Therefore, adoption of cattle handling practices that minimize this stress is important for assurance of a pleasurable eating experience.
  

— By Rick Rasby, UNL, which provided the article at http://beef.unl.edu/stories/200903020.shtml.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.