News Update
July 19, 2010

Angus Juniors Elect New NJAA Board of Directors

The 2010-2011 National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) Board of Directors was announced Friday evening during closing ceremonies at the 2010 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Denver, Colo.

Newly elected directors include: Garrett Knebel, Indiana; Alisha Nord, Minnesota; Clay Williams, Georgia; Austin Brandt, Iowa; Shane Clary, Virginia; and Lindsey Grimes, Ohio.

Board members entering their second term were also elected to officer positions. Britney Creamer was named chairperson; Cody Smith, vice chairman; Clinton Laflin, communications; Jennifer Ann Smith, Foundation; Danielle Foster, leadership; and Jaclyn Upperman, membership. Read more.

Beef Quality Assurance Program Enhances Consumer Confidence In Beef

More than ever before, it is essential for beef cattle producers to ensure that they are producing the highest quality beef and to make sure that consumers know it. The Beef Quality Assurance Program (BQA) does just that. The Beef Quality Assurance mission is to maximize consumer confidence and acceptance of beef by focusing producers’ attention on daily production practices that influence the safety, wholesomeness, and quality of beef and beef products through the use of science, research, and educational initiatives. Becoming BQA certified is a great way for producers to ensure that they are using proper, research-based production practices and to demonstrate that commitment to beef consumers.

The Oklahoma Beef Council is providing opportunities this fall for producers to become BQA certified in a series of regional Cattle Processing Field Days and BQA meetings across Oklahoma. Cattle Processing Field Days will include chute-side demonstrations of BQA principles and guidelines, BQA recap and BQA certification tests. Each workshop is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. with lunch included. Cattle Processing Field Days will be on the following locations and dates:

- Tulsa Fairgrounds, Mustang Arena, Tulsa, Aug. 24
- Caddo County Fairgrounds, Anadarko, Sept. 8
- Woodward County Fairgrounds, Woodward, Sept. 13
- Pittsburg County Expo Center, McAlester, Sept. 15

Producers unable to attend the Field Days can attend one of four district evening BQA classes. Each class will be from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., with a meal followed by BQA training and certification at the following locations and dates:

- NE Technology Center, Afton, Aug. 24
- Canadian Valley VoTech, Chickasha, Sept. 8
- Major County Fairgrounds, Fairview, Sept. 13
- Eastern Oklahoma State College, Wilburton, Sept. 15

Producers who RSVP their attendance at any of the Field Days or evening meetings by preregistering and completing the BQA certification test will be entered in a drawing to win a Prefiert S04 manual chute with carriage that will be used for the field day demonstrations.

— Release by the Oklahoma Beef Council.

Cattle Producers Battling Eye Irritations in Herds this Summer

Most Missouri cattle producers are doing battle this summer with eye irritations in their herds, according to Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with the University of Missouri (MU) Extension. The source of the irritations likely is the pinkeye bacteria, Moraxella bovis.

Pinkeye results in lost weight, reduction of gains and reduced value as feeder cattle or breeding stock.

“I’ve visited with cattle owners and veterinarians in the area, and the eye problems are widespread and they started earlier in 2010 than usual,” said Cole.

Although Moraxella bovis is the suspected culprit, there are other diseases and strains that can produce symptoms similar to M. bovis pinkeye. Nutrition, flies, dust, grass seeds and bright sunlight may be contributing factors.

Close animal-to-animal contact and face flies typically are blamed for the spread within a herd.

“Many owners are perplexed as they have a closed herd with no cattle just across the fence that could have brought the disease to their cattle, yet they have bad eyes. In fact they often say it’s been years since they had eye problems like this year,” said Cole.

Cole has visited with area producers and veterinarians and has found a lengthy list of treatments and prevention strategies.

Treatment strategies start with frequent observation and prompt treatment of animals that show squinting and tearing of the eyes. Antibiotic treatment products were varied and might be given intramuscular, in the eyelid, directly applied to the eye as an ointment or given under the skin.

Following the antibiotic treatment most either put a patch over the affected eye or suture it shut. It is recommended to isolate the animals from the unaffected cattle in the herd. It also helps to have those cattle handy for follow-up treatments.

Recovery is slow and may take from two to three weeks.

Besides the antibiotic treatment, some will wash the eye out, administer vitamin A, put a fly tag in their ear or pour the cow with an insecticide.

“Some producers say feeding antibiotics in the concentrate or mineral helps, but that isn’t always the report I hear,” said Cole.

The same applies to the use of pinkeye vaccines. It appears the vaccine, if it contains the organism involved, will speed recovery if it doesn’t eliminate the onset of pinkeye.

“Research does show less pinkeye in some cattle that are under the same environment as others. This lends hope that selection for more tolerance to the problems will occur in the future,” said Cole. “Either way, visit with local veterinarians to see what protocol is working against pinkeye in your area. There is not a simple solution.”

— Release by MU Extension.

Beef Meeting Scheduled for July 29 in Canyon

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service of Randall County will be hosting a Randall County Stocker and Cow-Calf Beef Producers meeting July 29 at the AgriLife Extension office in Randall County, 200 N. Brown Road, Canyon.

The meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at noon, said J.D. Ragland, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Randall County.

The topics of discussion will be:

• Preparing for Fall Health for both stocker as well as cow-calf along with nutritional requirements for winter, Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Amarillo.
  

• 2010 Wheat Yield Results and wheat variety recommendations for grazing, haying and grain, Brent Bean, AgriLife Extension agronomist, Amarillo.
  

• New mineral supplements and recommendations, Brice Tabor, Hi-Pro Animal Health nutritionist.

Three general Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered for private pesticide applicators. The meeting is open to the public at no charge. For more information contact the AgriLife Extension office in Randall County at 806-468-5543.

The meeting will conclude with a Dutch-treat lunch in town for those who want to attend, Ragland said.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.