NY-ANGUS.COM | New York Angus Association OFFICERS President | Andrew King Cobleskill, NY 518-852-1587 avking2508@gmail.com
Vice President | Chad Hazekamp West Winfield, NY 315-941-0817 cindy.bell70@yahoo.com
Secretary | Sara Fessner Bloomfield, NY 585-752-1213 sgangusfarm@gmail.com
Treasurer | Jerry Emerich Mooers, NY 518-593-0212 jemerich@premierselect.com
Past President | Ric Coombe, Grahamsville, NY | 914-799-1091 tvangus@thunderviewfarms.com American Angus Assoc. Regional Manager | Reese Tuckwiller, Christianburg, VA 308-360-3048, rtuckwiller@angus.org
DIRECTORS 2023 | Jeff Barber Skip Lear Steve Loetterle
2024 | Robert Groom John Iovieno Tom Miller
2025 | Gabby Glenister Ryan McLenithan Sarah Walton
Upcoming Events Cow Power Sale August 20, 2022 | Linwood, NY
Tullyfergus Angus Sale October 22, 2022 | Lyons, NY
Angus Hill Production Sale August 27, 2022 | Randolph, NY
American Angus Assoc. National Convention November 3-7, 2022 | Salt Lake City, UT
NY State Fair ROV Show & Junior Angus Show August 28-29, 2022 | Syracuse, NY Trowbridge Female Sale September 17, 2022 | Ghent, NY NYBPA Beef Expo September 24-25, 2022 | Lott Farm, Seneca Falls, NY NY Fall Cattle Battle September 30-October 2, 2022 | Fonda, NY
NYAA
New York Angus Association
Please return member information to: NYAA 6899 Gauss Rd Blomfield, NY 14469
Name: _______________________________________________ Farm Name: ___________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Farm Address (if different): ________________________________ ______________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ Website: _______________________________________________ Social Media: ___________________________________________ Year Herd Established: _______________ Herd Description: ________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
$30 MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS: ~Consign in our annual female sale ~ Junior Angus Scholarship Funding ~Angus E-Blast ~Subscription to the NY Angus Angles Newsletter ~Member listing in our NY Angus Angles directory ~Online advertisements ~Leadership Opportunities ~Continuing Educational Opportunities
Are you interested in consigning in the 2022 NY Angus Annual Female Sale? _____________ Are you interested in advertising in the NY Angus Angles? __________________
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New York Angus Association | President’s Message
Dear Fellow NY Angus Members:
It is an honor to have been elected to serve as your President of the NY Angus Association. I will do my best to work with the Officers, and Board of Directors, as well as you, the membership to continue to support Angus Cattle Breeders of NYS and beyond. For the first time in three years, we held a NY Angus Association State Sale on Saturday May 14, 2022, at the Lott Farm in Seneca Falls. A report on this sale is found in this issue. We have wrapped up the sale and by the time you read this, the directors will be discussing options and opportunities for sales in the future. We have now entered Fair Season. I urge you to consider participating in your County Fair to exhibit and highlight your Angus Cattle. Coming up rapidly is the NYS Fair, and the Roll of Victory Show (ROV). Roll of Victory shows are established throughout the Country by the American Angus Association. It is a points-based system consisting of Recognized Point Shows, and Super Point shows. There are eight states that host ROV shows classified as Recognized Point Shows. Our New York State Fair is very fortunate to host one of them. I encourage you to consider exhibiting at this show. If unable to exhibit, I do encourage you to come by and see the show. Fall Sale Season is also rapidly approaching. Many of our members host or participate in these sales. While I won’t mention specific sales here, for fear of missing one, please look through this issue for the many sales around New York. Please also watch our Facebook page for links to members sales. I am looking forward to working with this organization. If you have ideas, suggestions, or even constructive criticism, please feel free to contact me, or any officers, or directors. We are here to support you, our members.
