September 2015 paper

The Virginia Cattleman

Photo Taken By: Jacquelynn Davis

Volume 37 Number 9 Circulation 8,000 September 2015

What’s Inside

Page 5 - Virginia Agriculture, Farmers Plow Ahead for the Bay Page 13 - The Use of Antibiotics in Food Animals Page 18 - Beef From South America? Not So Fast!

Page 36 - Make Plans for Weaning Spring Calves Page 45 - How to Get More Than a Preg-check From The Vet’s Preg-check Visit

The Virginia Cattleman P.O. Box 9 Daleville, VA 24083-0009

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Daleville, VA 24083 Permit No. 8

Opportunities

PAGE 2, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

By: Jason Carter

The advent of September means the brunt of the fall calf run is upon us like many other seasonal activities.

Cuttings of blade hay, high quality alfalfa, stockpiling of fescue and chopping corn silage will also begin or be underway in earnest across the Commonwealth in the coming weeks. I personally look forward to fall each year. I enjoy the cooler mornings and evenings as well as the changing of the leaves that will begin and signal a frost soon to come. I also look forward to the return of college football season each year.

My family is multi-generational Hokies and the voice of Bill Roth will be sorely missed this season as I ride the roads these fall Saturdays between Beef Council events and listening to Tech football. September also means

the close of the Virginia Beef Industry Council fiscal year and the approval process of the coming year’s requests for funding of a variety of beef promotional projects.

The Executive Director of the Beef Council is a little known and often overlooked aspect of what I also do in Daleville. Every cattle producer pays into and benefits from the Checkoff and the benefits of that investment cannot be overstated. Beef demand is excellent and the Checkoff has made great strides over the years both maintaining and building demand and understanding of our products. Soon at the Virginia Beef Council we will be adding a new staff person to work directly with influencers of consumers and elevate those audiences understanding, appreciation for and desire to promote beef as part

of a wholesome and healthy diet. The summer of 2015 proved to be an excellent season of growth and new found purposes for the Beef Council Board of Directors and staff, so the start of a new fiscal year this fall holds great anticipation for us all.

Despite my best intentions, it seems on a weekly basis the feeder cattle market outlook talks and discussions I have had around the state in the last month have proved sorta correct at best. 2015 has been decidedly more traditional in price movement that 2014 however the uncertainty in the fed cattle market and moves in the world economy and political climate have maintained a dramatic shadow over more certainty in our markets. It is well known that cattle feeders are not performing well.

High feeder cattle prices and greater herd retention are limiting cattle supplies. An inflationary dollar this year has diminished buying pow-

er as well, depressing our export markets that have been a mainstay of beef added value. While the 2014 cattle marketing year has by no means been a disaster for the cow/ calf producer, our industry is adjusting to possible herd expansion that has and will continue to apply pressure to feeder prices. The cash trade in fed cattle is nearly non-existent in the US also, keeping that market vulnerable to anticipated effects of moves effecting the global economy such as China devaluing its currency. The corn and soybean outlooks as well as the petroleum outlook do not suggest that the cost of keeping a cow will rise dramatically in the coming year so every calf producer needs to keep thinking about risk protection and diversification to mitigate the potential effect of cheaper cattle. When or if cheaper cattle will come and how much are the big questions, but all indicators are that by 2018 there will be

increased supply challenges for the cattle business. It never hurts to anticipate the down side and expect the best you can after being prepared.

September will also be a crucial and short session month in Congress.

Two VCA members in the Shenandoah Valley generously opened their farms to questions from staffers for Senators Kaine and Warner recently. The support of the Senate for the S 1140 requiring the EPA to re-evaluate Waters of the United States will be critical for our industry’s comfort and avoiding a long and costly court battle. It is important to remember with WOTUS that agricultural exemptions do not also exempt WOTUS land features. We are all incredibly vulnerable to WOTUS and VCA will do its part to keep our folks in DC assured of that. As always, let us know what we can do and how we can help you.

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THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 3

OCTOBER 17, 2015 Saturday • Noon

Aldie, Virginia

Whitestone Kem B076 17277515

WR 1@123, YR 1@122, MB 1@103, RE 1@123 Featuring this highly productive 3-year-old cow whose first calf was the overall valedictorian of the 2014 Whitestone calf crop! The dam of this sensational cow was the featured Lot 1 top-selling cow of the 2013 Whitestone Brand of Quality Sale and the grandam is the legendary Whitestone foundation Kem selected as the record-selling female of America’s oldest Angus herd.

Sells bred to calve January 2, 2016, to SAV Renown 3439, safe.

Whitestone Marcia 607B 17306525

She sells!

WR 1@102, YR 1@108, MB 1@111, RE 1@105 Featuring this valuable 3-year-old cow who is a product of the embryo program at CED BW WW YW Milk CW Marb RE Fat $W $F $G $B Whitestone Farm from the mating of the +7 +1.4 +56 +102 +35 +31 +.45 +.82 +.032 +58.40 +63.01 +32.56 +112.67 Pathfinder® Sire Connealy Impression with the prolific Whitestone foundation Pathfinder® Dam TC Marcia 1069. Maternal siblings include the Accelerated Genetics sires TC Franklin 619 and TC Touchdown 772 as well as the top-selling Lot 1 heifer of a past Whitestone Sale. Sells bred to calve January 2, 2016, to GAR Prophet, safe.

She sells!

CED BW WW YW

Milk CW Marb RE

Fat

$W

$F

$G

$B

Whitestone Pure Pride 2044 17319686

This exceptional three-year-old cow is from the first calf crop by the record-selling Koupals B&B Identity and was produced from a dam by TC Grid Topper 355. Sells bred to calve April 2, 2016 to Buford Oklahoma Z775, safe.

+11 -.1 +57 +95 +27 +38 +.39 +.68 -.011 +61.40 +57.81 +31.59 +133.92

She sells!

CED BW WW YW

Whitestone Queen Isabel 2086

Milk CW Marb RE

Fat

$W

$F

$G

$B

Milk CW Marb RE

Fat

$W

$F

$G

$B

+2 +2.9 +59 +106 +32 +39 +.63 +.50+ .028 +52.98 +68.33 +33.84 +132.35

17339063

This sale feature is a three-year-old by S Chisum 6175 from a dam by TC Grid Topper 355.

Whitestone Queen Isabel 207

She sells!

17394652

CED BW WW YW

Milk CW Marb RE

Fat

$W

$F

$G

$B

-7 +5.9 +61 +105 +19 +52 +.33 +.55 +.020 +44.71 +55.40 +21.82 +136.30

REQUEST A SALE BOOK

Please call, write or email us today to join our mailing list.

This featured three-year-old cow by HARB Windy 702 JH traces to a Pathfinder® third dam.

Sells bred to calve January 2, 2016 to GAR Prophet, safe.

She sells!

CED BW WW YW

+11 -.1 +52 +91 +20 +30 +.24 +.12 +.051 +45.78 +45.66 +12.15 +87.51

George W. Lemm • Tom & Nancy Andracsek • Mark Duffell PO Box 570, Aldie, Virginia 20105 (703) 327-4863 Office • (703) 327-4777 FAX (703) 930-1841 MARK’S CELL www.whitestonefarm.com • whitestonefarm@earthlink.net

PAGE 4, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

The Virginia Cattlemen’s Association Affiliated with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc.

P.O. Box 9 Daleville, Va24083-0009 540/992-1009 www.vacattlemen.org

The Virginia Cattleman 540/992-1011 540/992-4632 - FAX published monthly by the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association

Jason Carter ....................... Stuarts Draft Executive Secretary Butch Foster.................................. Bristol Field Manager Troy Lawson...........................Churchville Field Manager

FEEDER COUNCIL

Glenn Wheeler ............................... Atkins Region 1 Chuck Miller ................................Crockett Region 2 Joe Meek ....................................... Dublin Region 3 Forrest Ashby.............................Staunton Region 4 Rick Matthews.........................Browntown Region 5 Steve Hopkins...............................Louisa Region 6 Tom Nixon.................................. Rapidan Region 6 Brett Stratton Region 7 Andy Smith Director at Large

POLICY & INDUSTRY ADVOCACY BOARD Gene Copenhaver...............Meadowview District 1 Joey Davenport...................Glade Spring District 1 Bill McDonald .........................Blacksburg District 2 Steve Furrow.......................Rocky Mount District 2 Bill Tucker .................................. Amherst District 3 Jon Repair ................................ Glasgow District 3 Jared Burner .................................. Luray District 4 Allen Heishman......................... Edinburg District 4 John Goodwin ............................. Orange District 5 James Kean..................................Louisa District 5 Jay Calhoun.............................. Callands District 6 Mike Henry........................... Chesterfield District 6 Editor...................................... Jason Carter jcarter@vacattlemen.org Publication Coordinator...Jacquelynn Davis jdavis@vacattlemen.org Issued the first week of each month. Copy deadline the 15th of the previous month.

The Virginia Cattleman is sent to members of the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association. Annual dues are $50/year or participation in the Association’s Feeder Cattle marketing Program. Complimentary copies are sent to various supporters of the Virginia Cattle Industry.

A Member of:

LPC LIVESTOCK PUBLICATIONS COUNCIL

Virginia’s Weekly Market Reports

July 30, 2015

mostly 204.00-216.00, aver- age 245.28 age 206.93 State Graded Feeder Steers, 600-700 lbs 205.00-238.50, State Graded Feeder Heif- mostly 215.00-238.50, averMedium and Large 1 ers, Medium and Large 1 age 231.16 400-500 lbs 239.00-247.00, average 244.42 400-500 lbs 200.00-234.00, 700-800 lbs 204.00-227.50, mostly 218.00-234.00, aver- average 222.76 500-600 lbs 180.00-240.50, age 223.03 mostly 225.00-240.50, averState Graded Feeder Heif500-600 lbs 176.00-225.25, ers, Medium and Large 1 age 235.75 mostly 205.00-225.25, aver600-700 lbs 162.50-222.50, age 217.02 400-500 lbs 165.00-241.00, mostly 210.00-222.50, avermostly 224.00-241.00, aver600-700 lbs 176.00-216.50, age 232.36 age 217.49 mostly 193.00-216.50, aver700-800 lbs 195.00-214.00, age 202.80 500-600 lbs 202.00-224.75, average 207.59 average 220.07 700-800 lbs 171.00-200.00, State Graded Feeder Heif- mostly 185.00-200.00, aver- 600-700 lbs 184.00-228.50, mostly 205.00-228.50, averers, Medium and Large 1 age 186.64 age 212.21 400-500 lbs 200.00-226.00, Slaughter Cows mostly 210.00-226.00, aver- Boning, 800-1200 lbs, 81.00- 700-800 lbs 170.50-197.00, 116.00, average 94.75 mostly 170.50-192.50, average 221.68 age 183.35 500-600 lbs 200.00-225.00, Breakers, 1200-1600 lbs, mostly 205.00-225.00, aver- 85.00-112.00, average 99.54 Slaughter Cows Boning, 800-1200 lbs, 85.00age 217.97 109.00, average 95.58 600-700 lbs 187.00-213.00, August 13, 2015 Breakers, 1200-1600 lbs, mostly 196.00-213.00, averState Graded Feeder Steers, 90.00-114.00, average 100.50 age 201.66 Medium and Large 1 700-800 lbs 160.00-184.00, mostly 170.00-184.00, aver- 400-500 lbs 252.00-273.00, August 21, 2015 average 268.92 age 177.57 State Graded Feeder Steers, 500-600 lbs 224.00-256.00, Medium and Large 1 Slaughter Cows Boning, 800-1200 lbs, 90.00- mostly 233.00-255.00, aver108.00, average 99.92 Breakers, 1200-1600 lbs, 89.00-115.00, average 103.13 August 6, 2015 State Graded Feeder Steers, Medium and Large 1 400-500 lbs 225.00-261.00, mostly 257.00-261.00, average 254.26 500-600 lbs 223.00-247.75, mostly 232.00-247.75, average 241.35 600-700 lbs 194.00-239.00, mostly 210.00-239.00, average 221.17 700-800 lbs 175.00-216.00,

400-500 lbs 231.00-268.00, mostly 253.00-268.00, average 260.06 500-600 lbs 176.50-256.00, mostly 241.00-256.00, average 244.80 600-700 lbs 162.00-237.50, mostly 218.00-237.50, average 225.10 700-800 lbs 198.00-218.00, average 208.15 State Graded Feeder Heifers, Medium and Large 1 400-500 lbs 220.00-239.00, average 233.66 500-600 lbs 197.50-232.50, mostly 209.00-232.50, average 216.57 600-700 lbs 149.00-220.50, mostly 197.50-220.50, average 206.80 700-800 lbs 170.00-201.25, average 194.25 Slaughter Cows Boning, 800-1200 lbs, 86.00132.00, average 98.29 Breakers, 1200-1600 lbs, 89.00-112.00, average 99.79

Virginia Cattlemen's Association Sponsored Graded Sales Schedule

Check our website at www.vacattlemen.org for updates CONTACT LIVESTOCK MARKETS OR VCA STAFF FOR QUESTIONS VCA 540-992-1009 Butch Foster 423-360-0434 Troy Lawson 540-430-0042 SEPTEMBER 2015 Front Royal Radiant Wytheville Rockingham Tel-O-Auction Radiant Front Royal Rockingham Moneta Tel-O-Auction Radiant Front Royal Tel-O-Auction Radiant

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THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 5

Virginia Agriculture, Farmers Plow Ahead for the Bay

Editorial from Secretary of Nat- As a result, agriculture be- That productivity must grow efforts with cost-share fund- waste-water treatment plants ural Resources & Secretary of came a large contributor of hand in hand with environ- ing for the exclusion of live- and agriculture.” These posAgriculture Todd Hyamore the commonwealth’s nitro- mental responsibility. stock from streams, the use of itive signs indicate that the

Virginia’s farmers have long been quality stewards of the land. Now, in growing numbers, they are becoming stewards of the Chesapeake Bay as well. Adapting to this new role has not been easy.

Agriculture is Virginia’s largest private industry, and for decades increased yields, flocks and herds meant increased fertilizer application, manure and field denuding.

gen, phosphorus and sediment that makes its way into the Chesapeake Bay. As the Old Dominion continues its transition away from federal dependence under Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s new Virginia economy push — an initiative that relies on increased investment and jobs-creation in agriculture and agribusiness — agricultural productivity will only increase.

As science has demonstrated the relationship between certain agricultural practices and impaired water quality — both in streams and in the Chesapeake — our farmers have for many years voluntarily implemented measures designed to reduce the nutrient and sediment loads into surrounding waterways and, ultimately, into the bay.

Virginia has supported these

cover crops and no-till farming, the installation of riparian forest buffers and other best-management practices.

These practices are showing a measurable impact on the health of the bay.

A representative of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation stated on June 17 that “Virginia has definitely made great progress in reducing bay pollution, especially from

efforts of our farmers are bearing fruit, but more needs to be done, both within Virginia and throughout the 64,000-square-mile Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Here in Virginia, we have a number of tools available for our agricultural producers.

Large animal feeding operations and poultry operations are required to implement Continued on Page 6

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PAGE 6, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

From Page 5 Bay

nutrient-management plans and other water-quality protection practices as a part of their permits. For animal operations of smaller scale that do not require permits, the Department of Conservation and Recreation has dedicated staff to develop such plans at no cost. This is of particular benefit to Virginia’s robust dairy industry.

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services also works directly with farmers to improve their operations. Resource Management Plans are designed to provide regulatory certainty for farmers and ensure that they receive credit for doing their part to improve water quality. In exchange for implementing best-management practices on their property, these farmers are shielded from additional state regulation for up to nine years. The commonwealth has also committed significant resources toward assisting farmers in excluding their livestock from streams.

This is one of the highest-impact and most cost-effective measures farmers can implement. However, Virginia alone cannot restore the bay.

The Chesapeake Bay Program — a partnership composed of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, the District of Columbia, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, in conjunction with a number of other governmental and non-governmental partners — represents a unified approach to addressing bay concerns by all those with a footprint in the watershed. Governor McAuliffe is currently chair of the program, and working with agricultural interests to improve water quality is a focus of his tenure. And there are agricultural challenges watershed-wide.

Pennsylvania, for example, is home to the bulk of the

Susquehanna River watershed, the largest single contributor of freshwater and pollutants to the bay. However, no part of the bay itself touches Pennsylvania, understandably making it difficult for citizens from the Keystone State to make the bay a priority. For the past several years, Pennsylvania has struggled with its goals for reducing nutrients and sediment. However, under Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration, there is a renewed focus on the health of the Susquehanna River and therefore on the health of the bay.

The watershed states have been collaborating on agricultural issues outside of the Bay Program as well. Earlier this year, the secretariats of agriculture from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia convened in Annapolis to discuss a number of agricultural issues, paramount among them the bay. This forum provided an opportunity for the cross-pollination of ideas, and Pennsylvania reached out to Virginia for information on our Resource Management Program. Another such meeting is in the developmental stages, this time including the natural resources secretariats from the jurisdictions. Much remains to be done to put the bay on track to sustainable restoration. However, by stepping up to the plate, Virginia’s farmers continue to be an important part of the solution.

Their actions demonstrate that old habits can change and that waterways — including the Bay — can be improved from Accomack to Augusta and from Winchester to Chesterfield.

Throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the keepers of the Old Dominion’s agricultural lands are becoming the keepers of her waterways as well.

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THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 7

Access to China Key Factor in Maintaining Meat Export Growth Philip Seng, CEO U.S. Meat Export Federation

The U.S. red meat industry has achieved outstanding export growth in recent years, enhancing profitability for all members of the supply chain. In 2014, both beef exports ($7.13 billion) and pork exports ($6.67 billion) shattered previous records for export value. Beef exports have steadily increased in value in each of the 11 years since global markets began to reopen after the first U.S. case of BSE. For pork, export value has increased in 15 of the past 20 years.

In 2015, several headwinds have made it difficult for the U.S. industry to maintain this positive trajectory. Severe congestion in the West Coast ports – the result of a prolonged labor impasse – impacted our first-quarter results. Unusually large supplies of European pork and Australian beef have poured into key Asian markets, buoyed by favorable exchange rates that make them very attractive to price-sensitive buyers. Key competitors have also achieved gains due to free trade agreements that reduced import duties on their beef and pork products.

These are all important fac-

tors affecting U.S. exports, but they are issues over which we have little or no control. The same cannot be said about one of the biggest obstacles U.S. exports currently face – lack of access to China.

China is one of only a handful of international markets that never reopened to U.S. beef following the 2003 BSE case. At that time, and for several years thereafter, China was not a large importer of beef. But that changed dramatically in 2012, when beef import demand in China surged due to strong economic growth and a sharp decline in domestic production. China now imports more beef every month than it did in an entire calendar year in 2011. In the first half of this year, imports totaled nearly $910 million – up 28 percent from a year ago.

While the U.S. industry remains on the sidelines, Australia, Uruguay, New Zealand, Argentina and Canada are all gaining a strong foothold in China. Being shut out of the Chinese market also affects the prices U.S. beef cuts command in other Asian destinations, as China has begun to exert significant influence on global beef Continued on Page 9

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PAGE 8, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

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From Page 7

China Key to Export Growth trade. For the U.S. beef industry, the lost opportunity due to our lack of access to China is currently estimated at more than $100 per head.

But is there a scientific basis behind China’s demands?

Considering that we export to about 100 countries, all of which have determined that U.S. beef is safe, it would be easy to view China’s import conditions as overly

strict. But a growing number of major beef producing and exporting countries are meeting China’s requirements, aware of the market’s potential global impact on beef demand. In mid-2014, for example, China began testing beef imports from Australia for hormone residues, citing a hormone ban that had been in place for more than a decade, but had only been sporadically enforced. Australia responded quickly, implementing a certification program to meet China’s requirements.

In the short term, Australia’s

exports to China dipped by nearly 50 percent. But that decline was temporary, as Australian producers adjusted and exports to China quickly rebounded.

When Canada confirmed its most recent BSE case in February, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency voluntarily suspended export certificates to China and began consultations with its counterpart agencies in China to restore access. Trade resumed in early April. A similar situation just occurred in Argentina, where trade was suspended due to a finding of vesicular

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 9

stomatitis (VS) in dairy cattle. Argentine government and industry representatives immediately traveled to China to meet with regulatory officials and reached an agreement to resume trade.

As these examples illustrate, our competitors have learned that the best way to do business with China, as with any customer, is to meet its expectations.

The case for exports is often made by stating that 95 percent of the world’s population lives outside the United States. But this argument is much less compelling

when the market that contains nearly 20 percent of the world’s population has little or no access to our red meat products, which I believe are the finest and safest in the world. Yes, China’s import conditions are stringent, but China is not lacking for suppliers willing to meet its demands. This means the U.S. industry faces some difficult decisions as we look for ways to expand access for U.S. meat in this critically important market.

Equi pment Auction for Spring Gate Farm 6675 Fredericksburg Road, Barboursville, VA 22923

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JD 6100 w/Loader, Cab, 4x4 JD 4250 w/Cab, 4x4, 3 Dual Remotes, 6,556 Hrs. David Brown 990 w/Front Mount Shaver Post Driver Oliver 1755

Farm Equipment

Baltic Spreader, 3 Pt. Hitch AC 5711 4-Bottom Plow, 16" Bottoms Tifone 12040 Misting Sprayer, PTO 2005 Gehl 990 & 2002 980 Forage Wagons 1981 Brillion 5596 Seeder, 9' Cultipacker 1999 JD 935 MoCo Haybine 1992 JD 3950 Chopper w/New Grasshead, Trucks, Trailers & Equipment 2-Row Cornhead 1988 IH Rollback (4) H&S Diller Bale Wagons, 18' 2014 Adam Aluminum Trailer, Gooseneck, 2004 Brillion 815 Ripper 18’, Never Used NH 256 Rake 2014 Adam 2-Horse Trailer, Bumper Pull Silage Blower 2003 Eby Aluminum Livestock Trailer (2) Plows, (1) 3-Bottom (1) 4-Bottom, 3 Pt. Hitch 1990 Interstate Equipment Trailer w/5' JD Bucket, 6', Used on a JD 640 Loader Dovetail, Pintle Hitch, 19'x8’, Electric Hay Spear, Used on a JD 640 Loader Brakes, 23,000 GVW Harvest Tec 441 Sprayer, 25 Gallon Cotner 2-Horse Trailer Pallet Forks (2) Eager Beaver Trailers, 22 Ton, Pintel Hitch JD 714A Forage Wagon Ratchet Straps & Flags Shaver Post Driver Diamond Truck Toolbox, 5'10"x1'x2"x4'11" Round Bale Mover, 2 Pt. Hitch Diamond Plate Small Truck Toolbox JD Snowplow Mount, Front Hitch 4100 6-Kennel Dog Box for Pickup Truck Small Snowplow Eagle Industries Flame Retardent Tarp, Troy-Bilt Chipper/Vacuum, 5 HP 30'x50', 865 UVFR, White Ford 501 Sickle Bar Mower, 7' Cut Construction/Sandblasting Equipment Chisel Plow w/Gauge Wheels, Model E-1600, 3 Pt. Hitch CAT 931B Loader, 4-Way Bucket Aerway Chain Harrow, 13' JD 410B Backhoe, 4-Way Bucket, Ford 22-124 Flail Mower, 76” Cut Extendahoe, 2 Buckets CLEMCO Industries 2452 600 Sandblaster Food Preparation Equipment Mikoso MT-60HS Tamper Hobart 1612 Commercial Manual Deli Meat & Wizard Lazermark Rotary Lazer Cheese Slicer, 1/4 HP Spectra Precision Lazer Plane, 500 c Hobart 4332 Meat Grinder, 2 HP Ripper Attachment for Excavator Cabela's Meat Grinder Quick Attach Used on Hitachi EX200 Wood Working Equipment Backfill Tamper Delta 50-850 Dust Collector, 1 1/2 HP Diamond Blade Concrete Saw Also Including Tablesaws, Routers, Planers, General 82 717452 Roto Router Drum Sander & Saws Milwaukee Multibay Charger, Heavy Duty Root Rake, 6 Spike Used off a JD 850 (2) Surveying Measure Mark Rods Wooster Positive Lock, 6-12' Concrete Sherlock Float Large Lot of Miscellaneous PVC Fittings

Miscellaneous Equipment

Streaker Dune Buggy Horse Hook-Up for Buggy Lumber, Random Lengths and Widths, Includes Oak, Cedar, Walnut, 1", 3" & 4" Widths

Fuel Tank w/Gas Boy 110 Pump, 1,000 gallons (8) Liquid Pumps of Various Sizes Speeflo 447-816 Airless Paint Sprayer Blue Giant PT27X48 Pallet Jack, 5,000 lbs.

True Power 2000 W Power Inverter, New Gervard & Co. 400 Steel Binder Burnham PV84WC-BBWN Low Pressure Boiler

Lawn & Garden Equipment

Scag 60X Commercial Mower Cub Lowboy w/Belly Mower Locke Estate Lawn Mower Johnson Commercial Mower Rotary Power Mower, 5 HP

Shop Equipment & Tools

Covell Precision Metal Homing Machine, 3-Phase

Metal Shop Table on Wheels w/Columbian Vise Prolift Floor Jack, 2.5 Ton, 4,500 lb.

Engine Stand, Heavy Duty, 2000 lb. Capacity Ready PRO 110 Propane Heater, 110,000 BTU Compressor, HL540200, 4 Gallon, 125 PSI DOERR Emerson Electric Air Compressor Camp, 125 PSI, Cast Iron Series, 20 Gallon Sentry Safe Millermatic 175 Wire Welder, 230 Volts Lincoln Grease Gun, w/(2) Full Tubes of Grease Marson Rivet Gun, 2 HP

Dewalt 706 Dbl Bevel Compound Miter Saw, 12"

Makita HR2455X Rotary Hammer, 25mm, 1"

For Additional Information & Complete Equipment Listing:

www.colemansalesinc.com

Auction Manager:

PAGE 10, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

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Bay Foundation Issues Statement In Stream Fencing Court Case

Peggy Sanner, Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Virginia Assistant Director and Senior Attorney, released the following statement regarding CBF’s lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Virginia seeking requirements that large livestock farms fence their animals out of streams: “In our lawsuit, CBF asked a Richmond Circuit Court judge to find that, under Virginia law, the Commonwealth’s largest animal operations must ensure livestock are fenced out of streams to protect downstream users from manure-carried pathogens and other pollutants. We are disappointed by the decision of the court, which disagreed with our position. CBF has decided not to appeal the judge’s order. Instead, CBF will press legislators and the McAuliffe administration to fully fund state stream fencing programs and continue our work with farmers to ensure that their farms are not polluting local waters and the Bay.” “Across the Commonwealth, farmers recognize that stream fencing improves herd health and farm bottom lines, and they have been signing up in unprecedented numbers for state cost-share funds to assist them in excluding livestock. To ensure adequate funding and technical assistance are available to meet the demand, currently estimated at over $70 million, CBF will work closely with legislators, agency staff, and other partners in the coming months and years.

With more than 8,000 stream miles in Virginia polluted by pathogens and other manure-carried pollutants, Virginia has much work to do.”

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 11

United Producers

A farmer-owned and operated cooperative that has been keeping promises and building relationships for nearly 80 years.

No matter where you are or how you want to buy or sell cattle, United Producers can help.

• Direct farm-to-farm and farm-to-packer movement of livestock • Monthly Feeder Cattle Internet Auction • Cattle For Sale listings on the United Producers website • Coordinated Feeder Services that connect producers to feedlots • Producer educational meetings • Competitive financing programs and services • Livestock, energy and input/feed risk managment services

Get exactly the cattle you need when you need them.

Sell your cattle when you need to sell them.

Contact your United Producers cattle sales representative: Duane Bishoff (304) 288-7806 • dbishoff@uproducers.com United Producers is a market leading provider of livestock marketing, credit and risk management services.

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PAGE 12, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

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THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 13

The Use of Antibiotics in Food Animals By: W. Dee Whittier, DVM – Extension Veterinarian, Cattle VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

Antibiotics have been and are being used in livestock production to help promote animal health and well-being. Regulatory and societal demands have increased dramatically to insist that these products are not only used responsibly in animals but that their use does not taint food nor enhance resistance to these compounds so that human health suffers.

Antibiotics such as penicillin and the sulfa drugs became widely available for animals in the 1950’s. As in human medicine, they are invaluable in dealing with bacterial infections in livestock. Just like in humans, as livestock are kept in higher densities, there is more disease challenge and therefore the ben-

efits of antibiotics are more significant.

Originally all antibiotic treatments in livestock were individually administered.

However, the stress of catching and treating animals multiple times led to the use of antibiotics in feed and water. Whole herds of flocks can be easily treated with feed and water medication.

Eventually it was discovered that animals given low levels of some of the antibiotics in their feed gained weight faster and more efficiently. This is sometimes due to a change in rumen flora that makes digestion more efficient. In other instances the low-level antibiotics control bacterial infections that go unnoticed but decrease performance.

Concerns over residues of the antibiotics in the meat, milk and eggs of treated animals developed along with their use. These residues can have effects like altering

the fermentation process in cheese making. Much more important is the concern that humans eating tainted products would have unwanted outcomes. It was not long after antibiotics began to be widely used on both people and animals until it was discovered that some bacteria developed the ability to somehow disable the antibiotic so that treatment outcomes were disappointing (resistance). Exposing bacteria to low levels of antibiotics is believed to enhance the development of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotics now contain very specific labeling for how long after treatment milk, meat or eggs must be withheld from human consumption. In addition, sampling of meat, milk and eggs at harvest points is mandated to be sure that errors do not result in contamination.

As concern over the re-

sponsible use of antibiotics evolved, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was given regulatory authority over animal drug use.

FDA now enforces three classifications of how drugs are dispensed and their use supervised. These three classifications are: Over the Counter.

This group of drugs can be purchased and used freely purchased and used by any animal owner. For example, Penicillin, Oxytetracycline (such as LA-200) and sulfa drugs (such as Sustain III boluses) are over-the-counter drugs. Animal owners can buy these products at many retail outlets and use them as they desire in their animals.

Very few drugs have been approved in this category over the last many years. Of course, owners are responsible to use these products according to label directions, paying careful attention to

withdrawal times.

Prescription. These products will always carry a label that says: “Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.” Such drugs have been judged to have more potential for harm to human health and so are only dispensed by licensed veterinarians. The is meant to insure that they will be used in a more carefully supervised manner Extra-label. Because it is costly for drug manufacturers to provide label claims for every potential use of drugs, there began to be significant use of drugs other than how their labels described. For example, there are very few antibiotics or dewormers approved for minor species such as sheep, goats or alpacas. There are no tranquilizers or pain medications approved for any food animal Continued on Page 14

Fall beeF round up KEEP’EM HEALTHY MEDICATED FEED ADDITIVES PROGRAM

NO PAYMENTS/ NO INTEREST* uNTIl FEBRuARY 1, 2016 Qualifying Products Include: Feeders Fencing Handling Equipment Herd Health Items Pasture Renovation Selected Beef Feeds and Minerals

*Offer expires 1/31/16. No payments and no interest until 2/1/16. Offer limited to agricultural multi-use account customers. Some transactions may occur prior to actual product delivery. After the promotional period, interest charges will begin to accrue at the rate provided in the multi-use account credit agreement. Subject to John Deere Financial, f.s.b. approval and merchant participation. Offer limited to qualifying products. See your retailer for complete details. Plan #22499.

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PAGE 14, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

Rising beef prices be damned.

Steakhouses had the largest share of full-service restaurant sales in 2014. Recent Technomic data show that among

Steakhouses Lead Full-Service Restaurant Growth

From Page 13 Antiobitics in Food Animals

species. Sometimes research evidence that becomes available after a product is approved indicates that it is more effective if given at a different dosage or by a different route.

In 1994 the Animal Medical Drug Use Act (AMDUCA) was passed by Congress and signed into law. It allowed that, under veterinary supervision, some “Extra-Label” uses of drugs would be legal. Extra-label drug use is defined as use in any species, for any condition, by any route or at any dose other than according to the label.

full-service restaurants, steakhouse sales rose 6 percent in 2014 compared with 2013. The industry pace was 3.5 percent year on year. The surge comes

despite high beef prices, which reached a record $6.114 per pound on average at retail, 60 cents per pound higher than the year-earlier price and

5 cents more than the prior record set in March.

Behind steakhouses on Technomic’s list were varied menu (4.7 percent) restaurants,

Mexican (3.7 percent), family-style (3.5 percent), Asian (2.5 percent), Italian/pizza (0.8 percent) and seafood (-0.4 percent).

AMDUCA provided that use would only be when labeled drugs were not available. It also mandated labeling conditions, a provision to avoid residues in animal products and provisions for safety to animals.

Any Extra-Label use of a drug must involve veterinary supervision, even if the drug is an over-thecounter product.

Still another provision is what is known as the Veterinary-Patient-Client Relationship (VCPR). Extra-label drug use my only be legally carried out when there exists a proper VCPR. The provisions of a proper VCPR include: The veterinarian takes responsibility for medical and treatment judgments for the animal(s)

The client agrees to follow the veterinarian’s instructions The veterinarian has close knowledge of the animal(s) and their medical condition obtained by examination and a premise visit The veterinarian will be available for follow up visits or has emergency coverage in the event of adverse reactions or failure of the treatment regimen.

Current changes will affect the way antibiotics may be used in feed. The antibiotics will affect the use of drugs that are deemed to be important in the treatment of human disease. The FDA has now completed regulations that eliminate the use of these antibiotics in feed to enhance growth or improve feed efficiency. It also

puts the medical use of these products in a category that will require what is called a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), essentially a prescription for feed additives.

Once the new regulation is in place in 2016, a cattle producer wanting to treat a pen of calves for respiratory disease with a product that contains chlortetracycline and sulfamethazine will now require a VFD from a veterinarian to obtain the product and get it mixed in the feed. Likewise, a producer wanting to feed a mineral with chlortetracycline for the treatment of anaplasmosis will need a veterinarian to prepare a VFD to purchase the product.

In addition, the new regulation requires that a valid VCPR exist before the veterinarian can issue the Veteri-

nary Food Directive.

It is interesting to know that I have not spoken to a single practicing veterinarian in Virginia that has encouraged or would have encouraged this new ruling. Most are somewhat nervous about the change. Just the same, the federal law will require that this new regulation be implemented in 2016.

All livestock producers should be aware that there is mounting pressure to limit the use of antibiotic treatment of their animals. If producers and veterinarians document that they can cooperate to responsibly manage the use of antibiotics, it will enhance the chances of continued use of these valuable tools in the livestock industry.

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THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 15

Extended-Release Injectable Parasiticide 5% Sterile Solution NADA 141-327, Approved by FDA for subcutaneous injection For the Treatment and Control of Internal and External Parasites of Cattle on Pasture with Persistent Effectiveness CAUTION: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

INDICATIONS FOR USE LONGRANGE, when administered at the recommended dose volume of 1 mL per 110 lb (50 kg) body weight, is effective in the treatment and control of 20 species and stages of internal and external parasites of cattle: Gastrointestinal Roundworms Lungworms Dictyocaulus viviparus Bunostomum phlebotomum – Adults and L4 – Adults Cooperia oncophora – Adults and L4 Cooperia punctata – Adults and L4 Cooperia surnabada – Adults and L4 Haemonchus placei – Adults Grubs Hypoderma bovis Oesophagostomum radiatum – Adults Ostertagia lyrata – Adults Ostertagia ostertagi – Adults, L4, and inhibited L4 Trichostrongylus axei – Adults and L4 Mites Trichostrongylus colubriformis – Adults Sarcoptes scabiei var. bovis Parasites Gastrointestinal Roundworms Bunostomum phlebotomum Cooperia oncophora Cooperia punctata Haemonchus placei Oesophagostomum radiatum Ostertagia lyrata Ostertagia ostertagi Trichostrongylus axei Lungworms Dictyocaulus viviparus

Durations of Persistent Effectiveness 150 days 100 days 100 days 120 days 120 days 120 days 120 days 100 days 150 days

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION LONGRANGE® (eprinomectin) should be given only by subcutaneous injection in front of the shoulder at the recommended dosage level of 1 mg eprinomectin per kg body weight (1 mL per 110 lb body weight).

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Withdrawal Periods and Residue Warnings Animals intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 48 days of the last treatment.

This drug product is not approved for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows. Use in these cattle may cause drug residues in milk and/or in calves born to these cows.

A withdrawal period has not been established for pre-ruminating calves.

Do not use in calves to be processed for veal.

Animal Safety Warnings and Precautions The product is likely to cause tissue damage at the site of injection, including possible granulomas and necrosis. These reactions have disappeared without treatment. Local tissue reaction may result in trim loss of edible tissue at slaughter.

Observe cattle for injection site reactions. If injection site reactions are suspected, consult your veterinarian. This product is not for intravenous or intramuscular use.

Protect product from light. LONGRANGE® (eprinomectin) has been developed specifically for use in cattle only. This product should not be used in other animal species.

When to Treat Cattle with Grubs LONGRANGE effectively controls all stages of cattle grubs. However, proper timing of treatment is important. For the most effective results, cattle should be treated as soon as possible after the end of the heel fly (warble fly) season.

Environmental Hazards Not for use in cattle managed in feedlots or under intensive rotational grazing because the environmental impact has not been evaluated for these scenarios.

Other Warnings: Underdosing and/or subtherapeutic concentrations of extendedrelease anthelmintic products may encourage the development of parasite resistance. It is recommended that parasite resistance be monitored following the use of any anthelmintic with the use of a fecal egg count reduction test program.

TARGET ANIMAL SAFETY Clinical studies have demonstrated the wide margin of safety of LONGRANGE® (eprinomectin). Overdosing at 3 to 5 times the recommended dose resulted in a statistically significant reduction in average weight gain when compared to the group tested at label dose. Treatment-related lesions observed in most cattle administered the product included swelling, hyperemia, or necrosis in the subcutaneous tissue of the skin. The administration of LONGRANGE at 3 times the recommended therapeutic dose had no adverse reproductive effects on beef cows at all stages of breeding or pregnancy or on their calves.

Not for use in bulls, as reproductive safety testing has not been conducted in males intended for breeding or actively breeding. Not for use in calves less than 3 months of age because safety testing has not been conducted in calves less than 3 months of age.

STORAGE Store at 77° F (25° C) with excursions between 59° and 86° F (15° and 30° C).

Protect from light.

Made in Canada.

Manufactured for Merial Limited, Duluth, GA, USA. ®LONGRANGE and the Cattle Head Logo are registered trademarks of Merial. ©2013 Merial. All rights reserved.

1050-2889-02, Rev. 05/2012

SEASON-LONG PAR ASITE CONTROL • 15,000 HEAD • 9 STATES

+28 POUNDS AVERAGE Looks like our secret is out.

LONGRANGE averaged 0.28 lbs./day more Average Daily Gain (ADG) 2.5 lbs.

Difference ADG 0.24*

2 lbs.

1.5 lbs.

1.93

1

Difference ADG 0.40 2.33 1.93

1.69

1.84

Difference ADG 0.28* 2.07

2.14 1.79

1 lb. .5 lb.

0 lb.

DECTOMAX/ivermectin Pour-on

Conventional Dewormers

Combinations

LONGRANGE

All Study

*Statistically significant

Comparing more than 15,000 head in nine states, stockers treated once for parasites with LONGRANGE gained an average of 28 lbs. more over DECTOMAX® (doramectin), CYDECTIN® (moxidectin), SAFE-GUARD® (fenbendazole) and ivermectin-treated cattle – even when used in combination over 103 days.1 And at today’s market prices, that adds up to an extra $56 per head. Not bad for around a $5 investment.

If you want results like this, talk to your veterinarian about LONGRANGE or visit theLONGRANGElook.com.

Watch for a chance to win a

JOHN DEERE® GATOR

Scan to watch video and enter, or go to theLONGRANGElook.com/sto27.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Do not treat within 48 days of slaughter.

Not for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows, or in veal calves. Post-injection site damage (e.g., granulomas, necrosis) can occur. These reactions have disappeared without treatment.

®JOHN DEERE is a registered trademark, and ™GATOR is a trademark, of Deere & Company. Deere & Company neither sponsors nor endorses this promotion. ®LONGRANGE and the Cattle Head Logo are registered trademarks of Merial.

All other marks are the property of their respective owners. ©2015 Merial, Inc., Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. RUMIELR1455-B (01/15)

Difference ADG 0.30*

Thanks to LONGRANGE® (eprinomectin), parasite control will never be the same.

Available in 500 mL, 250 mL and 50 mL bottles.

Administer subcutaneously at 1 mL/110 lbs.

1

Data on file at Merial.

2

Dependent upon parasite species, as referenced in FOI summary and LONGRANGE product label.

3

LONGRANGE product label.

PAGE 16, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

FLYING W RANCH

Bred Female Dispersal

Wednesday, October 7, 2015 • Tri State Livestock Market, Abingdon, VA 500 BRED FEMALES sell from this high reputation program with

extensive use of AI for 10 years. 878, Predestined, Conneally Answer 71, New Standard, 454, Basin Max 602C, 6I6 were all used heavily in the program.

Many daughters sell.

About 150 F1 black baldy females sell, most sired by Hereford registration leader CJH Harland 408, with some younger females sired by EFBEEF UFL U208 Tested.

Last purchased female was in 2005, but almost all cows born 2004 through today were ranch raised.

Bred and produced on fescue pastures in the steep hills of southwestern Virginia.

•

ALL BRED HEIFERS WERE AI BRED TO CONNEALY COMRADE.

•

ALL BLACK BALDY MATURE COWS WERE AI BRED TO GW ROBUST, SIMANGUS™.

•

ALL MATURE BLACK COWS WERE AI BRED TO G A R SUNRISE.

•

ALL FEMALES SELL WITH ULTRASOUND CONFIRMED DUE DATE, SIRE AND FETAL SEX.

For more information about the breeding program at Flying W or how you can put together a long term genetic improvement program using AI, contact Steve Furrow, Beef Specialist Select Sire Power Inc. 540-520-4804.

FLYING W RANCH Marty Ropp 406-581-7835 Garrett Thomas 936-714-4591 Clint Berry 417-844-1009 www.alliedgeneticresources.com

SCOTT AND BLAINE WHITE PO Box 580, Castlewood, VA 24224 Scott 423-571-0185

www.flyingwdispersal.com

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 17

EPRINEX® (eprinomectin)

Want to see how EPRINEX stacks up to other pour-ons?

(What a coincidence – here’s a handy chart.)

Additional average weight gain versus control after 105 days1

EPRINEX® (eprinomectin)

36.1 lbs. x $2/lb. = $72.20 39 parasite species and stages

+$ 7– $13 /c alf pr of it*

CYDECT I N® (moxidectin) DECT o MAX® (doramectin) ivermectin

32.8 lbs. x $2/lb. = $65.60 33 parasite species and stages

31.6 lbs. x $2/lb. = $63.20 32 parasite species and stages

27.6 lbs. x $2/lb. = $55.20 33 parasite species and stages

EPRINEX kills more species and stages than any other brand. Period.2 When cattle are sharing their feed with parasites, they gain less weight, and that means lower profitability for you. EPRINEX kills 39 stages and species of parasites, more than CYDECTIN and DECTOMAX.2 With the additional weight gain, at today’s market prices it more than pays for itself.

Get the facts at EPRINEXKillsIt.com *Based on 2 doses per calf at retail price Jeffers Livestock accessed 7/8/14. 1Beckett J. Efficacy of pour-on dewormers differing in active ingredient and carrier on weight gain and fecal egg count in stocker beef cattle.

College of Agriculture, Cal Poly State University. 2Based on FOI summaries and label claims.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: No meat or milk withdrawal is required when used according to label. Do not use in calves intended for veal or unapproved animal species as severe adverse reaction, including fatalities in dogs, may result. ®EPRINEX and the Cattle Head Logo are registered trademarks of Merial. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. ©2014 Merial, Inc., Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. RUMIEEP1401 (07/14)

PAGE 18, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

Beef from South America? Not so fast!

Western Livestock Journal

The House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the 2016 Agriculture Appropriations Bill July 8 that would block imports of fresh beef from Brazil and Argentina. The amendment requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop a comprehensive risk evaluation and conduct site inspections of processing plants in Brazil and Argentina before meat can be allowed into the United States. This puts, at least for now, a stop to action taken in late June when the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced it was amending regulations to allow fresh beef into the U.S. from the South American countries. Beef from these regions has been banned from the U.S. due to a history of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in those regions.

In the June announcement, APHIS said its risk assessments indicated that fresh (chilled or frozen) beef can be safely imported provided certain conditions are met to ensure it doesn’t harbor the FMD virus. The assessments also concluded that Argentina and Brazil are able to comply

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with U.S. import certification requirements. At that time, APHIS called this a first step of a process for these regions to gain access to the U.S. market for beef.

The amendment to the funding bill stated, “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement, administer, or enforce the rule entitled, ‘Importation of Beef from a Region in Argentina,’ or the rule entitled, ‘Importation of Beef from a Region in Brazil,’… until the Secretary of Agriculture: (1) conducts a comprehensive risk evaluation that includes a quantitative risk assessment of importing beef produced in Argentina and Brazil; and (2) makes additional site visits to beef slaughtering and pro-

cessing facilities in Argentina and Brazil and submits to the Committee on Appropriations a report on each such site visit not later than 90 days after the date on which the visit occurs.”

Although there hasn’t been a case of FMD in the U.S. since 1929, it remains a concern for cattle producers as an outbreak could be devastating to the livestock industry as well as the U.S. economy.

In a statement from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Kristina Butts, Executive Director of Legislative Affairs, said, “NCBA strongly supports trade based on sound science, and no amount of trade is worth jeopardizing the health of our domestic herd. NC-

BA’s membership continues to share concerns regarding the process by which USDA evaluated these two countries and their risk of foot and mouth disease.”

Butts continued, “It is unacceptable to make a decision of this magnitude without a substantiated risk analysis. The appropriations language requires APHIS to complete a more thorough risk analysis using objective data for a quantifiable risk estimation and documented site visits with reports back to Congress before importing fresh and frozen beef from these regions.”

Showing concern for the FMD issue, a group of eight agricultural groups including NCBA sent a letter June 26 to Senate Committee on Agri-

culture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) regarding the availability of FMD vaccine. The groups said, “Today there is not enough vaccine available to handle an outbreak beyond a very small localized disease event. APHIS currently manages a vaccine bank at Plum Island, NY, where vaccine antigen concentrate for a limited number of FMD strains is stored. If an outbreak occurs, the antigen is shipped to Pirbright, England, or to Lyon, France, where, under contract with Merial, it is turned into finished vaccine and shipped back to the U.S. This activity is currently funded at $1.9 million annually.”

The letter went on to point Continued on Page 19

MILLER FARM LLC 2nd Annual Bull Sale

Selling 30 Performance Tested ET & AI Sired Bulls By: Prophet, 9Q13, Ten X, Top Game, Ingenuity, Fruition, Sunrise, Fusion, Sure Fire, All In, Confidence, Progress and Consensus Miller Farm LLC Craig Miller - 540-820-9818 cnkcfarm@comcast.net

Sale Managed By: Tom Templeton 540-421-8341

Gustin Land & Cattle Jerry Gustin - 804-654-4135 gustinlandandcattle@verizon.net

Sale Noon - November 21, 2015 at the farm, 5510 Rawley Pike, Harrisonburg, VA

When is the Best Time to Wean? It Might be Younger Than You Think Grass may be taller in more places this year, but weaning your calves 30 to 60 days earlier this fall still offers several benefits, says John Jaeger, a beef cattle scientist at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center in Hays.

“A lot of people were amazed by how well their cows came through the winter, how much less supplement had to be fed and how well they bred back,” Jaeger says. “The benefits to the cow far outweigh lighter calf weaning weights and subsequent harvest weights.

I think the biggest benefit is not having to feed the cow to get her back into a body condition score of 5.0 to 5.5. You

can put that feed into the early-weaned calf much more efficiently.”

Removing a cow’s lactation requirement earlier via early weaning means she can carry more condition into fall and winter. That reduces cow maintenance cost because she needs less winter supplementation. If increased body condition is maintained through winter calving and breeding, there is potential for improved conception rates the following summer. Jaeger, along with KSU Research and Extension colleagues KC Olson in Manhattan and Justin Waggoner in Garden City, conducted Continued on Page 20

From Page 18

Beef From South American

out problems with the current bank arrangement including the turnaround time from the onset of an outbreak to when the vaccine is delivered. They said at best, it would be a few weeks for a small number of doses, and months for the number of doses required for a large outbreak. In addition, there are a limited number of antigen strains at the Plum Island facility.

Companies currently producing the vaccine have indicated they are currently at maximum capacity for regular customers and have said they won’t abandon those orders to produce vaccine for the United States, according to the letter to Roberts.

Representatives of the livestock industry have met with APHIS officials to express their collective concern, the letter stated. In meetings, the groups have requested the following action by APHIS: • Contract for an off-shore FMD vaccine bank that would provide vaccine antigen concentrate for all FMD strains currently circulating in the world; • Contract for production capacity that would produce the millions of vaccine doses needed in the event of a medium or large scale outbreak in

the shortest amount of time, including surge capacity necessary to address the needs in the early stages of an outbreak; and • Put out a Request for Proposals to companies regularly engaged in FMD vaccine production so that an estimated cost can be determined.

“We have also asked APHIS to request, through the president’s budget, funds sufficient to address this critical vulnerability in their mission to protect the U.S. livestock industry. Ironically, Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9 requires the federal government to maintain an adequate vaccine bank to protect against foreign animal diseases,” the groups stated. In conclusion, they said, “We are all well aware of the current devastation to the poultry industry due to highpath avian influenza. An FMD outbreak in the U.S. would be magnitudes higher, especially with a shortage of vaccine to combat the disease.” The appropriations bill will need the approval of the full House and Senate before moving to President Barack Obama’s desk for his signature. At that point APHIS could begin site visits. —

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 19

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PAGE 20, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

From Page 19

Weaning Younger studies in 2007 and 2012 to determine the effect of weaning earlier than the conventional 180 to 210 days. Calves weaned at 120 to 160 days (360 pounds average) gained as much weight and were just as healthy as calves that were weaned later. Health risks and death loss were no different in early-weaned calves than in those weaned at the more conventional ages of 180 to 210 days. Jaeger explains that calves need to be weaned at least 30 days earlier than normal in order to begin seeing the positive effect on dam body condition, and subsequent cycling and conception.

In the KSU herd, Jaeger says conception rates have increased each year they’ve early-weaned.

First-service conception last year was 71%, whereas it usually hovers around 60% to 65%. “You look at the first 30 to 60 days after the calf is weaned and we usually see the cows’ body condition increase, even through it’s late-season grazing with the poorest forage quality,” Jaeger says. “She maintains her condition through the winter,

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and it sets her up for the next breeding season.”

Don’t wean too early Jaeger emphasizes there is no optimum weaning age. When it comes to early weaning, though, unless drought forces your hand, he would be reluctant to wean calves much younger than 140 to 150 days of age. In his experience, calves younger than that have a hard time consuming enough feed to preserve all the benefits of early weaning. In the KSU study, calves were weaned at an average age of 130 days.

That meant the youngest were about 100 days old, and Jaeger says the differences in consumption are striking. “At 140 to 150 days, they more readily consume more feed, as long as you start out by top-dressing the weaning ration with hay typical to your region,” Jaeger says.

Rations for early-weaned calves in the KSU herd are topdressed with hay for the first three days. The next few days, the hay is top-dressed with the ration. Then they start removing hay from the ration. Jaeger recommends making the ration ingredients as familiar to the calves as possible — nutrient-dense and palatable.

He adds that younger calves

need higher levels of protein.

Although KSU rations have included both dried distillers grains (DDG) and wet distillers grains, Jaeger explains DDG works better for them.

It’s moist enough to stick to the calf’s nose, so it has to lick it off — developing a taste for it — but far drier than a ration that includes silage and wet distillers grains, for instance.

“You have to have good facilities and adequate feedstuffs, because the most important thing is you have to get the calves eating as soon as possible,” Jaeger says. “You just have to get the calves eating; if they eat, they don’t get sick.” Previous research also indicates that heifers fed higher-energy rations earlier in life can achieve puberty sooner.

More energy earlier in a calf’s life can also help increase carcass grade at harvest. The last set of early-weaned KSU calves graded 100% Choice with 18.9% Prime; only 2.7% were Yield Grade 4. Of course, genetics has something to do with that, as does overall management.

The KSU folks also shorten the pens by about half, with temporary panels. This keeps calves closer to water and feed and means they can’t do

as much walking. In the dust of summer, it also means the pens stay damper. If calves are unfamiliar with automatic waterers, Jaeger suggests adjusting the float so the water trickles over (see “Early-weaned calf management tips” below).

“We’ve had good luck with calves coming to the bunk and staying at the bunk,” Jaeger says. “We’ve had little illness at weaning or receiving compared to the industry average.”

For anyone skittish about early weaning when drought isn’t forcing their hand, Jaeger recommends trying it with a group of cows and comparing the difference. For the sake of convenience, he says you might try it with a group that is already managed separately, like the wet 2-year-olds, which often need all the help they can get breeding back after the first calf anyway.

“For us, weaning at 140 to 150 days works well,” Jaeger says.

“Weaning even 30 to 45 days earlier offers benefit.”

As pasture gets scarcer, another benefit of early weaning — heavier stocking rates — may shine even brighter. “Previous studies by other researchers have shown that early weaning reduces grazing pressure,”

Jaeger says. He explains that a calf weighing 450 pounds at 120 days of age eats about 6.8 pounds of forage per day. So, for every 30 days that a calf is weaned early, there should be one week of additional grazing for the cow. And that’s an advantage even when it rains.

Early-weaned calf management tips “Newly weaned calves require management, regardless of the age at weaning. Producers should have a management plan and follow it,” says John Jaeger, a beef cattle scientist at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center in Hays.

• Place an additional water tank and feed bunk in the pen with the calves. Remove floating covers from automatic water troughs.

• Pen calves based on their body size. Limit the weight range within a pen to no more than 50 pounds less or more than the average weight in the pen.

• Make sure each calf has at least 12 inches of linear bunk space. Make sure the feed bunk and water supply can be easily accessed by the calves.

• Consider airflow — especially in hot weather. Too little shade promotes crowding.

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 21

FUTURIST: 15 Emerging Agriculture Technologies That Will Change The World By: Michell Zappa, Policy Horizons Canada

Below are technologies related to agricultural and natural manufacturing under four key areas of accelerating change: Sensors, Food, Automation and Engineering.

Sensors help agriculture by enabling real-time traceability and diagnosis of crop, livestock and farm machine states.

Food may benefit directly from genetic tailoring and potentially from producing meat directly in a lab. Automation will help agriculture via large-scale robotic and microrobots to check and maintain crops at the plant level. Engineering involves technologies that extend the reach of agriculture to new means, new places and new areas of the economy. Of particular interest will be synthetic biology, which allows efficiently reprogramming unicellular life to make fuels, byproducts accessible from organic chemistry and smart devices.

We have included predictions based on consultation with experts of when each

technology will be scientifically viable (the kind of stuff that Google, governments, and universities develop), mainstream (when VCs and startups widely invest in it), and financially viable (when the technology is generally available on Kickstarter).

Sensors Air & soil sensors: Fundamental additions to the automated farm, these sensors would enable a real time understanding of current farm, forest or body of water conditions. Scientifically viable in 2013; mainstream and financially viable in 2015.

Equipment telematics: Allows mechanical devices such as tractors to warn mechanics that a failure is likely to occur soon. Intra-tractor communication can be used as a rudimentary “farm swarm� platform. Scientifically viable in 2013; mainstream in 2016; and financially viable in 2017.

Livestock biometrics: Collars with GPS, RFID and biometrics can automatically identify and relay vital information about the livestock in

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real time. Scientifically viable in 2017; mainstream and financially viable in 2020.

Crop sensors: Instead of prescribing field fertilization before application, high-resolution crop sensors inform application equipment of correct amounts needed. Optical sensors or drones are able to identify crop health across the field (for example, by using infra-red light).

Scientifically viable in 2015; mainstream in 2018; and financially viable in 2019.

Infrastructural health sensors: Can be used for monitoring vibrations and material conditions in buildings,

bridges, factories, farms and other infrastructure. Coupled with an intelligent network, such sensors could feed crucial information back to maintenance crews or robots. Scientifically viable in 2021; mainstream in 2025; and financially viable in 2027.

Food Genetically designed food: The creation of entirely new strains of food animals and plants in order to better address biological and physiological needs. A departure from genetically modified food, genetically designed food would be engineered

from the ground up. Scientifically viable in 2016; mainstream in 2021; and financially viable in 2022.

In vitro meat: Also known as cultured meat or tubesteak, it is a flesh product that has never been part of a complete, living animal. Several current research projects are growing in vitro meat experimentally, although no meat has yet been produced for public consumption. Scientifically viable in 2017; mainstream in 2024; and financially viable in 2027.

Automation Continued on Page 22

PAGE 22, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

From Page 21

Emerging Tech Variable rate swath control: Building on existing geolocation technologies, future swath control could save on seed, minerals, fertilizer and herbicides by reducing overlapping inputs. By pre-computing the shape of the field where the inputs are to be used, and by understanding the relative productivity of different areas of the field, tractors or agbots can procedurally apply inputs at variable rates throughout the field. Scientifically viable in 2013; mainstream in 2014; and financially viable in 2016.

Rapid iteration selective breeding: The next generation of selective breeding where the end-result is analyzed quantitatively and improvements are suggested algorithmically.

Scientifically viable in 2014; mainstream and financially viable in 2017.

Agricultural robots: Also known as agbots, these are used to automate agricultural processes, such as harvesting, fruit picking, ploughing, soil maintenance, weeding, planting, irrigation, etc. Scientifically viable in 2018; mainstream in 2020; and financially viable in 2021.

Precision agriculture: Farming management based on observing (and responding to) intra-field variations.

With satellite imagery and advanced sensors, farmers can optimize returns on inputs while preserving resources at ever larger scales.

Further understanding of crop variability, geolocated weather data and precise sensors should allow improved automated decision-making and complementary planting techniques. Scientifically viable in 2019; mainstream in 2023; and financially viable in 2024.

Robotic farm swarms: The hypothetical combination of dozens or hundreds of agricultural robots with thousands of microscopic sensors,

which together would monitor, predict, cultivate and extract crops from the land with practically no human intervention. Small-scale implementations are already on the horizon. Scientifically viable in 2023; mainstream and financially viable in 2026.

Engineering Closed ecological systems: Ecosystems that do not rely on matter exchange outside the system. Such closed ecosystems would theoretically transform waste products into oxygen, food and water in order to support lifeforms inhabiting the system.

Such systems already exist in small scales, but existing technological limitations prevent them from scaling.

Scientifically viable in 2015; mainstream in 2020; and financially viable in 2021.

Synthetic biology: Synthetic biology is about programming biology using standardized parts as one programs computers using standardized libraries today. Includes the broad redefinition and expansion

of biotechnology, with the ultimate goals of being able to design, build and remediate engineered biological systems that process information, manipulate chemicals, fabricate materials and structures, produce energy, provide food, and maintain and enhance human health and our environment. Scientifically viable in 2013; mainstream in 2023; and financially viable in 2024.

Vertical farming: A natural extension of urban agriculture, vertical farms would

cultivate plant or animal life within dedicated or mixeduse skyscrapers in urban settings. Using techniques similar to glass houses, vertical farms could augment natural light using energy-efficient lighting. The advantages are numerous, including yearround crop production, protection from weather, support urban food autonomy and reduced transport costs.

Scientifically viable in 2023; mainstream and financially viable in 2027.

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Sustainability: The Beef Industry is Leading From the Front By: Troy Marshall in My View From The Country

Is the beef industry giving the federal government a run for its money in an acronym contest? I don’t think so, but it seems we need to keep a cheat sheet for all the acronyms we need to know in this business. Now we can add a new one – USRSB. USRSB stands for U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. Like most new entities, it has lofty goals, fairly lofty expectations and its critics.

The main goal is to bring all the players together to help shape the sustainability framework for the U.S. beef value chain. Eventually that means identifying sustainability indicators, establishing verification methodologies and generating data. It will provide a means to have open and frank discussions among those who wish to have a say relative to sustainability and the beef industry. And just about ev-

erybody, it seems, wants to have a say relative to sustainability and the beef industry.

The USRSB is made up of producers and cattlemen’s groups, processors, retailers, allied industry and what the groups calls civil society, which includes academia, activist groups, special interest groups and the like. So, roughly, its membership is open to anyone who wishes to weigh in on the direction of the beef industry.

The group says it will focus on establishing sustainability indicators, developing methods to verify that beef is being raised in a sustainable fashion and establish goals for progress. It also aims to create a philosophy and a program for implementing objectives and to create field projects to validate or prove sustainability concepts.

While not part of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), this group is ex-

pected to help the beef industry interact with the GRSB’s global initiatives. In line with those initiatives, the USRSB will not mandate standards or verify performance of individual stakeholders. It has no desire to become the police or a business that creates profit from the sustainability movement. Rather, it aims to be a voice for the beef industry in its efforts to help shape the sustainability debate.

It is hard to argue with any of these goals, and the widespread growth in membership among stakeholders indicate that the group’s objectives, goals, vision and mission is in alignment with the industry as a whole. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t without its critics.

This is a fairly inclusive group, and that makes some within our industry nervous.

There are some producers who simply believe that we should walk away from the

sustainability movement and all its initiatives as a whole. They are correct in assuming that not all of the people at the table have the best interest of our industry at heart. The fear is that, inevitability, they will lead producers to change some of the things we do in our dayto-day business as we go about producing the greatest tasting protein product in the world in an efficient manner.

Yet, the vast majority in the industry seems to be in the camp that we need to be at the table and that we can’t walk away from the process and the discussions just because we won’t like everything that is proposed. I can’t think of any industry that embodies sustainability more than the cattle industry, and it only makes sense that we engage in and help shape what most everyone considers to be a major em-

phasis moving forward.

I think it is telling that, in the past, our opponents have rarely felt it necessary or beneficial to sit down with us at the same table; however, they feel compelled to do so relative to sustainability. It is the foundation of our business and they realize that instead of reacting to this challenge, we are leading from the front. The industry’s leadership needs to be saluted for taking such an active role in helping shape the debates that will occur relative to sustainability. Certainly, the critics will be provided with ample ammunition, but the industry will be far better positioned for the future by joining in.

The opinions of Troy Marshall are not necessarily those of beefmagazine.com and the Penton Agriculture Group.

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PAGE 24, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

New Beef Industry Long Range Plan Establishes Roadmap for 2016-2020

During the 2015 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver in July, 16 beef industry leaders representing every link in the beef value chain presented a plan for meeting aggressive goals to strengthen the beef industry from 2016-2020. The Beef Industry Long Range Plan Task Force has been meeting since December, 2014. “While the beef industry has faced many challenges, the future holds tremendous promise for the industry,” according to Don Schiefelbein, owner/operator of Schiefelbein Farms and task force co-chair. “The task force took a research-based approach to not only determine where the industry is and how we got here, but also at the trends and issues potentially impacting the beef community so that we can be most successful moving forward.”

The task force defined the mission of the U.S. beef industry as, “a beef community dedicated to growing beef demand by producing and marketing the safest, healthiest, most delicious beef that satisfies the desires of an increasing global population while responsibly managing our livestock and natural resources.” In addition, the task force agreed the single most important strategic objective the industry should pursue is increasing beef demand and established a specific objective to “increase the wholesale beef demand index by 2 percent annually over the next five years,”

which will require resources be committed in four core strategies: •Drive growth in beef exports, a strategy that focuses on gaining access to key markets and promoting the unique attributes of U.S. beef to foreign consumers.

•Protect and enhance the business and political climate for beef, which begins with motivating stakeholders to become more engaged in policy concerns to improve the industry’s effectiveness in managing political and regulatory issues that threaten the overall business climate of beef production, including assuring beef’s inclusion in dietary recommendations, exploration of new production technologies, crisis management planning, developing the next generation of beef industry stakeholders and other initiatives.

•Grow consumer trust in beef and beef production, including a critical focus on antibiotic stewardship, the implementation of a certification/verification program and continued investment in beef safety initiatives. The task force said the entire beef community must be engaged and collaborate with a broad group of industry partners to protect beef’s image.

•Promote and strengthen beef’s value proposition, a strategy designed to revolutionize beef marketing and merchandising; invest in research that allows the industry to communicate beef’s nutritional benefits; capital-

ize on media technologies to communicate beef’s value proposition; and respond to consumer-based market signals with product improvements and increased production efficiencies.

“The overall vision of our Task Force has been straightforward,” said John Butler, CEO of Beef Marketing Group, a task force co-chair.

“Recognizing the growing demand among the world’s middle class for high-quality protein, we want the U.S. beef industry to responsibly produce the most trusted and preferred protein in the world. At this pivotal point in the U.S. beef industry’s history we need to focus our energies and limited resources on those areas that can provide our industry the best results.”

Support for the long range planning process was pro-

vided through the Policy and Federation divisions of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. Guided by the plan, the Beef Board and Federation adapted their joint committee structure to better focus on plan recommendations to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of beef checkoff dollars where they can and should appropriately be invested.

For the complete Beef Industry Long Range Plan 20162020 report or the Summary, go to www.beefusa.org.

In addition to Butler and Schiefelbein, members of the Beef Industry Long Range Task Force were: Jerry Bohn, General Manager, Pratt Feeders LLC, Kim Brackett, Owner/Operator, Brackett Ranches, Tom Brink, Owner/Operator, Top Dollar Angus, Inc., Donnell Brown,

Owner/Operator, R.A. Brown Ranch, Barry Carpenter, CEO, North American Meat Institute, Lynn Delmore, Ph.D., Meat Safety and Quality Consultant, Adjunct Professor, Colorado State University, Barbara Stevenson Jackson, Owner/ Operator, Animal Health Express and Red Rock Feeding Company, Molly McAdams, Ph.D., Retail and Food Industry Consultant, Kevin Pond, Ph.D., Department Head, Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Bill Rishel, Owner/Operator, Rishel Angus, Brad Scott, Owner/Operator, Scott Brothers Dairy, Eric Smith, Owner/Operator, Xtra Ranch, Tim Starks, Owner/Operator, Cherokee Auction Market, Jay Theiler, Executive Director, Marketing, Agri Beef Company

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Virginia Junior Angus Report The Virginia Junior Angus Association has had a great summer! The summer show season kicked off in Lewisburg West Virginia at the Eastern Regional Junior Angus show and ended the first weekend in August at the VA Angus Breeders show in Chatham, VA. In July twenty of our juniors and their families traveled 1150 miles to Tulsa, Oklahoma to participate in the National Junior Angus show.

There were 1200 head of cattle and nearly 700 juniors at the show. Our juniors exhibited 26 head of cattle and participated in many contests and educational events. The NJAS is a weeklong event. It is not only a prestigious breed show but an extraordinary event that helps develop our youth as future leaders in the cattle industry. Despite 98-100 degree temperatures every day our VA Juniors were blessed to have a very successful week. In addition to showing their cattle, the juniors participated in the Certified Angus Beef Cook off contest, Chef’s Challenge, Team Sales, Team Marketing, Career Development contests as well as Public Speaking, Extemporaneous speaking, photography, a herdsmanship contest and a state scrapbook competition.

There were also 6 VJAA members that received scholarships while in Tulsa. It was an incredibly busy but rewarding week! Our results were as follows: Contest Results: 1st Place Herdsmanship in the 20-30 head category 3rd Place Scrapbook 2nd Place Intermediate Team Sales- Jake McCall, Cody Boden and Helena StClair 1st Place Chef’s ChallengeTim Clark & Jake McCall Cook Off: Juniors- 2nd Place Roast division- Gordon Clark, Suter Clark, Mikayla StClair and Zach McCall Seniors - 2nd Place Other Beef Division- Hannah Cox, Mackenza Muncy, Morgan Alexander, Helena StClair and Lauren Beasley

Career Development- 2nd Place in Interview- Catie Hope, 3rd Place Resume’ Morgan Alexander Team Marketing- Senior team3rd Place- Elizabeth Nixon, Callie Eastin, Connor Orrock & Allison Bartenslager Scholarship Winners: Cody Boden won 1st Place in

the American Angus Auxiliary scholarship contest for boys and also received the John Rucker Scholarship.

Elizabeth Nixon was the first recipient of the Gordon and Robin Keys and Family Angus Scholarship. She also earned her NJAA Gold award. This is the highest honor given by the association in your last year of membership.

Morgan Alexander received the NJAA Alumni and Friends scholarship.

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 25

Mark Alexander, Robert Nixon, Connor Orrock, and Cody Boden received American Angus Foundation undergraduate scholarships.

Highlights of the Cattle placings are as follows: Callie Eastin- Grand Champion Carcass steer & Grand Champion Bred & Owned Carcass Steer Suter Clark- 4th Place Carcass steer Virginia won the Grand Champion State Carcass group!

Cole Kaufman- Class winner & Honorable mention in showmanship Elizabeth Nixon- Class winner with her owned heifer Robert Nixon- 1st and 2nd with his 2 steers Zach McCall- 2nd place with his Bred and owned heifer Callie Eastin- 2nd place Bred and owned bull Catie Hope- 2nd place cow/ calf Jake McCall- 2nd place owned heifer

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PAGE 26, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

The Top 12 Photos For The Cov

Voted October 2015 Cover Photo and Voted Most Favorite Photo, From Seminole Farm.

Photo Taken By: Tracey Brown

Voted March 2016 Cover Photo From Matney Angus Farm. Photo Taken By: Jennifer Matney

Voted November 2015 Cover Photo Taken By: Bob Muncey

Voted April 2016 Cover Photo Taken By: Lynn Garner

Voted July 2016 Cover Photo Taken By: Calvin Honeycutt

V

Voted Ma Semino

Voted August 2016 Co Cattle. Photo Taken

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 27

ver of The Virginia Cattleman.

Voted December 2015 Cover Photo Taken By: Lynn Garner

ay 2016 Cover Photo From ole Farm. Photo Taken By: Tracey Brown

over Photo From Kean n By: Kate Hussman

Voted January 2016 Cover Photo Taken By: Jake Campbell

Voted Feburary 2016 Cover Photo From Matney Angus Farm. Photo Taken By: Jennifer Matney

Voted June 2016 Cover Photo From Seminole Farm. Photo Taken By: Tracey Brown

Voted September 2016 Cover Photo From Matney Angus Farm. Photo Taken By: Jennifer Matney

PAGE 28, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

Application Open for Beef Industry Internship in Washington D.C.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council’s government affairs office in Washington, D.C., is accepting applications for the spring 2016 public policy internship. The deadline to submit an application is Oct. 1, 2015.

NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs ,Kristina Butts, said this is a great opportunity for students with an interest in the beef industry and public policy.

“The internship gives college students the opportunity to work alongside staff on a range of issues that impact U.S. cattlemen and women,” Butts said. “The internship is designed to work closely with the lobbying team on Capitol Hill; to assist with NCBA and PLC’s regulatory efforts; and to work closely with the communications team.”

Producer-led and consumer-focused, NCBA is the nation’s oldest and largest national organization representing America’s cattle producers. PLC is the only organization in Washington,

D.C., dedicated solely to representing cattle and sheep ranchers that utilize federal lands. The organizations work hand-in-hand on many issues, sharing office space in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Summer 2015 intern Chris Pudenz said the internship has been a great experience and has him considering job opportunities in D.C. in the future. “I’ve learned so much about policy issues that impact the beef industry in far-reaching ways: Country-of-Origin Labeling, the “waters of the United States” regulation, international trade agreements, the potential impact of foreign animal diseases, and many more,” said Pudenz, who is a junior at Hillsdale College studying economics. “The work I do is always valued, and I know that I’m working alongside first-rate NCBA staff to help U.S. beef producers every day. Before this summer, I had no desire to work in a Congressional office, but now I’m seriously considering working on Capitol Hill after I graduate from college.

I didn’t really know what to expect from this internship before I arrived in D.C., but looking back I can’t imagine having spent the summer any other way.”

The full-time internship will

begin January 11, 2016 and end May 13, 2016. To apply, interested college juniors, seniors or graduate students should submit the application, college transcripts, two letters of recommendation

and a resume to internships@ beef.org. More information about the NCBA public policy internship is available on www.BeefUSA.org.

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Foot rot is an infectious condition that causes swelling, heat and inflammation in cattle’s feet, resulting in severe lameness. Swelling and lameness can appear suddenly, with the animal walking normally one day but limping the next day. Lame cattle can lose weight quickly if they’re reluctant to travel to feed and water. J. Dustin Loy, veterinary diagnostic microbiologist in the University of Nebraska’s Veterinary Diagnostic Center, says the microbes associated with foot rot are mainly anaerobes, meaning they thrive in an environment without oxygen.

“The most common is Fusobacterium necrophorum.

We usually find one or more of several other anaerobic bacteria associated with it, including Prevotella and Porphyromonas. They’re all gram-negative anaerobes.

We often find one that used to be called Arcano-bacterium pyogenes and is now called Truperella pyogenes.

It forms pus and helps induce the anaerobic environment for other bacteria by reducing oxygen in the tissues,” he explains. Andrew Niehaus, Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says the anaerobic bacteria are symbiotic. “One of them enters the break in the skin, and another comes along and helps perpetuate

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the infection,” he says. The bacteria multiply and further damage and destroy tissue, which leads to more anaerobic conditions as the tissue dies, which further facilitates the infection.

Many of these bacteria are normally found in feces.

“The animals are always exposed to them, so there must be a predisposing factor such as a break in the skin — in the space between the toes,” Loy adds. Once bacteria are introduced, it takes about a week for the bacteria to set up the anaerobic conditions needed to multiply rapidly and secrete toxins that cause tissue damage. Then the animal goes suddenly lame. The pain and lameness are due to immune responses that create inflammation and swelling.

Matt Miesner, clinical associate and a professor in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says it’s hard to know why incidence varies from one year to the next. Perhaps it’s a variation in the pathogenicity of the strain of bacteria, but it may involve environmental factors. “Maybe we had a wet spell and the feet become soft and more easily damaged. It doesn’t take much of an opening for bacteria to get started,” Miesner says. Just walking on gravel or sharp ice can create nicks and abrasions. “Once you get a few

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cases, bacteria may be spread from draining lesions, putting a higher concentration in the environment. Once you have it, this tends to amplify it,” he says.

Kathryn Bach, a Colorado State University livestock intern, says foot rot may occur more frequently after a period of rain. “Cattle may congregate under shade trees where they defecate or urinate and their feet are wet,” she says. When tissue between the toes is softened by moisture or damaged by acid in manure, it’s more easily scraped or punctured.

Make sure it’s foot rot Sometimes, foot rot is assumed because an animal suddenly becomes lame.

While sudden, three-legged lameness is a classic sign of foot rot, it can also be due to fracture, snakebite, puncture, abscess or some other infection. “I’ve seen cattle with a rock or stick jammed between the toes reluctant to put weight on the foot,” Miesner says. Examine the foot before administering antibiotics. “If the animal is in a chute for treatment, lift the foot with a rope to look at the bottom,” Niehaus suggests.

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 29

“If you rope the animal on pasture, cast it to the ground for treatment and closer examination.”

Treating foot rot Bach says several system-

ic products are labeled for foot rot, including Nuflor, Excenel, Naxcel, Draxxin, LA-200 and penicillin. Most organisms that cause foot Continued on Page 30

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PAGE 30, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

From Page 29 Foot Rot

rot are very responsive to antibiotics. Many people use long-acting oxytetracycline or Procaine penicillin because they’re less expensive, saving the big guns for more serious problems. Pain is a major factor in foot rot, and may result in reduced feed and water intake in affected animals because walking is painful. Thus, producers should seek the advice of their herd health veterinarian to determine the best pain management options for their operation.

“The treatment I prefer is to lift the foot and use a strip of gauze soaked with Betadine to floss between the toes,” Miesner says. “This clears away the buildup of dead tissue and opens it to the air, which inhibits bacteria that love anaerobic conditions.”

Systemic antibiotics generally work well if the infection is caught early. “If infection is longstanding, you may have to clean up the foot — floss between the toes with clean rope, twine or a towel to remove necrotic tissue — and apply a topical antibiotic such as oxytetracycline,” Niehaus says.

“Putting LA-200 on a gauze pad and wrapping the foot to hold it next to the affected area may help.” This also decreases shedding of bacteria into the environment. “If the animal isn’t greatly improved within 3-4 days after antibiotic treatment, I look for some other cause of infection and lameness, or see if it’s gone into deeper tissues,” Miesner says.

Some cattle recover from lameness within a few days without treatment. “It has a lot to do with the animal’s immune status, how many bacteria got in initially, and how quickly the immune response can stop the proliferation,” Loy says. “The longer you wait, the longer the course of treatment that may be needed, but most of these bacteria are susceptible to the approved drugs for foot

rot.”

Wait too long to treat, and systemic drugs might not be as effective, and the infection can move into the joint and cause permanent damage, which may necessitate surgery. “This might include removing all the dead tissue and cleaning it up so it can heal. Toe amputation would be the most drastic measure, if the infection has affected the ligaments and bone,” Bach says. Once these structures are damaged, systemic antibiotics are rarely helpful.

“If you have a steer or cull cow with bone involvement that you are trying to get to market, removing the affected toe will allow time to heal enough to get to market.

This isn’t a long-term fix, but it might enable the animal to regain lost weight. Your veterinarian can help you decide whether this is worth doing,” she says.

“Some chronic cases that are hard to clear up may be caused by what some producers call super foot rot — bacteria resistant to antibiotic treatment. These are very difficult to treat, and you need to work with your veterinarian. Together, you can decide if you want to go to a salvage procedure, such as toe removal, or if the animal is beyond treatment,” Bach says.

Some prevention basics “When cattle are on pasture, rotate them around so they’re not always congregating under the same trees every day,” Bach says. “Moving them to different areas alleviates manure buildup.

Even moving feeders, mineral tubs, etc., can help.” The goal, she says, is to keep the environment as clean and dry as possible, and footing abrasion-free. In feedlots, mounds enable cattle to get out of the mud and help keep feet healthy. “There aren’t many feed additives we can use for prevention, except zinc, to try to keep feet healthier. Zinc is one of the trace minerals important for hoof-horn growth,” Bach says. “Zinpro has done some research indicating some in-

crease in daily gains and decreased incidence of foot rot with zinc added to the diet.

The increased daily gains may not be directly due to addition of zinc, but zinc has been shown to help with skin and hoof health and integrity.”

Meisner calls attention to feed-through antibiotics (oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline) labeled for preventing foot rot. If a veterinarian or producer an-

ticipates issues with foot rot in certain situations, the practice might merit consideration if the cattle are in a feedlot. Isolating affected animals until the infection resolves will help prevent spread of bacteria in the environment. “There are vaccines against Fusobacterium necrophorum as a preventive against liver abscesses and foot rot in feedlot cattle.

Feedlots that use vaccine to try to limit incidence of liver

abscesses generally see reduced incidence of foot rot.

My experience is that vaccination may help reduce foot rot problems, but won’t eliminate them,” Miesner says.

Digital dermatitis on the rise Papillomatous digital dermatitis (DD) is called strawberry foot rot, hairy heel warts and bovine digital dermatitis. Whatever the tag, it spells trouble. DD is caused by a spirochete bacterium Continued on Page 31

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From Page 30 Foot Rot

— Treponema spp. — and the lesion that appears with this type of lameness is a red, rough ulcer. It looks granular (like a strawberry), may have long hair-like structures growing from the heel, and is very painful, says Miesner.

DD can appear when any bovines are housed in groups or confined in a contaminated environment. “If a lame animal has a lesion between the toes or heel bulbs that looks like foot rot but doesn’t respond to antibiotics, a closer look may reveal its true nature,” Miesner says.

The disease doesn’t respond well to systemic antibiotics.

“We usually use formalin foot baths, thoroughly rinsing the feet with an intensive program to try to halt the infection. We may use topical oxytetracycline spray and try to dry the foot. Moisture allows these bacteria to keep going,” he says.

various stages, report Dörte Döpfer and Arturo Gomez, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine DVMs. As DD is extremely difficult to eliminate, they recommend a focus on preventing new infections and decreasing the duration of acute cases. That means improved hygiene, reassessing stocking densities, avoiding grouping infected and healthy cattle, and screening cattle for lesions. The duo’s research indicates that cattle supplemented with a specific combination of complexed and inorganic trace minerals experienced a 45.5% reduction in M2 lesions, compared to animals fed the control diet (of only inorganic trace minerals).

“Improving disease resistance and lowering the prevalence of DD in this way could be particularly advantageous in cattle that aren’t handled on a regular basis, The detection of DD requires such as pastured cattle and routine, systematic inspec- beef cattle in feedlots,” the tions by workers trained to researchers say. recognize the disease at its

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 31

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PAGE 32, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

The Colossal Hoax Of Organic Agriculture

By: Henry I. Miller and Drew L. Kershen

Editor’s Note: The Virginia Cattlemen’s Association supports the production of safe and wholesome beef in a responsible manner regardless of the production system and associated marketing labels.

Where there exists a market, there will in turn exist a favorable production system to supply that niche, from conventional to organic and all terms in between. The purpose of this article is to highlight how the continuance of disingenuous marketing of agricultural commodities based on non-scientific bias and consumer unawareness is infecting agriculture in general.

Consumers of organic foods are getting both more and less than they bargained for.

On both counts, it’s not good.

Many people who pay the huge premium—often more than 100%—for organic foods do so because they’re afraid of pesticides. If that’s their rationale, they misunderstand the nuances of organic agriculture. Although it’s

true that synthetic chemical pesticides are generally prohibited, there is a lengthy list of exceptions listed in the Organic Foods Production Act, while most “natural” ones are permitted. However, “organic” pesticides can be toxic. As evolutionary biologist Christie Wilcox explained in a 2012 Scientific American article (“Are lower pesticide residues a good reason to buy organic?

Probably not.”): “Organic pesticides pose the same health risks as non-organic ones.”

Another poorly recognized aspect of this issue is that the vast majority of pesticidal substances that we consume are in our diets “naturally” and are present in organic foods as well as non-organic ones.

In a classic study, UC Berkeley biochemist Bruce Ames and his colleagues found that “99.99 percent (by weight) of the pesticides in the American diet are chemicals that plants produce to defend themselves.” Moreover, “natural and synthetic chemicals are equally likely to be positive in animal cancer tests.” Thus, consumers who buy organic to avoid pesticide exposure

are focusing their attention on just one-hundredth of 1% of the pesticides they consume.

Some consumers think that the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) requires certified organic products to be free of ingredients from “GMOs,” organisms crafted with molecular techniques of genetic engineering. Wrong again. USDA does not require organic products to be GMOfree. (In any case, the methods used to create so-called GMOs are an extension, or refinement, of older techniques for genetic modification that have been used for a century or more.) As USDA officials have said repeatedly: “Organic certification is process-based. That is, certifying agents attest to the ability of organic operations to follow a set of production standards and practices which meet the requirements of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 and the [National Organic Program] regulations . . . If all aspects of the organic production or handling process were followed correctly, then the presence of detectable residue from a genetically modified

organism alone does not constitute a violation of this regulation.

Putting it another way, so long as an organic farmer abides by his organic system (production) plan–a plan that an organic certifying agent must approve before granting the farmer organic status–the unintentional presence of GMOs (or, for that matter, prohibited synthetic pesticides) in any amount does not affect the organic status of the farmer’s products or farm.

Under only two circumstances does USDA sanction the testing of organic products for prohibited residues (such as pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or antibiotics) or excluded substances (e.g., genetically engineered organisms). First, USDA’s National Organic Production Standards support the testing of products if an organic-certifying agent believes that the farmer is intentionally using prohibited substances or practices. And second, USDA requires that certifying agents test 5% of their certified operations each

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year. The certifying agents themselves determine which operations will be subjected to testing.

The organic community, including the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM), supports the USDA’s lenient testing protocols and opposes more frequent mandatory testing of organic products for prohibited and excluded substances.

The organic community and USDA offer two explanations for such minimal testing. First, they emphasize that organic farming is process-based, not product-based, meaning that what counts for organic certification are the approved organic system (production) plan and the farmer’s intention to comply with that plan as reflected through record-keeping obligations.

Second, widespread testing would impose substantial costs on organic farmers, thereby increasing production costs beyond the already greater expenses that organic farmers incur. Organic farmers offset these higher productions costs by earning large premiums for

organic products, but there is always a price point beyond which consumers will shift to cheaper non-organic.

Few organic consumers are aware that organic agriculture is a “trust-based” or “faithbased” system. With every purchase, they are at risk of the moral hazard that an organic farmer will represent cheaper-to-produce non-organic products as the premium-priced organic product. For the vast majority of products, no tests can distinguish organic from non-organic—for example, whether milk labeled “organic” came from a cow within the organic production system or from a cow across the fence from a conventional dairy farm. The higher the organic premium, the stronger the economic incentive to cheat.

Think such nefarious behavior is purely theoretical? Think again. USDA reported in 2012 that 43% of the 571 samples of “organic” produce that were tested contained prohibited pesticide residues, and that “the findings suggest that some of the samples in violation were mislabeled conventional products, while others were organic products that hadn’t been adequately protected from prohibited pesticides.”

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A 2014 investigation by the Wall Street Journal of USDA inspection records from 2005 on found that 38 of the 81 certifying agents–entities accredited by USDA to inspect and certify organic farms and suppliers—“failed on at least one occasion to uphold basic Agriculture Department standards.” More specifically, “40% of these 81 certifiers have been flagged by the USDA for conducting incomplete inspections; 16% of certifiers failed to cite organic farms’ potential use of banned pesticides and antibiotics; and 5% failed to prevent potential commingling of organic and non-organic products.”

Speaking of trust and faith—or lack thereof–in organic foods, there was the example of holier-than-thou Whole Foods importing large amounts of its supposedly “organic” produce from China, of all places.

Those imports even included Whole Foods’ house brand, “California Blend.” (Yes, you read that correctly.)

Organic agriculture is an unscientific, heavily subsidized

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 33

marketing gimmick that mis- what you pay for doesn’t apleads and rips off consumers, ply when you buy overpriced both because of the nature of organic products. the regulations and cheating.

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PAGE 34, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

By: A.L. Eller Jr, Chair, VLHF Operating Committee

The Virginia Livestock Hall of Fame was established in 2009 by four Virginia state commodity organizations, namely, the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, the Virginia State Dairymen’s Association, the Virginia Pork Industry Association and the Virginia Sheep Producers Association. The Virginia Horse Council was added in 2013. The purpose is to bestow honor and recognition upon

Virginia Livestock Hall Of Fame

Virginians who have made outstanding contributions to the state’s livestock industry and its people.

The first group of honorees were recognized in 2010 with their portraits being hung at the State Fair of Virginia at Doswell, Virginia. The 2011 honorees were recognized in the same manner. The portraits were moved before the 2012 honorees portraits were hung and all are currently on permanent display at

the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The 2015 inductees will have their portraits hung in the arena during a ceremony to be held Saturday, October 24. This event is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. to be followed by a light lunch and refreshments at 11:00 a.m. Family, and friends and the general public are invited to attend the ceremony. A football game featuring Virginia Tech vs. Duke University will be played in Lane Stadium in the afternoon.Those to be honored at the October 24 ceremony include: Dairy: Richard Chichester. Beef : Gary Minish. Swine: Allen Harper. Horse: Olive Britt Sheep: David Notter

Those whose portraits were hung in 2010, 2011, 2012 , 2013 and 2014 and are on permanent display include: George A. Allen, Jr., John D Hardesty, Ritchie A. Jordan, James R. Nichols,

Richard S. Ellis, IV, William M. Etgan, Morris F. Fannon, Charles C. Funkhouser, Nelson Gardner, James M. Hoge, E. William Hess, Ronald A. Hope, George W. Litton, W. Hugh Ownby, Samuel F. McClure, W. Alexander Stuart, Jr., Roy A. Meek , Frank S. Walker, Sr. , James D. Bennett, Bobby H. Bryan, George A. Miller, L. Barnes Allen, Clifford A. Cutchins, Willie B. Irby, C. Curtis Mast, Paul M. Reaves, Ernest H. Rogers , K.C. Williamson, