Protein Producers Winter 2018

PROTEIN producers Winter 2018-2019

TM

FILLING THE GAPS IN DISEASE PREVENTION

When commercial vaccines may not be the answer, Newport Laboratories can create a custom one. We pinpoint the problem and produce a customized vaccine specific to the herd in need. And now that Newport Laboratories is part of Boehringer Ingelheim, you have the combined resources of two industry leaders ensuring your veterinary toolbox is never left incomplete. For more information, contact Newport Laboratories, Inc. at 800-220-2522.

The Newport Laboratories Logo is a registered trademark of Newport Laboratories, Inc. ©2018 Newport Laboratories, Inc., Worthington, MN. All rights reserved. BOV-1255-NPL0518

PROTEIN producers

TM

2018 Volume 6 Issue 4

Editor: Kelly Terrell Associate Editors: Brandi Bain, Lisa Taylor

PAC Veterinarians Dr. Tom Edwards Dr. Doug Ford Dr. Matt Fruge Dr. Nels Lindberg Dr. Jim Lowe Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz Dr. Tom Noffsinger Dr. Randall Spare Dr. Corbin Stevens Dr. Kev Sullivan Dr. Wade Taylor Dr. Shane Terrell Dr. Dan Thomson

Follow us on Twitter @PACVets

PAC Team Ted Howard Animal stewardship, horsemanship Jose Valles Bilingual education & training Garrett Taylor Information management Kelly Terrell Marketing and communications Lisa Taylor Business and data analysis Brandi Bain Marketing and business administration

To subscribe to Protein Producers visit pacdvms.com and click on our Subscribe link!

YOU CAN’T AVOID

SHIPPING S T R E S S. Y O U C A N O U T S M A R T I T. Protect your calves against bovine respiratory disease (BRD) with Zactran (gamithromycin). ®

Stress can leave your cattle susceptible to performance-robbing pneumonia.

With ZACTRAN, you get a potent combination of six factors that helps you protect the genetic potential of your calves – and your profitability. Get the facts to see what makes ZACTRAN the smart choice. ZACTRAN.com Important Safety Information: For use in cattle only. Do not treat cattle within 35 days of slaughter.

Because a discard time in milk has not been established, do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, or in calves to be processed for veal. The effects of ZACTRAN on bovine reproductive performance, pregnancy and lactation have not been determined. Subcutaneous injection may cause a transient local tissue reaction in some cattle that may result in trim loss of edible tissues at slaughter. NOT FOR USE IN HUMANS. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Merial is now part of Boehringer Ingelheim. Zactran is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2018 Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. BOV-1088-ANTB0418

THE SMART CHOICE

1 2 3 4 5 6

Susceptibility Speed Site of infection Staying power Safety Saves money

150 mg/mL ANTIMICROBIAL NADA 141-328, Approved by FDA For subcutaneous injection in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle only. Not for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older or in calves to be processed for veal.

Caution: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

READ ENTIRE BROCHURE CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS PRODUCT. INDICATIONS ZACTRAN is indicated for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and Mycoplasma bovis in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle. ZACTRAN is also indicated for the control of respiratory disease in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle at high risk of developing BRD associated with Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida.

CONTRAINDICATIONS As with all drugs, the use of ZACTRAN is contraindicated in animals previously found to be hypersensitive to this drug.

WARNING: FOR USE IN CATTLE ONLY. NOT FOR USE IN HUMANS. KEEP THIS AND ALL DRUGS OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. NOT FOR USE IN CHICKENS OR TURKEYS. The material safety data sheet (MSDS) contains more detailed occupational safety information. To report adverse effects, obtain an MSDS or for assistance, contact Merial at 1-888-637-4251.

RESIDUE WARNINGS: Do not treat cattle within 35 days of slaughter.

Because a discard time in milk has not been established, do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older. A withdrawal period has not been established for this product in pre-ruminating calves. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal.

PRECAUTIONS The effects of ZACTRAN on bovine reproductive performance, pregnancy, and lactation have not been determined. Subcutaneous injection of ZACTRAN may cause a transient local tissue reaction in some cattle that may result in trim loss of edible tissues at slaughter.

ADVERSE REACTIONS Transient animal discomfort and mild to moderate injection site swelling may be seen in cattle treated with ZACTRAN. EFFECTIVENESS The effectiveness of ZACTRAN for the treatment of BRD associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni was demonstrated in a field study conducted at four geographic locations in the United States. A total of 497 cattle exhibiting clinical signs of BRD were enrolled in the study. Cattle were administered ZACTRAN (6 mg/kg BW) or an equivalent volume of sterile saline as a subcutaneous injection once on Day 0. Cattle were observed daily for clinical signs of BRD and were evaluated for clinical success on Day 10. The percentage of successes in cattle treated with ZACTRAN (58%) was statistically significantly higher (p<0.05) than the percentage of successes in the cattle treated with saline (19%).

The effectiveness of ZACTRAN for the treatment of BRD associated with M. bovis was demonstrated independently at two U.S. study sites. A total of 502 cattle exhibiting clinical signs of BRD were enrolled in the studies. Cattle were administered ZACTRAN (6 mg/kg BW) or an equivalent volume of sterile saline as a subcutaneous injection once on Day 0. At each site, the percentage of successes in cattle treated with ZACTRAN on Day 10 was statistically significantly higher than the percentage of successes in the cattle treated with saline (74.4% vs. 24% [p <0.001], and 67.4% vs. 46.2% [p = 0.002]). In addition, in the group of calves treated with gamithromycin that were confirmed positive for M. bovis (pre-treatment nasopharyngeal swabs), there were more calves at each site (45 of 57 calves, and 5 of 6 calves) classified as successes than as failures.

The effectiveness of ZACTRAN for the control of respiratory disease in cattle at high risk of developing BRD associated with Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida was demonstrated in two independent studies conducted in the United States. A total of 467 crossbred beef cattle at high risk of developing BRD were enrolled in the study.

ZACTRAN (6 mg/kg BW) or an equivalent volume of sterile saline was administered as a single subcutaneous injection within one day after arrival. Cattle were observed daily for clinical signs of BRD and were evaluated for clinical success on Day 10 post-treatment. In each of the two studies, the percentage of successes in the cattle treated with ZACTRAN (86% and 78%) was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.0019 and p = 0.0016) than the percentage of successes in the cattle treated with saline (36% and 58%).

Marketed by Merial Limited 3239 Satellite Blvd., Duluth, GA 30096-4640 U.S.A. Made in Austria ®ZACTRAN is a registered trademark of Merial. ©2016 Merial. All rights reserved. Rev. 01/2016

Sponsors Thank you to all sponsors for supporting PAC & Protein Producers.

American Animal Health Animal Health International Bayer Boehringer Ingelheim Chr. Hansen Daniels Manufacturing Co. Diamond V DOCTalk Elanco Lallemand Micro Technologies Midwest NetPro Newport Laboratories Norbrook Zinpro Zoetis Cover Photo Credit Thank you to Mull Farms and Feeding at Haviland, KS, and Rick Stevens, manager, for the picture.

We want to showcase unique photographs from our readers here!

Please submit your photographs to Kelly Terrell at kelly.terrell@pacdvms.com.

Brookover Cattle Company Scott City, LLC Photo Credit: Mike Binns, General Manager

Welcome We hope you enjoy this winter edition of Protein Producers. PAC veterinarians and staff, alongside producers, have witnessed amazing successes, challenges, and opportunities to improve this fall. We have watched some groups of freshly weaned calves arrive at operations and thrive. Other groups of arrivals have suffered BRD morbidity and mortality and lameness issues and have required intense disease management.

The PAC team is focused on spending 2019 explaining why certain individual cattle and specific groups of cattle fail to flourish as we change production addresses. We continue to organize data, history, and arrival management details to more fully understand what factors contribute to production successes. Progress requires knowledge, understanding, and application from progressive immunologists, physiologists, nutritionists, and veterinarians. Our goal is to understand how to maintain cattle hydration, nutrition, immune function, and disease resistance as cattle change production levels and locations.

Our dream is to continue to build on our expertise in animal health management and share this expertise with caregivers. Sharing expertise and creating “expert” caregivers is the obvious way to change health expectations. Carl Bereiter defines an expert as a person that responds to challenging situations by working harder and relying less fully on routines, and seems to be engaged in extending their knowledge rather than merely exploiting it.

We are excited about our 2019 goals to extend caregiver knowledge, increase powers of observation, and increase confidence to intervene in a timely fashion. Never pass up an opportunity to help the animals that we have been granted dominion over.

Looking forward to 2019, Tom Noffsinger, DVM

PAC 2018 Year-End Snapshot Feedlot

Protein Producers

160 feedlot operations with more than 2.4 million cattle on feed

7,480 issues of Protein Producers printed and 4,508 issues emailed

Cow-Calf

Reach

120 cow-calf operations with 77,000 cows

Protein Producers mailed to 39 states and 6 countries

DairY

Caregivers

7 dairies and 3 heifer development operations with 33,600 milking cows and 78,500 replacement heifers

Relationships with 6,845 caregivers across beef, dairy and swine operations

Swine

Summit Meetings

8 swine operations with 9.4 million market pigs and 650,000 sows

2 Summit meetings with 350 total attendees

Contributors Pete Anderson, Ph.D.

The Pot Roast

Pete Anderson is Director of Research for Midwest PMS, LLC, a provider of liquid suspension nutritional supplements and consulting services to cattle feeders and dairy producers.

Dr. Anderson directs research conducted and sponsored by MWPMS and provides technical support to MWPMS nutritionists and clients. In addition, he leads the company’s efforts in the areas of performance records analysis and business consulting and has quality assurance, feed safety and regulatory responsibility for the firm’s production facilities.

We want to showcase the talented chefs that read our magazine. In this issue we are featuring Arturo and Wrenn Pacheco who run cattle in the Flint Hills of Kansas while also maintaining a fun and unique cooking blog which can be found at cookingwiththecowboy.com. If you have a recipe that you would like to feature in The Pot Roast section of the magazine, please email us at kelly.terrell@pacdvms.com. Our goal is to continue discovering recipes from agriculture’s finest.

Pete received a B.S. degree in Animal Sciences and Industry from Kansas State University in 1983 and a M.S. (1987) and Ph.D. (1989) from Michigan State University with emphasis on growth and muscle biology, particularly as affected by exogenous agents.

Pete and his wife, Denise, reside in Loveland, CO, and have three adult children.

Thank You We want to thank the industry partners, publications and associations who have provided content to Protein Producers. Also, a big thank you to our readers for supporting us, offering content and helping us improve each issue.

We could not do any of this without all of you!

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, and information expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect Production Animal Consultation's policy or position.

Contents 8. Welcome Dr. Tom Noffsinger 8. PAC Year-End Snapshot 20. Chuckles from Down Under 39. Chuckles from Down Under 45. New Resource for Hispanics in the Cattle Industry: BeefWatch Articles Translated into Spanish

Stewardship 13. Welcome Back, Winter 15. Presence

Nutrition 17. These Are Not Your Father’s Feedyard Results

Cow-Calf

46. Parable: Six-Transistors

22. BeefTalk: Age and Source Verification Can Work

50. Newest PAC Members

Research

51. Calendar

25. Toe Abscesses Need More Attention

Winter 2018 - 2019 Industry

Bilingual Training

29. Livestock Markets are Sold on Proper Animal Handling

42. Bienvenido De Nuevo, Invierno 42. Presencia

32. Tradition, Trust Meet Innovation

43. Seis Transistores

34. Veterinary Medicine Professor ‘Humbled’ by Recent Award

44. Nuevo Recurso Para Hispanos en la Industria Ganadera: Articulos de BeefWatch Traducidos a Espanol

35. PAC Veterinarians Graduate from

Executive Veterinary Program

The pot roast Leadership 36. Transitioning from Cowboy to Head Stockman

48. Beef Egg Roll in a Bowl

Stewardship

Welcome Back, Winter By: Ted Howard Production Animal Consultation

“Not only are we under more pressures in the winter months, so are our equine partners.”

pacdvms.com 13

Hello, Winter, my old friend. This cold season introduces different challenges to those of us in the feedyard industry.

Wintertime normally does not give us the opportunity to refine our horsemanship skills. The pressures of caring for weaned calves, weather elements of freezing temperatures and poor ground conditions, as well as less sunlight make achieving horsemanship goals very difficult. The horsemanship work we accomplish in the warmer months becomes very apparent and begins to pay off this time of year.

Not only are we under more pressures in the winter months, so are our equine partners. Colder weather increases the nutrient and water requirements for our horses. It is important to make sure the energy levels in our horses are maintained at a high level. The inconsistent footing in the pens and alleyways is also a pressure for our horses.

In previous articles, I have discussed the importance of the correct horseshoes for different types of ground conditions. Toes and heels as well as rim shoes need to be used appropriately to give your horse greater traction. We must also remember to use the horse that is best suited for the situation or day.

Horses are all different in their range of abilities. Just like in the horseracing world or on the barrel racing circuits, each horse handles ground differently. Some racehorses can run in mud where others cannot. Barrel horses have different successes depending on their abilities to manage all kinds of ground. Therefore, we cannot be surprised in the

feedlots that we have horses that are better than others handling different types of ground conditions.

I normally see three horses per stockman used in a rotational manner. Two horses are interchanged every other day and another horse is turned out resting. This system rotates every ten days to two weeks. Know your horses well enough to know which one is appropriate for the day’s conditions.

Sometimes a younger, less sure-footed horse is best used on a day that is not quite as slick or treacherous. However, with that being said, we cannot overuse our solid, more sure-footed horses.

More sure-footed horses handle the muddy or slick ground conditions and allow us to pull cattle quietly. A horse that struggles keeping their feet under them tends to be nervous and preoccupied and therefore creates unease in the cattle. Our cattle are struggling with the same ground conditions and will move more tentatively and perhaps slower. Remembering to allow the cattle to set the pace to the gate when pulling them is important.

We need to set up ourselves and our horses for a very safe experience. We cannot benefit our horse, the cattle entrusted to our care or our team if we are hurt. Working on our horsemanship in the warmer months helps for an easier winter season. So welcome back, Winter, my old friend, but move on through! Stay warm out there!

Presence By: Dr. Tom Noffsinger Production Animal Consultation What is presence?

Remember when feedlot teams received highly sensitive cattle from remote areas that frantically rushed off trucks and those caregivers were directed to stay out of pens either horseback or on foot until cattle “settled”? How long did it take cattle to accept their new home? Where did they choose to live? What levels of feed and water intakes occurred? How did these cattle move through processing facilities?

Today we know that allowing the right caregiver to interact correctly with these cattle from outside the pen for a few minutes can drastically change cattle perception of their new home. Within a few moments, “wild” cattle are drawn to caregivers that demonstrate a positive “presence”.

They soon allow a handler to enter the pen without a frantic response and are willing to respond with orderly motion.

They crave to see their source of guidance and will volunteer to follow a handler they trust.

What qualities do effective stockmen possess that draw cattle and people to them? Why can folks like Shane Morrissey from Australia empty a pen by themselves by leading cattle out the gate? Why can Ted Howard get single cattle to walk away from the herd and go with him to the hospital? What does Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz do to convince cattle to surround him and want attention? These handlers have several things in common. They have keen powers of observation and notice the slightest changes in animal behavior. They are responsive and reward tiny improvements in cattle attitudes. They have a curiosity to understand previous experiences that shape cattle behavior. These stockmen express humility and deeply respect the variation in cattle working zones. They know how to offer support to newly arrived cattle before they ask them to take direction. Shane Morrissey states that caregivers with a positive presence willingly take responsibility for how cattle behave. We can all work together to be more magnetic to cattle and team members.

(Right) Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz convincing cattle to surround him. pacdvms.com 15

Nutrition

THese ARe Not Your Father’s Feedyard Results By: Pete Anderson, Ph.D. Midwest PMS, LLC

The cattle industry may change slowly but it does change. Over time, those changes can be significant.

It is difficult to notice gradual shifts in the cattle population so there is value in taking an occasional look back to see how things have changed.

pacdvms.com 17

I was recently asked to do just that for a symposium organized by the American Society of Animal Science. With data from three sources, I was able to take a look at trends in feedyard performance over time. These data show some very positive trends and also a few areas that need improvement.

The first set of data came from the Benchmark Performance Program, provided graciously by my friends at Elanco. The next few charts include mean performance of steers and heifers for the years 2000-2016. These charts include data from 72 million steers and 54 million heifers fed across the US. The Benchmark data show some clear trends. Cattle are heavier coming into feedyards. During this period, placement weight increased by around 50 lb in both steers and heifers (figure 1). Weight out increased even more, approximately 150 lb in steers and 125 lb in heifers (figure 2). The equation on the chart reflects the slope and intercept of the steer data, indicating an increase of 10 lb/year. With feeder weights up a little and fed weights up a lot, the amount of

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 1

Figure 2

weight added must surely have increased and the data show that to be true (figure 3). This increase is partly due to more days on feed (about 20 days for steers and 15 for heifers) as well as higher performance (figure 4).

ADG increased by about 10% in both steers and heifers (figure 5). While the chart indicates that feed conversion improved only slightly, since that improvement occurred in heavier cattle, it actually represents an improvement in true (energetic) efficiency of 0.75% per year (figure 6).

The Midwest PMS performance database offers further support of excellent performance. It used to be rare for steers to gain more than 4 lb per day or convert below 6.0 (dry basis). In the past two years, 33% of the steer lots reported to Midwest PMS gained 4.0 lb/d or higher, 62% converted below 6.0, and 29% of steer lots accomplished both feats. That shows that high performance levels that used to be a real accomplishment are now industry standard.

Bigger, higher performing cattle would be expected to have heavier, fatter carcasses and indeed they do.

The chart in figure 7 shows increased carcass weight

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

in the Benchmark database with a rate of increase of 4.3 lb/year in heifers and 7.2 lb/year in steers. The increased weight, along with other industry changes, especially in genetics, has resulted in a much higher percentage of carcasses grading USDA Choice or Prime. In 2016, Benchmark carcass data showed an average of almost 75% Choice and Prime in heifers and nearly 70% in steers (figure 8). Both steers and heifers show substantial increases in marbling since 2000. More recent USDA data indicate that the 2018 national average could reach 80% Choice and Prime, which would be the highest in modern history.

This increase in carcass quality is a great industry success story and has resulted in greater eating satisfaction among beef consumers. This is a key element of current very strong beef demand. This was a necessary improvement that the industry agreed was badly needed in the 1990s.

Proof comes from the third set of meaningful data for this conversation, the National Beef Quality Audit. Sponsored

by NCBA, the NBQA was first conducted in 1991 and has been repeated at approximately 5-year intervals since. Each of the first three audits (1991, 1995, and 2000) listed marbling and tenderness as high priority areas for improvement.

In those years, fewer than half of all beef carcasses graded Choice and lack of tenderness was a common consumer complaint about beef. All facets of the industry agreed on the need to improve marbling and worked well together to accomplish that increase. Consumers and cattle producers alike have benefited.

But every silver lining has a cloud. Here is the downside to making cattle bigger and improving quality – more carcasses are too fat. The percentage of USDA Yield Grade 4 and 5 carcasses has doubled in heifers and quadrupled in steers since 2000, according to Benchmark data (figure 9).

Data from Dr. Ty Lawrence at West Texas A&M (data not shown) indicate that the problem is a result of both excess fatness and light muscling. Dr. Lawrence’s data indicate that

64% of YG 4 and 5 carcasses exceed the fatness threshold and a remarkable 99.5% do not have adequate muscling!

While there are some problems in applying the decades-old yield grade equations to the current cattle population, it cannot be denied that many carcasses are too fat and/or not muscular enough. We have made great progress in quality and palatability. One of the next areas of emphasis should be maintaining or increasing that quality while taking some extra fat off and adding some muscle. Since intramuscular fat (marbling) and external carcass fat are positively correlated (when one increases, the other usually does as well), this will be a challenge. The good news is that improved genetic tools will be available that make it easier to achieve that goal.

Figure 9

Chuckles From Down Under Collected By: Jane Sullivan, Bell Veterinary Services

A young girl who was writing a paper for school came to her father and asked, “Dad, what is the difference between annoyance, anger and exasperation?”

The father replied, “It is mostly a matter of degree. Let me show you what I mean.”

With that, the father pulled out his phone and dialed a number at random. To the man who answered the phone, he said, “Hello, is Melvin there?”

The man answered, “There’s no one living here named Melvin. Why don’t you learn to look up numbers before you dial?”

“See,” said the father to his daughter, “that man was not a bit happy with our call. He was probably very busy with something and we annoyed him. Now watch .…”

The father dialed the number again. “Hello, is Melvin there?” he asked.

“Now look here!” came the heated reply. “You just called this number and I told you that there’s no Melvin here! You’ve got a lot of nerve calling here again!” The receiver slammed down hard.

The father turned to his daughter and said, “You see, that was anger. Now I’ll show you what exasperation means.”

He again dialed the same number and when the violent voice roared, “Hello!” the father calmly said, “Hello, this is Melvin. Have there been any calls for me?”

Enroflox® 100

Norfenicol® Injection Noromycin® 300 LA Hexasol® Injection

(enrof loxacin 100 mg/mL)

(f lorfenicol 300 mg/mL)

 Same Active Ingredient  Same Active Ingredient as as Baytril® 100 Injection Nuf lor® Injectable Solution  Available in 100 mL, 250 mL & now in 500 mL Bottles

Less Viscous, More Syringeable than Nuflor* Plastic Bottles Eliminate Breakage  Available in 100 mL, 250 mL & 500 mL Bottles * Data on File

www.norbrook.com The Norbrook logos, Enroflox, Hexasol, Norfenicol and Noromycin are registered trademarks of Norbrook Laboratories Limited.

Nuflor is a registered trademark of Merck Animal Health. Baytril is a registered trademark of Bayer Animal Health. Bio-Mycin is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim. Liquamycin is a registered trademark of Zoetis, Inc. 0717-000-M04C

(oxytetracycline 300 mg/mL)

 Delivers the same dose of oxytetracycline as Liquamycin® LA 200 and Bio-Mycin® 200 in a lower dose volume  Available in 100 mL, 250 mL & 500 mL Bottles

(oxytetracycline 300 mg and f lunixin 20 mg/mL))

 Unique Combination of Oxytetracycline and Flunixin  Available in 250 mL & 500 mL Bottles For full prescribing information, including important safety information, warnings and contraindications, see the product insert available at Norbrook.com. Read product insert carefully prior to use.

Let’s Work Together

Cow-Calf

BeefTalk: Age and Source Verification Can Work By: Kris Ringwall NDSU Extension Livestock Specialist Emeritus, Reprinted with permission from North Dakota State University.

A decade has passed since the Dickinson Research Extension Center summarized a calf-tagging program to improve market traceability.

The data, when revisited, tells an old story. From 2004 to 2006, a total of 14,432 calves were tagged individually and followed. Data showed 19.5 percent remained on the ranch or farm of birth as replacement cattle.

Of the calves sold, 13 percent were traced to backgrounding lots (lots designed for slower growth prior to a full finishing program), 29.3 percent were traced to feedlots for finishing and 27.5 percent were traced to the point of harvest. Additionally, 10.3 percent were unable to be traced and effectively lost.

The bottom line: Despite the enthusiasm and desire for cow-calf producers to provide not only the calf but also the corresponding data as a marketable package, only one in four calves arrived at harvest with the data package. Only 25 percent of the calves at harvest were eligible for markets requiring age and source verification.

In addition, costs were documented for the center’s project focusing on animal identification, realizing that other management procedures could be done when the tag was applied. Costs were not allocated to other routine manage-

ment practices because many variables exist in the cowcalf business: distance traveled, gathering time, number of calves worked and numerous miscellaneous activities.

The center estimated costs of $5 for tags, data management and verification; $7 for working calves, tag placement and documentation; and $8 for feedlot and harvest data collection, and chute fees. The total cost estimate per calf worked on the ranch or elsewhere was $20. Today, an inflation adjustment could be added, maybe.

Shrink and weight loss while handling calves is well-documented. No one debates the need to move, process and work cattle, but it does cost money. Calves are living, changing and growing biological entities. The dollars are made in growth and are meant to be profit, not cost recovery of lost weight.

This weight loss may not seem like much, but it does add up. When the center measured shrink in the cattle that were worked during the project, the center estimated $10 to $20 in lost income potential per calf, regardless of the management activity applied.

Behind the scenes, source and age documentation requires a verifiable and auditable process, complete with a data package. The North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association, in conjunction with the center, developed CalfAID, a process-verified program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service for source and age verification through data management,

electronic animal identification (EID) and trace-back to the extent possible.

Calves that were conforming or nonconforming in regard to the process-verified program were documented using proper individual electronic identification, visual identification and appropriate paper trails, starting with the calving book. The efficacy of the process was dependent on technology working in environments that were not technologically friendly.

The project was developed using older low-frequency electronic identification technology that required restraint of cattle, significant effort and excessive time to implement.

As newer high-frequency technology became available during the development of the project, many of the hurdles of using EID technology were overcome.

Improved EID technology was a major leap forward in connecting the calf and the data package and opening the door to track co-mingled and re-sorted lots of calves. The high-frequency tag read rate, with no interference or performance issues at local livestock auctions, was .338 second per group lot, with 99 percent read rates.

By placing value on the calf and the accompanying data, we also accepted the fact that there were two principles at work: trace-back and trace-forward. Marketing is strongly related to trace-forward, the process of presenting to the

market - the world - a product and a data package capable of providing future assurance of the authenticity of the product.

Trace-forward is a sequential step that, when combined with trace-back, creates a synergism among what was, what is and what will be relative to authenticated producer products involved in domestic and export markets. Animal identification and disease management are closely linked and work together.

Through the center’s individual identification efforts, producers have become keenly aware that trace-back, primarily a function of health, sanitary and food safety, is critical to understanding the need to maintain fully effective health regulations versus introducing new animal health risks. And that’s the way it was in November 2007. I wonder how much has changed.

May you find all your ear tags.

YOUR LEADERSHIP FREE RESOURCES LEADERSHIP BLOGS ONLINE COACHING ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENTS AND MORE...

WWW.DRNELS.COM

Research

Toe Abscesses Need More Attention By: Alan Newport Reprinted with permission from BeefVet magazine.

“The misdiagnosis of toe abscesses as stifle problems, in fact, continues to be a problem.”

-Shane Terrell, DVM

pacdvms.com 25

Lameness probably continues to be an under-treated ailment in cattle.

When Shane Terrell, DVM began researching lameness for a Ph.D. project, he was hoping to establish some data and maybe some protocols to improve timing and diagnoses of lameness problems.

Historically, feeders tend to pull lame cattle only when they fall behind the rest of the pen, says Terrell. The problem with that methodology is that when you wait so long, those primary injuries become secondary injuries, such as septic joints.

Terrell who is a veterinarian and staff member of Production Animal Consultation at Gothenburg, Neb., believes some progress has been made. His initial research was partially funded by Zinpro, which now offers lameness training online and a nifty decision tree previously covered in BEEF Vet. In practice, Terrell has continued his research and has worked with clients to improve early detection and treatment of lameness, which he says is paying dividends.

He believes there is quite a bit of room for improvement across the industry.

Although lameness falls significantly behind respiratory disease and digestive upset as a cause of morbidity and mortality, it is the third cause of health issues in feedlots.

It has a cost of $7.26 per head per year across all fed cattle when accounting costs from realizers (crippled discounted cattle) and mortality are included. His research projects have shown mortality from sole and toe abscesses are at two to four incidences per 10,000 head in feedlots. Among those pulled, mortality runs 2% to 6%.

In the slow-to-pull and slow-to-treat model of handling lameness, toe and sole abscesses aren’t often differentiated from leg injuries because of similarity of pain reaction. The misdiagnosis of abscesses as stifle problems, in fact, continues to be a problem, Terrell says. To a degree, the same things could be said of a lack of differentiation between hairy heel wart (digital dermatitis) and foot rot.

Terrell says the overall incidence of lameness probably is fairly constant, but as feedlot cowboys receive training the number of pulls tends to increase. Among his clients, at least, more abscesses are being diagnosed, but that may be from better early detection.

Abscesses have four contributing factors, Terrell says.

1. Rough or improper processing surfaces 2. Poor handling 3. Dehydration 4. Length of haul Some concrete surfaces create what Terrell calls a “slipand-catch” circumstance, wherein cattle hooves slip on a smooth surface and then catch on a bump. This is common where concrete has been poured and then some kind of

tread pattern pressed into the surface, he says. Better is concrete poured and dried, then a diamond pattern cut into the surface to help hold an organic pack substrate in place such as cornstalks, some kind of bedding, or possibly dry manure.

Handling should be slowed down to remove stress from the cattle. Dehydration, such as occurs with long-haul trucking, is a major contributor to abscesses, because the first place cattle lose circulation is in their extremities, he says.

Treatment options Abscesses need to be drained by nipping off the toe of the damaged hoof for toe abscesses, or the majority of the sole for sole abscesses. Terrell says he’s heard complaints about exposure of the hoof interior to dirt, but he replies that he’ll gladly trade some dirt for pus.

When left without drainage, the infection only has two options: travel up into the leg, or leak out at the top of the hoof along the coronary band.

One of the problems with hoof treatment is safe access to feet for the veterinarians and other workers. The only solutions for this are tilt-table cattle chutes or a foot-tieand-pulley system to restrain the feet.

Terrell adds that in post-processing in feedyards, it is fairly normal to see a slight increase in lameness of perhaps 1% to 3%, which he attributes to normal “bumps and bruises.” If any higher, it’s time to evaluate some of the causes in your feedyard.

Correct diagnosis of the causes of lameness when the condition first appears could pay significant dividends.

Toe abscesses need to be drained as soon as possible, or the infection can move up the leg.

OTHER BRD TREATMENTS WERE 50% AS EFFECTIVE AS DRAXXIN® IN SEVERAL STUDIES.

Treat bovine respiratory disease (BRD) the right way with DRAXXIN® (tulathromycin) Injectable Solution. DRAXXIN demonstrated 50% fewer re-treats and 50% fewer dead or chronic animals1 versus competitive products in several large pen studies.2 Which means your cattle stay healthier, and that helps keep your bottom line healthier, too.

BRD SOLUTIONS FROM ZOETIS

Get the numbers on DRAXXIN at draxxin.com.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: DRAXXIN has a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of 18 days in cattle.

Do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older. Do not use in animals known to be hypersensitive to the product. See Brief Summary of Prescribing Information on adjacent page and full Prescribing Information at draxxin.com/pi.

1

Data on file, Study Report Nos. 1133R-60-05-491, A131R-US-12-028, 2132T-60-01-050, 1133R-60-02-376, 2132T-60-01-063, 1133R-60-03-388 and 11RGDRA01, Zoetis Services LLC.

2

Data on file, Study Report Nos. 1133R-60-05-491, 1133R-60-05-492, 1133R-60-05-493, A131R-US-12-028, 2132T-60-01-050, 1133R-60-02-376, 2132T-60-01-063 and 1133R-60-03-388, Zoetis Services LLC.

All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted. © 2016 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. DRX-00120

Industry

Livestock Markets are Sold on Proper Animal Handling: Backed by a Decade of Proactive Commitments to Animal Handling Guidelines and Assessments By: Livestock Marketing Association

pacdvms.com 29

Livestock auctions in the United States have prioritized quality animal handling over the last decade and will continue to do so moving forward.

Livestock auction markets serve a vital role in the beef supply chain with approximately 31 million head of cattle marketed through the nearly 1,000 regularly selling livestock auction markets in the U.S. (2016 USDA Packers and Stockyards Division Annual Report). Producers gain many benefits from the auctions, including price discovery, a guarantee of a good check, and other services offered by the livestock market and veterinarian on site. For buyers, it is an opportunity to compare type and kind and collect needed quantities.

In this fast-paced sale environment, handling livestock according to quality standards is a primary focus of auction markets, both to meet buyer demand and protect the investment of consignors that depend upon the auctions to market their livestock. Because of this, a livestock auction specific animal handling program is one of the cornerstone services that Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) provides to the more than 800 local livestock auction markets and dealer businesses that are members of LMA. “Ten years ago, we recognized there were several tools that focused on low stress animal handling in a farm, ranch, or feedlot setting but none focused on the unique challenges that livestock auction markets faced,” said Kristen Parman, Vice President of Membership Services with the LMA. With that in mind, in 2008, LMA leadership led an effort to create a set of guidelines for handling livestock in an auction market setting, resulting in the Livestock Marketing Association Guide to Animal Handling. The guidelines outline the theories of low stress animal handling and movement as promoted in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), Stockmanship and Stewardship, and other programs, but are tailored to an auction setting for market employees.

“The LMA member auction markets wanted to know what they could be doing better and opened the door for input and more training,” said Parman.

Since 2009, all livestock auction market members of the LMA are required to undergo an onsite evaluation of their employee’s handling practices, followed up by employee training and education in the proper way to handle and care for animals. In 2012, in an unprecedented move, the members of LMA approved a ballot initiative requiring all members to adhere to LMA’s Animal Handling Guidelines or face expulsion from the Association.

Parman said, “The livestock auction markets involved with LMA made it clear that they were committed to doing the right thing when it comes to handling the livestock which their customers entrust to their care and that they will not stand for someone failing to abide by those same standards.”

Despite the proactive approach and continued improvement sought by LMA and other association-led handling assessments, naysayers can claim these programs were “the fox watching the hen house.” In 2014, to address this and add an additional layer of accountability and review of LMA’s handling of the assessments, LMA entered into an agreement with Validus, an independent certification firm that is now a wholly owned division of Where Food Comes From, Inc. As part of the third-party layer of LMA’s handling programs, Validus randomly draws 5 percent of LMA member auctions to participate in a third-party assessment each year.

The assessments focus on the same standards that LMA staff conduct in the normal second-party assessments - low stress handling, tools, proper movement and handling of compromised livestock, safe and proper euthanasia techniques, employee training, and documentation.

In 2017, LMA staff conducted 77 second-party assessments of member livestock auctions and training with more than 900 market employees. This was supplemented with 30 additional third-party assessments led by Validus. Overall, the results from these assessments show great improvement in animal handling as well as some common challenge areas presenting room for continued improvement.

“We’ve been very pleased with the resulting awareness of proper tool usage by market employees and the commitment to have policy and protocol in place for handling compromised livestock,” said Parman. “These improvements are evidence that our market managers are committed to the effort.”

In the third-party assessments, assessors evaluate the frequency of slips and falls. LMA guidelines are for no more than 1% of animals to fall during movement as this can result in bruising or other more serious injuries to the animal.

Thankfully, the frequency of slips and falls can be managed with attention to footing and low stress movement techniques to slow down the pace of animals moving through the auction and working with producers to manage herds by culling more effectively.

LMA guidelines recommend that a trained market employee be present for all loading or unloading; however, assessments reveal that a large number of markets face staffing challenges and do not have employees available to be there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many have employees on call for off-hour trucks. LMA has worked to expand the training from market owners and managers to as many of their employees as possible.

Another common challenge is producers delivering animals to auction in a compromised condition. It is imperative that producers take responsibility for timely culling decisions and not send animals to auction that cannot with-

stand the movement through the sale to final delivery. If an animal arrives injured, down, or otherwise disabled, action should be taken immediately to limit any further injury. This may include sending the animal home with the producer or immediately euthanizing before any further movement.

While LMA and partner organizations have worked on producer education on timely culling, this is a difficult and ongoing task.

In the past decade, the local markets that are members of Livestock Marketing Association have taken direct action to promote and embrace their responsibility to be transparent while providing quality care and handling. Livestock auctions see continued focus on animal handling as part of the tremendous service they offer to the industry and especially the thousands of farm families that depend on them.

Industry

Tradition, trust meet Innovation Bledsoe Cattle Company earns CAB cattle feeding honors

By: Miranda Reiman, Certified Angus Beef Cattle feeder Grant Bledsoe, Wray, Colo., knows there’s a time for change, but his greatest strength may be knowing there’s a time to stay the same.

“We buy predominately Angus-based cattle from the northwestern United State and some ranches we have purchased from going on close to 35 years,” he says.

For their continued focus on procuring and feeding high quality, Bledsoe Cattle Company earned the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB®) 2018 Feedyard Commitment to Excellence award. Grant and his wife Katie accepted the honor Sept.

28 at the brand’s annual conference in Maui, Hawaii.

“Grandad” Henry started relationships that have carried into the third generation of both feeders and ranchers.

“We purchase from people that raise good cattle, but they’re also extremely good at handling their cattle,” says Bob Bledsoe, who transitioned out of the feedyard manager position shortly after his son Grant returned home. “The calmer cattle really perform better.”

Sometimes, the best plan is exactly what Dad and Grandpa always did.

Henry and Lucile Bledsoe started the farming, ranching and cattle feeding operation that now has a 7,000-head finishing capacity. Row crops and grasslands complement the yard.

Back then, Henry would keep books by hand, packing up the roll-top desk each night to bring home to Lucile. The spare bedroom doubled as a home office, and she’d get out her adding machine to make sure they balanced.

“There was the two of us. We worked side by side, always full partners,” says 96-year-old Lucile.

Then came Bob and Becky. They had a computer the size of a file cabinet. Grant checks his markets by smartphone.

“We’re always for progress. Not progress for itself. Not progress because the neighbors have it,” says Lucile. “Progress that it will fit your business and be profitable in your business.”

When Grant returned from Colorado State University in 1998, all three generations worked together.

“I look back on it now and I think of how special that was to learn from [Grandpa Henry] and how he deals with people,” Grant says. “That’s been really important to me and developed me into the type of cattle feeder and businessman I am today.”

Bob and Grant still get to the feedyard at 5:30 a.m. most every day, gathering at the scale house with many of their 18 employees for a quick predawn meeting.

Once a week, the family gives most of the feedlot crew the day off as they walk pens. It’s a tradition that’s been passed down so now Bob and Becky might join Grant and Katie and their three kids, Jackson, Emma and Eryn on any given Sunday.

“It’s good planning time, but it’s a way we know exactly and intimately how the cattle are doing,” Bob says.

Fall is the busiest, as they wean 8,000 head during a narrow window.

“They’ve been put on a truck, trucked to our place, brought into a foreign situation, fed something totally new that they’ve never eaten before,” Grant says. “We do what we can to try to make that process as gradual as we possibly can and get them acclimated.”

Justin and Lynn Mayfield’s cattle have been taking the 8-hour journey from their Casper, Wyo., ranch to Bledsoe Cattle Company since Lynn’s parents first sold to the family in 1988.

“We each kind of understand each other’s programs and we’ve got the same goal. We work together to keep the families and the next generation involved to turn out the best protein we can,” Justin Mayfield says.

A few years ago the feeders incentivized them to precondition their cattle.

“There’s years when they’ll win and there’s years when we win but all in all, through it all, we’ve all won and we’ve all grown. It’s been good,” Mayfield says.

All cattle are identified back to the ranch of origin.

“We have good communications with a lot of the suppliers we buy from,” Grant says, noting they can share observations and data back.

When cattle get to the yard, the feeders want to keep up the care the cattle have had on the ranch.

In an effort to continually make improvements on that front, the Bledsoes started working with Dr. Shane Terrell and Dr. Tom Noffsinger of Production Animal Consultants (PAC) a handful of years ago.

“The thing that really impresses me is their interaction with the employees and getting them excited about what they do,” Grant says.

The hands-on education is as valuable as the noon-time presentations on identifying and treating sick animals.

“They’ll pull a pen of cattle and work them right alongside my guys,” Grant says, noting he’s seen distinct improvements since they started using PAC. “Every part of our business has been affected. There’s been an increase in awareness on the importance of handling cattle in an efficient and humane way.”

That’s good for everyone from the feedyard to the buyer.

Cargill Meat Solutions became their go-to packer 30 years ago.

“They know our product and if they see something they would like to improve, we are open to it, because the customer is right, all the time,” Bob says. “Usually what’s good for them is good for us.”

Quality grade is important.

“We grid probably 95% of our animals and when the Choice-Select spread is fairly wide, we get a good premium for cattle that grade,” Grant says.

In a decade’s time, he’s watched the quality grade get better and better. They used to average between 15% and 25% CAB brand acceptance, but now sell loads that top 50%.

Over the past three years, nearly 18,000 head per year have averaged 89% Choice and 25% CAB acceptance. In the first half of 2018, the average hit 40% brand acceptance.

“I just love what I do and I love raising my family in a similar situation. I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing than what I get to do on a regular basis,” Grant says.

Easy on cattle and your bottom line.

1

Titanium® vaccines have no impact on feed intake and result in little to no post-treatment side effects, so you can keep your cattle on track with health management solutions that don’t interrupt your day-to-day operations or affect your bottom line.1,2 It’s BRD protection that doesn’t impact performance, so you can be confident in every dose.

ELANCO.US/TITANIUM

A DOSE OF CONFIDENCE The label contains complete use information, including cautions and warnings.

Always read, understand and follow the label and use directions.

As measured by body temperature, feed intake, injection-site reaction or white blood cell count. 2Terhaar, B. 2001.

Evaluating the effects of vaccine-induced stress on productivity. Study No. TR-13. Published by Agri Laboratories Ltd. Do not vaccinate within 21 days of slaughter. Elanco, Titanium® and the diagonal bar are trademarks owned or licensed

by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates. © 2015 Elanco Animal Health FYDH 35192 USBBUTIT00069

1

Veterinary medicine professor ‘humbled’ by recent award By: Janelle Marney Reprinted with permission from the K-State Collegian and Janelle Marney.

On a stifling, 108-degree day in Phoenix, Arizona, a crowd of more than 1,200 veterinarians rose to a standing ovation for the 2018 Distinguished Service Award winner.

Dr. Dan Thomson, professor of production medicine and epidemiology for Kansas State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, gathered his thoughts as he accepted the award at the 51st annual American Association of Bovine Practitioners conference, which was held Sept. 12-15.

“My thoughts were how humbling it is to be recognized when there are so many good people that probably deserve the award as much, or more, as me,” Thomson said. “Lastly, I thought how proud I was to represent all the beef producers and veterinarians across Kansas and the honor it is to work and represent Kansas State University. Me and my family owe Kansas State so much for providing me a platform and support to serve others.”

Thomson has been an active AABP member for 20 years, and throughout his lifetime in veterinary medicine, he has served on the association’s animal welfare committee, the distance education committee and more.

“In 2008, Dawn Anderson from Kansas State and I proposed to develop an online training platform for AABP so practitioners could have access to continuing education seminars any time,” Thomson said. “We developed the program, AABP invested in it and Kansas State University still hosts this tremendous practitioner tool today.”

Among other things, Thomson has devoted his entire life to the agriculture industry. Along with the AABP organization, he has served as a veterinarian and teacher throughout his entire career.

Thomson, who said he was raised in a family-run clinic his grandfather started in the 1930s, is a third-generation bovine veterinarian. He has practiced all over the country and started his own practice in Texas, where he said he managed the care of upward of 1 million cattle a year.

In 2004, Thomson came to K-State to assume the role of the Jones Professor of Production Medicine and Epidemiology, and he would eventually be the founder of the Beef Cattle Institute at K-State.

Thomson said he doesn’t see his career as work, but an opportunity to help and spend time with people. Whether it’s a client who owns cattle, or if it’s a fellow veterinarian, he will always be ready to jump out of his truck and help out, he said.

“These awards are not about one person,” Thomson said. “There are so many students, staff, faculty and alumni [that] have allowed me to be successful. They deserve the credit and I am just the one that got to run the ball this time. This award is a recognition of Kansas State University’s leadership and service [and] I am humbled to be a part of the Kansas State University team.”

Dr. Thomson receiving the 2018 Distinguished Service Award sponsored by Zoetis. (Photo credit: Janelle Marney, Collegian Media Group)

Dr. Thomson working with cattle.

Industry

PAC Veterinarians Graduate from Executive Veterinary Program Kip Lukasiewicz, DVM; Wade Taylor, DVM; and Dan Thomson, DVM, PhD, recently completed a two-year continuing education program designed to enhance the business, communication, and planning skills of busy animal health professionals. The Executive Veterinary Program (EVP), established by the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, has long been a premier credential for elite food animal practitioners. Drs. Lukasiewicz, Taylor, and Thomson were among the first cohort for the EVP in Beef Health Management, which united the expertise of the University of Illinois in post-graduate education with the expertise at Kansas State University in beef cattle production and health management.

The three veterinarians completed the Executive Veterinary Program (EVP) with a focus on beef health management; this program consisted of 10 two-day interactive modules. The program covered essential aspects of beef production and health maintenance to enhance the management, consultation, and problem-solving skills faced by veterinarians in the field of beef medicine. There were 37 veterinarians from 16 states and Canada that completed the program.

The University of Illinois has been cultivating veterinary leaders and innovators in food production systems through

the unique EVP model since 1991. The award-winning program uses nationally-recognized experts from academia and industry to deliver practice relevant knowledge. Since the program began in 1991, there have been 255 graduates from seven EVP classes.

(Above) Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz receives his graduation certificate.

(Below) The 2018 EVP graduating class.

Transitioning from Cowboy to head stockman By: Dr. Nels Lindberg Production Animal Consultation

This fall I had the pleasure of discussing how one of our cowboys could transition to the head stockman position in a feedyard.

The discussion, including both the cowboy and the feedyard manager, centered around not only what the cowboy thought it took to become a head stockman but also my thoughts regarding the leadership qualities required to be successful in this position.

Leadership

pacdvms.com 37

Stockmen are easily underestimated. However, the truth is they have many important talents and unique skills that few really appreciate. Most consumers do not realize that stockmen are the core caretakers and overseers of our nation’s beef cattle. Without stockmen, there is no one to care for the health and well being of the hundreds of thousands of beef cattle we rely on to feed our country and the world.

As is true in rural America generally, there is a desperate need for skilled and knowledgeable workers. Some have even noted that they believe the “cowboy” is a dying breed.

While that may or may not be true, there is an ever-present need for leadership. I want to take a look at the key points of leadership needed to transition from a cowboy to a head stockman, a transition that in some respects resembles crossing a bridge from an old way of thinking to an entirely new view.

Taking a Long View – In my conversations with cowboys, I routinely seek to understand exactly how far out they have extended their thinking regarding their dreams, plans, and vision. Are they planning for the rodeo next week? Are they thinking about marriage in a year? Are they planning for kids in 5 years? What are their salary and savings goals over the next 10 to 20 years? In my experience, the average individual is only forward planning somewhere from about 6 months to a year.

For success in any endeavor, and in life generally, there has to be a goal and a plan. This plan and goal setting needs to look as far forward as one can imagine. The further out you plan and set goals, the higher the likelihood that better decisions will be made and a better future achieved. Failure to proactively plan is almost a sure recipe for a poor outcome. No matter where you are in forward thinking and planning, it is never too late to get started. If you are thinking and planning for 6 months from now, start looking forward 1 to 2 years. If you are planning for 1 to 2 years from now, move that vision out to 5 years. If you are planning for 5 years from now, move that vision out to 10 years.

Whatever your current timeline, push it further. In the end, success is all about discipline and not fulfilling immediate desires and impulses. It is called “delayed gratification”. It is about devising a plan and sticking to it. Leadership requires this type of thinking and is required of a head stockman or manager.

Lifelong Learner – Many in the cowboy profession have superior knowledge and experience related to cattle, horses, stockmanship, and horsemanship. However, like most people, many fall short in committing to making life a daily continuous learning process. This continuous learning process requires one to look outside of their daily world, to learn about new things, and to constantly inquire and ask questions. We need to make it a priority to expand our areas of expertise each and every day.

For the transition from cowboy to head stockman, that

continuous learning project needs to include growing and developing in the area of leadership. There are many routes to learning but a humble attitude opens the door to learn from others. Consider those you encounter on a daily basis: manager, assistant manager, veterinarian, truck drivers, even the very cowboys under your care. All of these individuals know things that you do not and can help you grow and expand. The sure poison in learning from others is to possess the “I know it all” mentality. There may be no better roadmap for failure than to close one’s mind to a different or new way. A humble heart and a thirst for knowledge is a true winning combination.

Caring and Compassionate – As cowboys, outwardly caring or even loving is not something one would expect to find in the job description. Everyone knows that to be a cowboy (or just about anyone else in the cattle industry) requires a great deal of toughness, both mentally and physically. With this inherent “macho” mindset, our ability to be caring, compassionate, and even loving is often pushed aside or rejected outright.

True leadership means we have to truly care for and about our people in a real, authentic, genuine way. If we cannot accomplish this, our people will never truly follow.

Many of us know about this first hand because we have worked under leaders who lacked compassion and consideration. Chances are good that when you have been under the thumb of a “hard core” leader, you most likely did not perform your absolute best. Not surprisingly, you probably moved on to another job with better prospects.

In making a successful transition from cowboy to head stockman, you must develop the skill of caring for and protecting your people. This trait may not come naturally, but it can be developed with effort. Your job is to get the best out of your coworkers and to support them. This is where leadership makes the difference.

Humility – One of the greatest attributes that anyone can possess is that of genuine humility. Humility is a special trait that has its highest calling when possessed by those in leadership positions. Humility is often confused with weakness, but nothing could be further from the truth. True strength underlies humility.

One definition of humility is that it does not require thinking less of yourself but thinking about yourself less often. Those leaders with humility (and compassion) put the needs of others ahead of themselves. This trait can become contagious and when it does, it will transform the performance and attitude of an individual or even an entire organization. Humility is not concerned with who gets the credit.

Self-awareness – How many times have you said or heard others say, “I don’t care what they think!” We have all said it or heard someone say it. To be a head stockman

or a leader, one must care about what others observe and perceive. Having a high level of self-awareness allows us to step outside of ourselves and observe. Self-awareness is our ability to understand how our actions, interactions, tones, words, and facial expressions affect those around us.

As a leader, we must understand that what we say and do is positive, negative, or neutral. You may be having a bad day, and if you are not self-aware of that fact, your actions and words will likely negatively impact your crew. Having a strong sense of self-awareness or “EQ” helps you adjust so that you can lead your crew in a way that they will do, act, or execute as needed. Being self-aware is critical to your success.

Submit – Cowboys are independent by nature. This independence is a way of life and includes other similar traits like confidence, pride, being a little cavalier, and the desire to be the best. However, regardless of the profession or way of life, to be successful at anything, we all have to submit to a higher being, a higher purpose, or the higher calling of the team or organization. It took me 32 years to learn the lesson of submission, to fully submit to my wife, to my businesses, to my coworkers, and to the process of fulfilling my extreme desire to be the very best I could be in life,

in my profession, in my faith, and to my family. Until we submit and forget about being independent, we will never achieve extraordinary levels of success. Everything – the organization, the world, life – is much bigger than us. We cannot do anything worthwhile without the help, mentorship, generosity, and faith of others. We must submit to that. If we remain independent and keep thinking, “I’m my own man”, then we cannot be a leader.

Jack Welch is quoted as saying, “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” As leaders, it is our job to bring out the best in others. We must be humble, caring, compassionate, and keenly self-aware individuals looking down the road ten-plus years, learning all we can each day as we submit to a higher purpose and calling to help grow more leaders.

I encourage you to take your game, your art, your handy horsemanship and stockmanship skills, as well as your leadership skills, to the next level to help us grow and refine our industry. We don’t know how so few can accomplish so much. Thanks for your service and dedication.

Chuckles From Down Under Collected By: Jane Sullivan, Bell Veterinary Services

An Irishman’s First Drink With His Son While reading an article last night about fathers and sons, memories came flooding back to the time I took me son out for his first pint.

Off we went to our local pub only two blocks from the cottage.

I got him a Guiness. He didn’t like it, so I drank it.

Then I got him a Kilkenny’s. He didn’t like that either, so I drank it.

Finally, I thought he might like some Harp Lager. He didn’t. I drank it.

I thought maybe he’d like whiskey better than beer, so we tried a Jameson’s - nope!

In desperation I had him try that rare Redbreast, Ireland’s finest whiskey. He wouldn’t even smell it.

What could I do but drink it?

By the time I realized he just didn’t like to drink, I was so smashed I could hardly push his stroller back home!

Bilingual Training

The following articles have been translated into Spanish:

Bienvenido de Nuevo, Invierno Presencia Seis Transistores Nuevo Recurso para Hispanos en la industria ganadera: Articulos de BeefWatch Traducidos a Espanol Translation provided by Jose Valles Production Animal Consultation

pacdvms.com 41

Bienvenido de Nuevo, Invierno By: Ted Howard Production Animal Consultation Hola invierno, mi viejo amigo. Esta temporada de frio presenta diferentes desafíos para aquellos de nosotros en la industria de corrales de engorda. Normalmente el invierno no nos da la oportunidad de refinar nuestras habilidades de equitación. Las presiones de cuidar a becerros destetados, los elementos climáticos de temperaturas de congelación y las malas condiciones del suelo, así como también menos luz solar, hacen que sea muy difícil alcanzar los objetivos de equitación. El trabajo de equitación que realizamos en los meses mas cálidos se vuelve muy evidente y comienza a dar resultados en esta época del año.

No solo nosotros estamos bajo mas presiones en los meses de invierno, sino también nuestros compañeros equinos. El clima mas frio aumenta los requerimientos de agua y nutrientes de nuestros caballos. Es importante asegurar de que los niveles de energía en nuestros caballos se mantengan en un nivel alto. La inconsistencia de la superficie en los corrales y callejones también es una presión para nuestros caballos.

En artículos anteriores, he hablado de la importancia de las herraduras correctas para los diferentes tipos de condiciones del suelo. Las herraduras con tacón al igual que las herraduras cóncavas deben utilizarse adecuadamente para darle a su caballo mayor tracción. También debemos recordar usar el caballo que mejor se adapte a la situación o al día.

Los caballos son todos diferentes en su rango de habilidades. Al igual que en el mundo de las carreras de caballos o en los circuitos de carreras de barriles, cada caballo maneja el terreno de manera diferente. Algunos caballos de carreras pueden correr en el lodo donde otros no pueden. Los caballos de carreras de barriles tienen diferentes éxitos según sus habilidades para manejar todo tipo de terrenos. Por lo tanto, no podemos sorprendernos en los corrales de engorda de que tengamos caballos que son mejores que otros para manejar diferentes tipos de condiciones de terreno.

Normalmente veo tres caballos por cuidador utilizados de manera rotatoria. Dos caballos son intercambiados en días alternos y otro caballo anda suelto descansando. Este sistema rota de cada diez días a dos semanas. Conozca sus caballos lo suficientemente bien como para saber cual es el adecuado para las condiciones del día. A veces un caballo mas joven y menos seguro se utiliza mejor en un día que no esta tan resbaloso o peligroso. Sin embargo, una vez dicho eso, no podemos sobre utilizar nuestros caballos solidos y mas seguros.

Los caballos mas seguros manejan las condiciones de suelo lodoso o resbaloso y nos permiten sacar ganado de manera silenciosa. Un caballo que tiene dificultad para mantener sus pies bajo control tiende a estar nervioso y preocupado y por lo tanto crea inquietud en el ganado. Nuestro ganado esta teniendo dificultad con las mismas condiciones de suelo y se moverá mas tentativamente y quizás mas lento.

Recuerde que permitir que el ganado marque el paso hacia la puerta al momento de sacarlos es importante.

Necesitamos prepararnos a nosotros mismos y a nuestros caballos para una experiencia muy segura. No podemos beneficiar a nuestro caballo, al ganado confiado a nuestro cuidado o a nuestro equipo de trabajo si estamos lastimados. Trabajar en nuestra equitación en los meses mas cálidos ayuda a que la temporada de invierno sea mas fácil. Así que bienvenido de nuevo, Invierno, mi viejo amigo, pero sigue de paso! ¡Manténganse abrigados allá afuera!

Presencia By: Dr. Tom Noffsinger Production Animal Consultation ¿Que es presencia? ¿Recuerdan cuando los equipos de corrales de engorda recibían ganado altamente sensible de áreas remotas que frenéticamente se apresuraban a salir de los camiones y se les ordenaba a los cuidadores que se mantuvieran fuera de los corrales a caballo o a pie hasta que el ganado se “asentara”? ¿Cuanto tiempo le tomaba al ganado para aceptar su nueva casa? ¿Donde eligieron vivir? ¿Que niveles de consumo de alimento y agua ocurrieron? ¿Como se movió este ganado a través de las instalaciones de procesamiento?

Hoy sabemos que permitir que el cuidador correcto interactúe correctamente con este ganado desde afuera del corral por unos minutos puede cambiar drásticamente la percepción del ganado de su nueva casa. Dentro de uno momentos, el ganado “salvaje” es atraído a los cuidadores que demuestran una “presencia” positiva. Pronto le permite a un manejador entrar al corral sin una respuesta frenética y esta dispuesto a responder con un movimiento ordenado.

Anhelan ver su fuente de orientación y serán voluntarios para seguir a un manejador en el que confían. ¿Que cualidades poseen los ganaderos efectivos que atraen el ganado y las personas hacia ellos? ¿Por que personas como Shane Morrissey de Australia pueden vaciar un corral solo, dirigiendo el ganado por la puerta? ¿Por que Ted Howard puede conseguir que animales individuales se alejen del hato y vayan con el al hospital? ¿Que hace el Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz para convencer al ganado de que lo rodee y quiera atención? Estos manejadores tiene varias cosas en común. Tiene grandes poderes de observación y notan los

cambios mas pequeños en el comportamiento animal. Son receptivos y recompensan pequeñas mejoras en las actitudes del ganado. Tiene una curiosidad por entender experiencias previas que moldean el comportamiento del ganado.

Estos ganaderos expresan humildad y respetan profundamente la variación en las zonas de trabajo del ganado. Saben como ofrecerle apoyo al ganado recién llegado antes de pedirles que tomen dirección. Shane Morrissey afirma que los cuidadores con una presencia positiva voluntariamente asumen la responsabilidad de cómo se comporta el ganado. Todos podemos trabajar juntos para ser mas magnéticos con el ganado y los miembros del equipo.

Seis Transistores Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation & Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp.

Estoy en mis últimos años de los sesentas y viviendo la vida en el otro lado de la ecuación por así decir. Las cosas que no vi o entendí cuando era mas joven, ahora las estoy viviendo desde el punto de vista de mis padres. Lo que damos, recibimos.

Hace varios años, tome la decisión de darle un uso diferente a la habitación de mi hija adulta. Realmente no pensé mucho en el cambio porque habíamos tenido el nido vacío desde hace mucho tiempo. Poco después del cambio, mi hija Krista vino a casa de visita. Nunca había notado su rutina cuando estaba en casa. Nos saludábamos y nos poníamos al día, y luego ella por lo general se desaparecía al segundo piso por un corto tiempo. Nunca me di cuenta exactamente a donde se iba, pero en este día, todo salió a la luz. Ella se retiraba a su habitación, cerraba la puerta y disfrutaba de todas las vistas, sonidos, olores, seguridad y recuerdos del pasado. Algunos eran buenos, otros eran malos, pero todos esos sentimientos formaban parte de su corazón.

En esta visita en particular, su ausencia fue abreviada.

Escuche un quejido distante y una serie rápida de pasos interrumpidos que bajaban por las escaleras. “Que le hiciste a mi habitación?” dijo ella.

En un tono defensivo y avergonzado, le respondí, ¿“A que te refieres?”

“Esa era mi habitación,” dijo ella, “y la arruinaste.”

Pasaron muchas semanas, y su decepción aun era mas que obvia. Realmente no hablamos durante varios meses.

Finalmente, tiramos la toalla y tratamos el asunto.

No comprendí completamente lo que había pasado, y soy el Dr. Doug, el solucionador de problemas, no el creador de problemas. Ella explicó cómo para ella ese cubículo de 15x15 era su lugar seguro. Ella describió varios sentimientos a los que le llamó sonidos y abrazo de seguridad. Ella

me contó su recuerdo de estar acostada en la cama cálida y segura escuchando el sonido chirriante de la pala de nieve atravesando la entrada del auto antes de que saliera el sol.

Ella relató el recuerdo de su hermano mayor golpeando las escaleras de madera de roble. El abría su gabinete de medicinas, agarraba su aerosol para el cabello y estratégicamente rociaba dos finas nieblas del desagradable compuesto en su chongo. Luego, asomaba la cabeza por la puerta y le decía “te quiero, te veo en la escuela,” y descendía al mundo real saltándose cada segundo escalón y evitando completamente lo últimos tres.

Su descripción fue un impacto de realidad. ¿Que había hecho? ¿Habría marcado permanentemente a mi hija? Solo por un tiempo, a medida que reflexione sobre el viejo dicho “Esto también pasara” y así fue.

De todas las personas, debo saber que las situaciones en las que Dios nos pone están ahí por alguna razón y su tiempo es perfecto. Por un momento me puse en su lado de la ecuación. Recordé la caza de gansos con mi padre y mi hermano. Estábamos acurrucados en una caravana de 10 pies, el lugar seguro de mi padre, con un frío glacial y con nuestras cabezas apenas asomándose de nuestros sacos de dormir que eran menos que adecuados. Papá situaba todo a la hora de acostarse y preparaba su café de la mañana, para que todo lo que tuviera que hacer fuera encender el quemador. La última parte de su ritual era colocar su radio AM Airline de Monkey Wards de seis transistores revestido de cuero negro al alcance de su mano derecha. Sintonizaba la emisora de radio hablada con gran perfección y se quedaba dormido. Dentro de una hora, la estación de radio AM se desvanecía y todo lo que se podía escuchar era estático y un crisol de 10 estaciones distantes. Periódicamente se despertaba, volvía a sintonizar su posesión preciada y volvía a quedarse dormido. Repetía periódicamente este escenario lo que parecía cada hora a la hora en punto durante toda la noche, lo cual era terriblemente irritante.

Mi hermano y yo acordamos que la mejor solución seria sintonizar la emisora KOMA en Oklahoma City. Rock and roll. La señal nunca se desvanecía y posiblemente podría escucharse en China las 24 horas del día.

Solo con la situación de mi hija me di cuenta de que el sonido del radio AM de papá y su presencia era uno de mis lugares mas seguros. El lugar seguro de papá era estar acurrucado en la caravana con sus dos hijos, anticipando un día de estar sentados en un pozo congelado de gansos con plantas rodadoras para cubrirnos deseando una tormenta de nieve. Raro pero real.

Esos recuerdos eran todos tan especiales, sin embargo, a veces son dolorosos y casi paralizantes. Dudo para ir allí.

Cuando voy allí en mi mente, me hubiera gustado haber apreciado más la experiencia real en el momento. No los pacdvms.com 43

cambiaría por nada. Son parte de quien soy.

En todo esto, como siempre, me he dado cuenta de que nuestro Señor esta en ambos lados de la ecuación, incluso en el signo igual. Él es mi verdadero lugar seguro, el que levanta mi cabeza, mi salvación y mi esperanza. Él es mi alegría, mi paz y mi roca, y siempre esta ahí incluso cuando mi emisora de radio no permanece sintonizada o cuando se reorganizan los muebles de mi vida. Días buenos, días malos, confianza, dudas, alegrías, tristezas, buenos recuerdos y malos recuerdos, todo es parte de lo que somos y en quien nos estamos convirtiendo. Acéptenlo. Gracias, Jesús, por ayudarme a mantenerme firme y no flaquear. Gracias por ser mi lugar seguro.

Al igual que una tarjeta American Express, el ser un seguidor de Jesucristo también tiene sus “privilegios de membresía”. Algunos de los muchos beneficios se enumeran a continuación. Si usted al momento no esta abordo, asegúrese de unirse antes de que expire la oferta.

Salmos 91:1-2: 1Los que viven al amparo del Altísimo encontrarán descanso a la sombra del Todopoderoso. 2Declaro lo siguiente acerca del Señor: Solo él es mi refugio, mi lugar seguro; él es mi Dios y en él confió.

2 Corintios 4:8-10: 8Por todos lados nos presionan las dificultades, pero no nos aplastan. Estamos perplejos, pero no caemos en la desesperación. 9Somos perseguidos pero nunca abandonados por Dios. Somos derribado, pero no destruidos. 10Mediante el sufrimiento, nuestro cuerpo sigue participando de la muerte de Jesús, para que la vida de Jesús también pueda verse en nuestro cuerpo.

2 Samuel 22:2-3: “El Señor es mi roca, mi fortaleza y mi salvador; 3mi Dios, mi roca, en quien encuentro protección. Él es mi escudo, el poder que me salva y mi lugar seguro. Él es mi refugio, mi salvador, el que me libra de la violencia.”

(Todos los versos de la Nueva Traducción Viviente.)

Nuevo Recurso para Hispanos en la industria ganadera: Articulos de BeefWatch Traducidos a Espanol By: University of Nebraska Lincoln BeefWatch BeefWatch, es un boletín electrónico mensual que le proporciona a los productores de carne de res información oportuna basada en investigación sobre temas de producción de carne de res, así como también temas actuales y oportunos para los consumidores, ahora se esta expandiendo para llegar a los Hispanos que trabajan en la industria ganadera. Se traducirán a español de uno a dos artículos cada mes, apareciendo en ambos el sitio web de beef.unl.edu y la versión de Podcast de BeefWatch.

“Nuestra esperanza es enseñar y educar a mas personas involucradas en la creación de un producto de carne de res saludable y seguro,” afirmo Bethany Johnston, co-editora de Extensión de BeefWatch de Nebraska. “A medida que la fuerza laboral de la industria de la carne de res continúa cambiando y diversificándose, el servicio de Extensión de Nebraska busca llegar a nuevas audiencias con información actual basada en investigación.”

Los artículos de BeefWatch son escritos por Especialistas y Educadores de Carne de Res de Extensión de Nebraska sobre diversos aspectos de la industria, desde la producción en corrales de engorda, nutrición y manejo de forrajes hasta la economía de la carne de res – enfocándose en los problemas mas importantes que enfrentan los productores durante esa época del año. A partir de Octubre del 2018,

los artículos (y sus Podcasts) serán elegidos cada mes para su traducción en español.

El boletín electrónico mensual cubre temas actuales y emergentes en la industria de la carne de res. BeefWatch es enviado por correo electrónico a sus suscriptores el primero de cada mes y también puede ser accedido en go.unl.edu/ beefwatch-spanish o a través del sitio web de UNL Beef en beef.unl.edu. Los productores pueden suscribirse al boletín mensual en go.unl.edu/beefwatch-spanish.

Los Beef Podcasts, acompañantes de BeefWatch, también están disponible en el sitio web beef.unl.edu. Los Podcasts de BeefWatch proporcionan la misma información oportuna que el boletín, solo en una forma descargable. Las audiencias en movimiento pueden descargar los Podcasts y escucharlos cuando les sea conveniente.

El traductor Jose Valles, consultor de la industria ganadera en Kearney, dice que los trabajadores Hispanos están ansiosos por aprender y hacer las cosas bien en la industria de la carne de res. “Pero tenemos que ayudarlos a aprender lo que están haciendo y porque es la forma correcta,” dijo Valles. Con actualizaciones mensuales a través de artículos de BeefWatch, la educación sobre la carne de res esta a un paso mas cerca para los ganaderos Hispanos.

New Resource for Hispanics in the Cattle Industry: BeefWatch Articles Translated into Spanish By: University of Nebraska Lincoln BeefWatch BeefWatch, an electronic monthly newsletter that provides beef producers with timely, research-based information on beef production issues as well as current issues and timely topics for consumers, is expanding to reach Hispanics working in the cattle industry. One to two articles will be translated each month into Spanish, appearing both on the beef.unl.edu website and the Podcast version of BeefWatch.

“Our hope is to teach and educate more people involved in creating a healthy, safe beef product,” stated Bethany Johnston, Nebraska Extension BeefWatch co-editor. “As the beef industry workforce continues to change and diversify, Nebraska Extension is looking to reach new audiences with current information based on research.”

BeefWatch articles are authored by Nebraska Extension Beef Specialists and Educators about various aspects of the industry, from feedlot production, nutrition and forage management to beef economics - focusing on the most important issues producers are facing during that time of year.

Starting in October 2018, articles (and their Podcasts) will

be selected each month for translation into Spanish.

The monthly electronic newsletter covers current and emerging issues in the beef industry. BeefWatch is emailed to subscribers the first of every month, and can also be accessed at go.unl.edu/beefwatch-spanish or through the UNL Beef Website at beef.unl.edu. Producers can subscribe to the monthly newsletter at go.unl.edu/beefwatch-spanish.

Beef Podcasts, the companion to BeefWatch, are also available at the beef.unl.edu website. The BeefWatch Podcasts provide the same timely information as the newsletter, just in a downloadable form. Audiences on the go can download Podcasts and listen at their convenience.

Translator Jose Valles, a livestock industry consultant in Kearney, says Hispanics workers are eager to learn and do things right in the beef industry. “But we need to help them learn what they are doing, and why it is the correct way,” stated Valles. With monthly updates through BeefWatch articles, beef education is one step closer for Hispanic cattlemen.

Superior Placement Solutions offers professional employee recruitment services for operations involved in the beef, dairy and pork industries.

For more information, please contact Jose A. Valles, MS jose.valles@superiorps.net 785-317-8055

Parable

Six-Transistors Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation & Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp.

I am in my late 60s and living life on the other side of the equation if you will. Things I did not see or understand when I was younger, I am now living from the vantage point of my parents. What goes around does come around.

Several years ago, I made the decision to put my adult daughter’s room to a different use. I did not really give the change much thought because we had long been empty nesters. Shortly after the change, my daughter Krista came home for a visit. I had never noticed her routine when she was home. We would greet and catch up, and then she would usually disappear upstairs for a short time. I never realized exactly where she went but on this day, it all came to light.

She would retreat to her room, close the door and bask in all the sights, sounds, smells, security and memories of the past. Some were good, some were bad, but all those feelings were part of her core.

This particular visit, her absence was abbreviated. I heard a distant moan and a rapid series of interrupted steps coming down the stairs. “What did you do to my room?” she said.

In a defensive and embarrassed tone, I replied, “What do you mean?”

“That was my room,” she said, “and you ruined it.”

Many weeks passed, and her disappointment was still more than obvious. We really did not speak for several months. Finally, we threw in the towel and discussed the matter.

I did not fully comprehend what had happened, and I am Dr. Doug, the problem solver and fixer, not the problem maker. She explained how to her that 15x15 cubicle was her safe place. She described several feelings she called the sounds and embrace of safety. She related to me her memory of laying in bed warm and safe and hearing the snow shovel grating across the driveway before the sun came up.

She related the memory of her big brother pounding up the oak hardwood stairs. He would open her medicine cabinet, grab her hair spray and strategically squirt two fine mists of the nasty compound on his top knot. He would then pop his head in her door say, “Love you, see you at school,” and descend to the real world skipping every other step and completely avoiding the last three.

Her description was a jolt of reality. What had I done?

Had I permanently scarred my child? Only for a time, as I reflected on the old saying, “This too shall pass,” and it did.

Of all people, I should know that the situations God puts us in are there for a reason and their timing is perfect.

For a moment I went to her side of the equation. I recalled hunting geese with my dad and brother. We were huddled into a 10-foot camper, my dad’s safe place, freezing cold with our heads barely peeking out of our less-than-adequate sleeping bags. Dad would situate everything at bedtime and prepare his morning coffee so all he had to do was start the burner. The last part of his ritual was to place his six-transistor black leather clad AM Airline radio from Monkey Wards in close reach of his right hand. He would dial in the talk radio station with great perfection and drift off to sleep. Within an hour, the AM station would fade and all you could hear was static and a melting pot of 10 distant stations. He would periodically wake up, retune his prized possession and drift back to sleep. He would methodically repeat this scenario what seemed like every hour on the hour all night long, which was horribly annoying.

My brother and I agreed that the best solution would be to tune to KOMA in Oklahoma City. Rock and roll. The signal never faded and possibly could be heard in China 24 hours a day.

Only with the situation involving my daughter did I realize that the sound of Dad’s AM radio and his presence was one of my fondest safe places. Dad’s safe place was being snuggled up in the camper with both of his boys, anticipating a day of sitting in a freezing goose pit with tumbleweeds for cover wishing for a snow storm. Weird but real.

Those memories were all so special, yet sometimes they are painful and almost crippling. I hesitate to go there. When I do go there in my mind, I wish I would have appreciated the actual experience more at the time. I would not trade them for anything. They are part of who I am.

In all of this, as always, I have come to realize that our

Lord is on both sides of the equation including the equal sign. He is my true safe place, the lifter of my head, my salvation and my hope. He is my joy, my peace and my rock, and He is always there even when my radio station does not stay tuned or the furniture of my life gets rearranged.

Good days, bad days, confidence, doubt, joy, sorrow, good memories and bad memories, it is all part of who we are and who we are becoming. Embrace it. Thank you, Jesus, for helping me to stand firm and not flinch. Thank you for being my safe place.

Just like an American Express card, being a follower of Jesus Christ also has its “privileges of membership”. A few of the many benefits are listed below. If you are not yet currently on board, be sure to join before the offer expires.

Psalm 91:1-2: 1Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10: 8We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

2 Samuel 22:2-3: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; 3my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.

He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.”

(All verses from New Living Translation.)

pacdvms.com 47

The Pot Roast

Beef Egg Roll in a Bowl Ingredients

Creamy Chili Sauce

2 tbsp. sesame oil

1/4 c. mayonnaise

6 green onions sliced, green and white

salt to taste

parts divided

sriracha

1/2 c. red onion diced 5 cloves garlic minced 1 lb. ground beef 1 tsp. fresh grated ginger 2-3 tbsp. sriracha divided 14 oz. bag coleslaw mix 3 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tbsp. rice wine vinegar 1/8-1/4 tsp. black pepper salt to taste toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions Heat sesame oil in a large skillet. Saute the white parts of the green onions, diced red onion, and minced garlic. Add the ground beef, grated ginger, and 1 tablespoon hot sauce or chili-garlic sauce (sriracha) and cook until the ground beef is browned, broken up and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes.

Add coleslaw mix, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, pepper and salt to taste, and stir until well combined. Cook, stirring regularly, until cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together 1/4 cup mayonnaise and 1-2 tablespoons hot sauce. Add a pinch of salt, to taste. To drizzle, place creamy chili sauce in a small plastic sandwich bag.

We like to serve this egg roll in a bowl with a serving of rice, preferably brown rice. Serve up a hearty helping of the ground beef mixture over a bowl of rice. Then snip off the corner of the sandwich bag with the creamy chili sauce and drizzle over egg roll in a bowl mixture. Garnish with green parts of the green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

Thank you to Arturo and Wrenn Pacheco for sharing your recipe and pictures. Arturo and Wrenn are custom grazers located in the Flint Hills of Kansas. Their grazing operation consists of grazing double stock steers and custom heifer development for their clients. Arturo has his PhD in ruminant nutrition and owns and operates his own nutrition consulting business, Pacheco Cattle Services. Wrenn is a professional photographer and operates Wrenn Bird Photography. Together they have two little cowboys, Leo and Ross. You can find more of their recipes at cookingwiththecowboy.com.

Newest PAC Members

Kirkland (3) and Hatten (1.5) Parents: Jacob and Katie Mayer Grandpa: John Mayer, DVM

Feedlot Shade Sytems that deliver: • Cost-effective shade solutions • Design flexibility • Spans to keep pens clear of posts • Uniquely designed canopy material

Set up your Consultation Today!

Midwest NetPro Gary Kreikemeier Phone: 402-563-4712 Fax: 402-527-5594 Email: midwestnetpro@gmail.com • Even distribution of rainfall • 10-year pro-rata UV warranty Website: midwestnetpro.com • Easy maintenance

Calendar December Nov 29th - Dec 1st Academy of Veterinary Consultants Meeting, Kansas City, KS

January 3rd Dawson County Cattlemen Meeting, Lexington, NE, Dr. Tom presenting 10th Ontario Cattle Feeders’ Association Annual Beef Industry Convention, London, Ontario, Dr. Tom presenting 19th Cattlemen’s Workshop NW, La Grande, OR, Dr. Tom presenting 23rd - 25th Nebraska Cattlemen Legislative Session, Lincoln, NE 26th Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference, Ottumwa, IA, Dr. Tom presenting

31st Practical Keys to Practice Management Meeting, Versailles, KY, Dr. Nels presenting Jan 30th - Feb 2nd Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, New Orleans, LA

February 1st Practical Keys to Practice Management Meeting, Bowling Green, KY, Dr. Nels presenting 18th Nebraska Cattlemen Political Action Committee Gala, Lincoln, NE 27th Kansas Equine Practitioners Group Meeting, Manhattan, KS, Dr. Nels presenting

Production Animal Consultation PO Box 41 Oakley, KS 67748 pacdvms.com

Daniels Manufacturing Co. World’s Finest Livestock Equipment For Over Fifty Years •

•

•

•

Double Alleyway o Stationary & Portable o Fast, easy and safe way to process cattle All Hydraulic Squeeze Chute o Stationary & Portable o Quietest and most user friendly chute on the market, featuring our unique squeeze design and neck stretcher Complete Corral Units, Panels, Gate and Continuous Fence o Manufactured from the finest high tensile strength tubing Facility Drawings and Consultations o Low stress cattle handling that encourages voluntary cattle flow and animal well being

PO Box 67 87725 State Hwy 7 Ainsworth NE 69210 www.danielsmfg.com

Office: 402-387-1891 Fax: 402-387-1961 Email: daniels@danielsmfg.com