Andrew V. King
President
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Advertising with NYAA Angus Angles Ad Sizing Please follow these guidelines for print ready ads Business Card - 3.5” x 2” Quarter Page Ad - 4.25” x 5.5” Half Page Ad - 5.5” x 8.5” Full Page Ad - 8.5” x 11” w/ .125” bleed Preferred format is PDF but high resolution JPG and PNG will be accepted. Digital issues are in color and printed issues are in black and white. You can view current and past issues at www.ny-angus.com
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New York Angus Association | 2022 State Sale Report
85th New York State Angus Sale After a three year hiatus, the New York State Angus Sale returned for it’s 85th edition, the longest running state sale series held in the country. Thirty one quality lots went through the ring May 14th averaging $2315.00 per lot. In addition, six lots of Red Angus heifers were offered, averaging $1533.00 per lot. The high selling individual this year was the consignment of Acomb Acres and Jerry Gustin, Dansville, NY. A daughter of the rare Connealy Clarity, Acombacres GLC Elba 205 (lot 1) was out of the famed Trowbridge donor, Frosty Elba Lizzy 564. She sold for $8000.00 to Bloom Angus, Westville, IN. A Deer Valley Wall Street fall calf out of a maternal sister to lot 1, Dorado-LA Lindy Elba E212 was the second high selling open heifer in this year’s offering, bringing $4500.00 on the winning bid of Mark Titera, Bagley, MN. Lindy E212 was consigned by Dorado Angus, Mooers, NY and Lux Acres, Cold Spring, MN. Third high selling open heifer was lot 7, the consignment of Angus Hill, Cheer Up Farm and Northwind Farm. An early daughter of the extreme Marbling sire G A R Transcendent from an exciting young donor by G A R Sure Fire, she was gaveled off for $3300.00 to the winning bid of Dorado Angus and Lux Acres. Spring Cow/Calf pairs were in demand at this year’s sale with two pairs bridging the $5000.00 mark. High selling pair was the consignment of Frank DeBoer, Franklin, NY. Frank’s three year old EXAR Monumental 6056B daughter nursing a February Sydgen Enhance heifer was the pick of John Grunder, Interlaken, NY at $5500.00 Following closely behind was the offering from Thunder View Farm, Grahamsville, NY. An exceptionally nIce two year old Deer Valley Growth Fund daughter nursing a March Schaack Icon 9212 heifer found a new home with Merle Harvey, Gowanda, NY commanding a price of $5100.00. Embryo offerings have always been popular in the State Sale and this year was no exception. Topping the embryo division was the consignment of Deer Valley Farm, Fayetteville, TN. Their offering consisted of three IVF sexed female embryos sired by the high maternal sire BJ Surpass out of the $35,000 donor E&B Lady Plus 643. The winning bid came from Katie Colin Farm, Cartersville, GA at $1600.00/embryo. This year’s sale was held at the Rodman Lott & Sons Farm, Seneca Falls, NY. The NYAA greatly appreciate the beautiful facilities and support provided by the Lott family. The sale was managed by Rance Long, OK and assisted by Josh Jasper, auctioneer with Mike Shanahan working the ring.
MAKING YOUTH OUR PRIORITY REGISTERED ANGUS
5493 Cheningo Rd Truxton, NY 13158 Carl Hinkle (607) 842-6936 Jeanetta Laudermilk, Mgr. (607) 345-6466 NewPennFarm@gmail.com
www.NewPennFarm.com 5
2022 Annual Meeting Report | New York Angus Association
2022 New York Angus Association Annual Meeting Last year the NYAA Board of Directors and membership voted to combine the State Sale and Annual Meeting into a one day event. There was a two-fold purpose for this. One was to help contain costs. The other was to increase attendance at both events. It seemed to be successful on both fronts. The Annual Meeting began at approximately 10:30 am with the sale scheduled for 1:00 pm on Saturday May 14th. Both events were held at the Rodman Lott and Sons Farm in Seneca Falls, NY. Secretary Sara Fessner presented the minutes from last year’s Annual Meeting and Jerry Emerich, Treasurer presented the year end treasury report. Both were approved by the membership present. As of this writing, there is approximately $23,000.00 in the Association’s banking accounts with all receipts paid to date. President Ric Coombe thanked all in attendance for allowing him to serve as President the last two years during one of the most trying times in our nation’s recent history. Without a State Sale the last two years, this has to be considered a “rebuilding” year for the organization. Ric went on to thank the many people who helped behind the scenes to make this year’s sale successful. He also spoke about our Junior members who plan to attend the Eastern Regional and National Junior Angus shows this year. Reports on these activities are presented elsewhere in this issue. Another subject Ric spoke about was the success of the organization’s periodical Angus Angles. Published four times a year, it has increased in volume due to the hard work of Sara Fessner in obtaining new advertisers. For the first time ever the semi-annual membership directory was combined with the Spring issue of the Angles and printed in full color. With information changing at an ever-increasing rate, it was felt by the board that printing a Membership Directory once every two years was quickly outdated. Thus, going forward the Membership Directory will be updated each year in the Spring Angus Angles. We also want to thank Taylor Hoelscher, Carousel Design for her creative talents in putting the Angles together each issue. With little business to be conducted, the meeting quickly moved into the election of officers and board of director members. The following people were elected to officer positions for the coming year: President: Andrew King, Cobleskill Vice President: Chad Hazekamp, West Winfield Secretary: Sara Fessner, Bloomfield Treasurer: Jerry Emerich, Mooers Tom Miller, Lockport was elected to a two year term on the Board to fill the unexpired seat of Chad Hazekamp who moved up to Vice President. Elected to three year terms on the board were Gabriella Glenister, Pulaski, Ryan McLenithan, Cambridge and Sarah Walton, Linwood. To close out the meeting the Association’s annual service awards were presented. Winners this year include Travis and Sarah Walton, Linwood for the Young Cattle Producer award. The Distinguished Service award was presented to Jeanetta Laudermilk, Truxton. The Master Breeder award was bestowed on Angus Hill Farm, Dr John Inkley, Randolph. Congratulations to all of the winners. Well deserved!
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BonAnd Angus Quality Registered Angus Bulls and Heifers
Andy & Bonnie Campbell Owners
1679 North St Wyalusing, PA 18853 (570)363-2133, (570)721-0808 ancamp4020@hotmail.com
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Pasture Pests | Nancy Glazier Pasture Pests – It’s All About IPM Nancy Glazier, CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops As I write this in mid-June grazing season is well underway. Unfortunately, it’s time for pasture pests, too. These can include face flies, horn flies and stable flies. Gastrointestinal parasites are there but can’t be seen. This may sound strange, but one way to gauge your natural controls is by looking at manure pats. There is a bunch of beneficial insects in there that can help with control. One group of beetles that can help with control is dung beetles. Dung beetles will either tunnel, roll, or dwell in the manure. You will most likely find Aphodius species, which are dwellers, in NY. If the pats disappear in a few days, there is probably a decent population of beetles. Why are dung beetles important? If you can help eliminate the breeding grounds of livestock pests, wouldn’t you do it? They have also been found to improve pasture yields and soil health. Unfortunately, some of the most commonly used treatments for flies and stomach worms are detrimental to dung beetles and other beneficial insects. Some pests can quickly develop resistance to products that are used repeatedly. It can all get rather complicated. One class of dewormers of products used for treatment of internal parasites is macrocyclic lactones. Ivermectin (Ivomec®) is most commonly used do to its ease of use as a pour-on. It is broad spectrum. Its efficacy has been found to be greatly reduced due to resistance. Another dewormer, fenbendazole (Safeguard®), has been found to be safe for dung beetles. Overuse of fenbendazole on some farms has led to resistance issues, too. Moxidectin (Cydectin®) has been found safe for dung beetles, but I could find no reported instances of parasite resistance. Recommendations for deworming cattle include using both ivermectin and fenbendazole concurrently for control. This overcomes resistance, but not the loss of dung beetles. Fly control options have their drawbacks with resistance and dung beetles. Pyrethrin products are one example. Horn flies have been reported resistance to the products in a study conducted in Kentucky. Houseflies can develop resistance, too. There are feed-through fly control products available such as growth regulators and modes of actions. Studies have mixed results of their impacts on dung beetles. This highlights the importance of integrated pest management (IPM). It is critical to know what pests you have in and on your livestock. Fecal egg counts can be done on livestock to gauge internal parasite populations. Your veterinarian can help with this. Don’t treat the whole herd. This creates refugia, a susceptible pest population. Time treatments during cooler times of the year when dung beetles are less active. Know the numbers present before treating animals for flies. Flies have treatment threshold numbers – horn flies: for beef, 100 flies found on one side; face flies: 10 flies per animal; stable flies: 10 per four legs. Some producers have moved away from chemical treatments and now focus on pasture management. Use short interval rotations to uniformly spread the manure. This helps keep the grass taller and helps prevent the pats from getting disturbed. To reduce risks of livestock picking up stomach worm larvae on pasture, don’t let them graze below 4 inches.
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Pasture Pests | Nancy Glazier
These are just a few highlights. Ken Wise with NYS IPM program and Mike Baker, Cornell beef specialist recently wrote a resource, Dung Beetles Aid in Reducing Flies and Gastrointestinal Parasites in Pastures, and can be downloaded here, https://hdl.handle.net/1813/69933. We are also conducting a statewide dung beetle survey to identify and assess populations. Stay tuned for details!
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Junior Report | Written by Evie Groom
Hello All,
I hope your summer is going great is filled with good weather and amazing angus cattle! At the beginning of July, 7 New York Juniors and 9 head of cattle made their way to Kansas City Missouri for the National Junior Angus Show. The week of Junior Nationals was filled with new experiences and challenges for all. Junior members: Evie Groom and Adeline Tommell were the official delegates to represent New York and at the end of the week elected 6 new members to the National Board. Also juniors: Anna King and Taylor Scohfield participated in the prestigious Angus Showmanship Contest where Taylor Schofield was an honorable mention showman, which is given to participants who were in contention but were not selected for the top 15. This week was filled with many contests that New York Juniors participated in such as, livestock judging and the Skillathon. We are very excited for the NYAA Show at State Fair and we have many prizes and events planned.
Thank you,
Evie Groom
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E L A FEM E L A S
a
SELLING DAUGHTER
of Frosty Elba Lizzy 564 (top), Sired by WOODHILL Blueprint. Full sister Trowbridge Elba 154 shown (bottom)
N O I T C U D O R P
a
ILY M A F A R AFFAI
SEPT. 17, 2022 • 11AM TR OW BR IDG E FA R M S • G H E N T , N Y
PLUS Cheer-Up Angus Dispersal by John Iovieno
PLUS 30 LIVE
HEREFORD LOTS
Northeast
Elite
HEREFORD SALE
WWW.TROWBRIDGEFARMS.COM
H H H H H H H H H Sale sponsored by:
New England
518.369.6584 / PHIL & ANNIE TROWBRIDGE / phil@trowbridgefarms.com Pennsylvania 518.755.7467 / PJ & MIRANDA TROWBRIDGE / pj@trowbridgefarms.com New Jersey HEREFORD AS SOCIATION HEREFORD AS SOCIATION HEREFORD AS SOCIATION
New York
HEREFORD BREEDERS
SELLING DAUGHTER
of JKW 719T 1406 MISSY 1602 (above), Sired by Boyd Power Surge
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On behalf of the New York Jr. Association, we are excited for this 2022 show year. The Jr. Association was designed to give the jr. the opportunity to exhibit their cattle at State, County, Regional, & National shows and towards agricultural education. We pride ourselves on supporting and giving back to our youth. We are extremely thankful for all the past participation we have had from sponsors and volunteers, we are excited to continued, those partnership in 2022. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding the sponsorship levels. Our Jr. Association appreciate your continued support of youth in agriculture.
Company/Business: ________________________________________ Sponsor Contact Name_____________________________________ City: ________________________State: _______Zip: ___________ Amount of Sponsorship: $__________._______ Email logo in JPEG format to newyorkjuniorangus@gmail.com MAIL FORM AND CHECKS TO: Thank you, Please make Checks out to: NYJAA NYJAA Robert Groom 8974 Lyons Marengo Rd. Lyons, NY 14489 *FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
NYJAA
Specific Donation: Ex. chair, T-shirts Donation:______________________________________________________________ 14
2022 SPONSORSHIP To receive Sponsor Benefits; amount must be paid in full by June 1, 2022. Prior to printing/ Events
PLATINUM SPONSOR: ….………………………………………………. $600. UP • Name to be Announced though out the Jr. Angus show • Sponsor Banner around the different Jr. Angus show • Photo opportunity • Breed sponsor possibility GOLD SPONSOR: ……………………………………………………………………. $500 • Name to be Announced though out the Jr. Angus show • Sponsor Banner around the different Jr. Angus show • Photo opportunity • Breed sponsor possibility SILVER SPONSOR: ………………………………………………………………. $300 • Name to be Announced though out the Jr. show • Sponsor Banner opportunity around the different Jr. Angus shows • Breed sponsor possibility BRONZE SPONSOR: ………………………………………………………… $ 200. • Name to be Announced though out the Jr. show • Sponsor Banner opportunity around the different Jr. Angus shows • Breed sponsor possibility FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION: ……………………………………. $ 100. & under • Name mention to be Announced though out the Jr. show • Sponsor Banner opportunity around the different Jr. Angus shows • Breed sponsor possibility
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Trowbridge Bull Sale Report 2022| Written by Jerry Emerich
Trowbridge Farms Annual Bull Sale The latest installment of the Trowbridge Farms Annual Bull Sale was held at the Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange, Canandaigua, NY on May 7th. This year’s offering included 44 Angus bulls averaging $4970.00 for a sale total of $218,680.00. Top of the sale was lot 4 Trowbridge Hannover 072, a Bar R Jet Black 5063 from the Pride Lucy family. He sold for $8500.00 to Rich Gould, Whitehall, NY. The other bull over $8000 was lot 14 Trowbridge Butter Home at $8250.00 to David Rose, Lowville, NY. A G A R Home Town son he hails from a Deer Valley Growth Fund daughter out of the popular Butterfly family. In addition, four Red Angus bulls sold for an average of $4125.00. There were six Hereford bulls averaging $2575.00 and one Wagyu cross at $3400.00. Managing the sale this year was Rance Long, OK with Scott Crawford crying the sale and assisting in the ring was AAA Regional rep Reese Tuckwiller.
Michael T. Leary | Written by Jerry Emerich Michael T Leary 1975 – 2022
It is with sadness we report the passing of Michael T Leary of Pine Plains, NY. Michael passed away suddenly on May 22, 2022 while canoeing the Conewango Creek in western New York with friends. He was born August 17, 1975 in Poughkeepsie. The son of Tomas and Francis Leary, Michael graduated from Rhinebeck High School then went on to earn an Associate’s degree in Agricultural Science from SUNY Cobleskill. Michael will be remembered by the New York Angus community for his work with a couple of highprofile operations in the southeastern part of the state. He was herdsman at High Field Farm, Clinton Corners until their dispersal in 2001. Soon after he met Arthur Hyde, Prospect Hill Farm, Pine Plains and helped Arthur, who was like a father figure to Michael, establish a world-class Angus operation. Two of the highest averaging production sales in the breed were held at Prospect Hill in 2006 and 2007. After the cattle left, Michael continued to manage the farm for Mr Hyde. Michael is survived by his wife April and their four children, Mickayla, Mattison, Morgan and Maxwell in addition to his parents, a brother and a sister along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and numerous friends. The New York Angus community will greatly miss the warm energetic personality that was Michael Leary.
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Beef expo Weekend Sept. 24-25th, 2022
Saturday, Sept. 24th Educational speakers for both adults and juniors and BQA chute-side training. Food truck lunch, trade show and other events all day! NYBPA Council Meeting in evening. Sunday, Sept. 25th Jr Beef Expo Show! Check-in by 8:00AM. Show starts at 10:00AM. Showmanship, Pee-Wee Class, Steers and Heifers.
Presentation Preview Dr. Patrick Gunn, Purina - “Maximizing Your Forage Base” Dr. James Gaspers, SD beef nutritionist, Hubbard Feeds - Blueprint minerals and Crystalyx tubs NY Beef Council - The Beef Checkoff at Work and How to Remit for Direct Market Producers Attica Veterinary Associates - Animal Handling Other topics include matching your forage analysis with mineral supplements, farm finances and taxes, and DOT ag law information BQA Chute-side training opportunity Junior topics - Showmanship and Judging
Junior cluded Show in r! this yea
*Please RSVP by Sept. 17th* Amanda Dackowsky 716-432-9871 nybeef@nybpa.org
ALL ARE WELCOME!
R Lott Sons F & arm 2973
s
State R o a Falls ute 414 , NY 1 3148
Senec
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Join the NY Beef Producers’ Association!
Year-end membership starts now - $50 for the rest of this year and all of 2023. Our statewide organization is made up of beef producers, adult and youth, committed to safe, wholesome, and nutritious beef supplied to consumers. We emphasize on raising healthy animals and protecting the environment for future generations. We are dedicated to working together for the improvement of the beef industry. Check out our website at www.nybpa.org for more information.
NEW YORK BEEF PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATION Membership Application Renewal
New Member
Name:_________________________________________ County:_____________________ Region (if known) ________ Farm:____________________________________________________ Phone: (_____)____________________________ Address:__________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________ City, State, Zip:_______________________________________________ # of cattle owned/managed:_______________ _________ NYBPA Membership- Includes one-year subscription to NEW YORK BEEF PRODUCER Magazine….…….…$50.00 _________ NY Junior BPA Membership- $10.00 each (Maximum $25.00 per family) …………..………………………$_________ Junior Name:_________________________________________ Birth Date:_____________________________________ Junior Name:_________________________________________ Birth Date:_____________________________________ Junior Name:_________________________________________ Birth Date:_____________________________________ Adult & Junior Memberships are from January 1, – December 31 of said year. Removal from mailing list occurs if dues not paid by Feb. 15th
_____ NYBPA Sponsor Membership- Give a first time membership to a friend/customer……………………………….…..…$40.00 _____ National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Membership Dues- optional (per schedule listed below)………..$_________ ___0- 100 Head..$150.00
___101- 250 Head..$300.00 ___ 251 –500 Head..$450.00
Voluntary Program Contributions NYBPA relies solely on our membership, dues, donations, and proceeds from our fundraisers for financial support. In our continuing efforts to become a stronger, more productive organization that is better able to serve the needs of our membership, please consider making a direct contribution to one of our active programs. You may designate below which program you would like to support with the contribution amount. Thank you for your support! Scholarship Fund_______ Youth Programs________ Adult Programs _______Other (specify)______________________
Referred By:________________________________________________________________________________________ Payment: Total Amount Enclosed: $___________________________ My check #_____________________ is enclosed. Master Card or Visa
Accepted
Amount to be charged to my credit card account $____________________
Account #_______________-_____________-______________-_______________ Exp. Date:________/_________ CVC #____________Zip Code:_______________
Make checks payable to: NYBPA Mail Completed Form to: NYBPA, Amanda Dackowsky, 10040 Hooker Hill Road, Perrysburg, New York 14129
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Registered Angus
Larry M. Laribee vtranch.org
Carthage, NY 315-767-3290
Scott Kel l ey, Owner
ijm�n RIB ��u�, �!A(K ��rn & �f�fill� Dennis Montross 315-730-5034
Weedsport, NY
lamontross1001@lahoo.com
Christopher Montross 315-406-1041
SHOW CATILE, REPIACEMENT HEIFERS AND BOW AVAIIABLE
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February 18, 2022
Contact: Nicole Erceg Director, Communications, 330-345-0442 Certified Angus Beef, NErceg@certifiedangusbeef.com
PHOTOS: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6zmprzi6atjiwj9/AAB_GllSZlG8Q8amzlHXoIgUa?dl=0
Up Close and Personal
CAB purchases 109 acres of Chippewa Valley Angus Farm to bring partners closer to beef. By Abbie Lankitus About a thousand people walk through the doors of the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Culinary Center in Wooster, Ohio each year. Customized experiences cover everything from meat science and culinary masterpieces to learning more about beef production. Many visitors have never seen live cattle, much less been to a working ranch. For the past five years, the brand has provided that experience by visiting Atterholt Farms and other Angus operations. “We have a great partnership with the Atterholt family and several other farms,” says Deanna Walenciak, vice president of brand marketing, domestic. “But a lot of groups tell us an hour and a half isn’t enough time on the farm. They want to be out there longer and do more.” To grant that greater experience, CAB purchased 109 acres of Chippewa Valley Angus Farm, a working ranch about 7 miles northeast of the brand’s office. “It helps us tell a better story because it allows our customers to see that we are completely transparent in what’s happening at the farm,” Walenciak says. “When they can get to a farm or ranch, it’s a game changer in their minds. They’re so impressed.” This purchase is only part of Rod and Laurie Ferguson’s Chippewa Valley operation. Along with the facilities on the 109 acres, CAB has leased back the land to Chippewa Valley to continue business as usual. “The farm’s going to stay a farm,” Walenciak says. “It will remain the working operation that they are because that’s the authenticity that our guests want to experience.” Currently, CAB takes guests to the Atterholt Farms year-round. In Northeast Ohio, outside events aren’t comfortable six months out of the year. “The biggest change we’ll make at Chippewa Valley is incorporating ‘creature comforts’ like a temperature-controlled room, restrooms, and a place to serve meals with a kitchen.” In the short term, Walenciak says the brand will work with the Fergusons to determine their needs, do some pasture development and pour concrete. By having these facilities, Walenciak says the brand can create more of what their guests want to do like help feed cattle, or witness calves being born. “Eighty to 90 percent of our guests at the Culinary Center today have never been to a working farm,” she says. “Some of the biggest things they want is a chance to meet the people and see cattle up close. We can’t provide that experience unless we’re standing in a barn. So, let’s throw out a bale of hay, let the cattle come close.” Walenciak says this experience is even eye opening for international guests. “We host groups from places like Japan, Korea, the Middle East and it completes their picture, their trust, of our American beef industry when they can get out to a farm. When they come to Wooster, we can
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### roll out the red carpet in everything: culinary, meat cutting and farm. There’s no other brand that they can have that much confidence in. It really completes a whole package.” CAB hopes to use these facilities not just for partners and the next generation of agriculturalists. “There’s an opportunity to host FFA groups or judging teams when they come through this area to tell our story to an even broader audience,” Walenciak says. For those who can’t make it to Wooster, ranch days featuring Angus farm and ranch families across the country will continue. A day on the farm or ranch becomes a story students, chefs, meat managers and foodservice sales people tell with excitement when talking about Certified Angus Beef long after their visit. “This new facility is going to open up countless opportunities,” she says. “I hope people start to identify Wooster and visiting Certified Angus Beef as a destination because they can get to the farm, the culinary center, and the meat lab. That becomes a really cool experience.” ###
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SATU RDAY | AU GUST 20, 2022 | 1 P.M. 243 4 L I N WO O D R D. , L I N WO O D, N Y 1 448 6
Host: WALTON’S WAY ANGUS
Special Guests: HOFFMAN CATTLE CO. FINGER LAKES CATTLE CO. JOHNSON ANGUS RANCH SG ANGUS FARM TREADWAY ANGUS BULLARD CREEK CATTLE CENTRAL BRIDGE FARMS WILLIS AND STAVOLA LAND AND CATTLE
B I D O N LIN E!
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Your Herd
Good Udders Make for Good Mothers Scoring cows helps guard against future problems. by Miranda Reiman, senior associate editor
“Why are we doing this, Dad?” That question came sometime during 2001 when Joe Elliott’s teenage sons were helping him run a cow into a chute to milk her engorged udder. “So you can remember why we’re going to carry this cow off to the sale barn when this udder gets straightened out. We don’t want to have to do this again,” Elliott replied. That was two decades ago, and as the seasoned Angus breeder recalls the story today, Elliott notes one of those now-grown “boys” is back home on the Adams, Tenn., farm. Today the father-son team assign udder and teat scores to every cow shortly after calving.
It’s both a guard against increased labor and future problems in their own females, and part reputation management as a seedstock supplier. “If you sell a guy a bull with bad teats in his pedigree and he keeps replacements, he’s not going to be happy if that gene pops out,” Elliott says. Initially, the breeder collected data on his own pass/fail scale. When the Angus Information Management Software (AIMS) began including it as a measure to track, he adopted that system. “We don’t have that many bad udders anymore. We just don’t,” he says, noting they treat poor udders like they do disposition problems.
“We just don’t keep bad ones around.” This summer, the American Angus Association added udder and teat scoring as optional fields in Angus Herd Improvement Records (AHIR®). “It’s all about making functional cows for the commercial cattleman,” says Esther McCabe, director of performance programs. “You want to be able to make improvements for them, and udder scores are a step to creating trouble-free cows for your customers.”
Teat and udder scoring how-to In AHIR, just under the birth weight and calving ease fields, there are two separate measures: one for
Figure 1: Teat score
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Figure 2: Udder score
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Angus Journal August 2021
dam teat score and one for dam udder score. “There is no optimal or right answer as long as the udder is functional and problemfree,” McCabe says. “The most important thing is that the calf gets ample colostrum in them in the first few hours of life. We know that the antibodies from colostrum must be absorbed before the gut wall starts to close in order to provide passive immunity. The effects of colostrum follow the calf through life.” The Association has adopted a oneto-nine scale for teat size, where one is the largest and nine is the smallest. There is a similar one-to-nine scale for udder suspension score, with one being very pendulous and nine is very tight. Eventually the current AIMS system will be converted to match, and the Association will help AIMS users who are interested in submitting historical scores. “Teat size and udder suspension are highly correlated traits, and they tend to move in the same direction, but it’s not a one-to-one correlation,” McCabe says. “That’s why they’re being scored independently.” Elliott looks for a smaller teat — big enough for a calf to grab hold, but small enough to be able to suckle well right away — with good attachment and a tight udder. The more pendulous the bag, the more likely a calf can’t empty it and they’ll have problems, he says. The scoring is based on the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) guidelines, but unique Angus sketches (see Figures 1 and 2) should help members identify what it looks
like within the breed’s population, she notes. McCabe provides a few quick tips for scoring success: • Limit the number of people taking measures in a management group since it’s subjective. • Score within 24 hours of calving. • Evaluate the worst combined quarter for udder suspension and teat size.
Making mamas that stay
Data helps cattlemen make decisions within their own herds. Elliott says they have real-world experience that provides proof: now very few females leave the herd because of their udders today compared to 20 years ago. It also helps the Angus breed continue to improve on the maternal traits it’s known for. The idea is to have enough records to develop a research expected progeny difference (EPD) and continue building a body of data that will inform future genetic tools down the road. Those who submit data early will already be in a good routine, and “It’s just like any other trait that you submit information on; you want your animals represented in that population,” McCabe says.
Elliott remembers his dad collecting weaning weights long before it was the norm, but he insisted the more they knew about the cattle, the better. Today Elliott sees the udder and teat scoring as a small investment of time for the return. “We’re tagging the calf. We’re treating the calf and giving a nasal vaccine. It doesn’t take long to get a score when you’re already doing all that,” he says. It goes straight into the calving book, which is then entered into his computer each night. “It’s about longevity, and it’s not just about appearance — it’s about function,” Elliott says. A cow that gets mastitis once is more likely to have udder problems later on. A cow with a bad quarter will have a calf that’s shorted on milk. He’d rather deal with a few more numbers to type in than to run a cow through the chute. That’s a lesson Elliott learned a long time ago. Editor’s note: Visit www.angus.org/ University/Resources to view the Teat and Udder Scoring guide or contact the Association at 816-383-5187, and they’ll help you get started.
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