2 minute read

WELCOME

Welcome to the spring edition of Protein Producers! With spring comes fresh beginnings, new calves, green grass, and the anticipation of new opportunities. Instead of looking at the whole year, let’s examine what we can do today that will enhance our position to “get a little bit better” every day. How we view opportunities determines our success. Just as 2020 presented unprecedented challenges, 2021 will have new challenges. We can ask ourselves, “Where is the opportunity to produce food more efficiently, more humanely, and with more dignity?” Each of our operations has different nuances, whether it be environment, culture, equity, or personnel, but our tools remain the constant: people and livestock.

We can choose to understand the people that care for these animals. How does an attitude of compassion develop within ourselves and caretakers? How is that compassion translated to the people that will enjoy consuming our protein? When desire and humility lead us to think of others’ well-being, our production systems become much more satisfying and economically viable. Those that purchase our product are more likely to have a positive experience, be that financially or with satisfaction from taste. Demand for protein will continue to increase. Let’s face it, we are in the people business.

Production is fast paced, but success is in the details. I think you will find this spring edition helpful in growing skills and deepening understanding.

Dr. Chris Reinhardt demonstrates how implants can be used successfully in calves and the financial reward gained.

Dr. Tom Noffsinger invites us to consider leading cattle as a powerful tool for effective stockmanship.

Dr. Nels Lindberg and Pete Anderson each share wisdom on leadership. We are all leaders as we serve those close to us.

Dr. Doug Ford and Dr. Greg Quackenbush share another real-life parable, demonstrating their faith and dependence on God Almighty.

As we start a new year, we can ask ourselves where our real hope comes from in these times of uncertainty. It would appear that the only “normal” that we might see or experience is the setting on the clothes washer. If we pin our hope on the economic and political process, we will be disappointed. However, the Hope that we can experience is not within ourselves but is found in scripture.

I am reminded of a verse from 2 Peter 1:3: “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” We can gain all that we need to know about how we should live through knowing God, who has called us to bring honor and glory to Him.

In closing, I would like to share a quote from a young man after returning from a job in Russia working on a large ranch. He had the opportunity to gain perspective from a livestock production system that was starting from the ground up. Infrastructure, land mass, and equity were not spared, yet the personnel and labor skill could not be grown with money. In that political environment, 200 years of beef production could not be replicated quickly. His observation was unique in that he was able to put into perspective the years of experience that we have in livestock production.

“The compassion we, as American producers, share in agriculture is unique. By providing the highest quality of life for an animal that is going to give its life, we have created a food supply that is both safe and abundant. Yet, we pay attention to and fulfill the needs of those animals. It is our way of life.” –

Dr. Randall Spare

Mark Spare, DVM (2019 KSU)

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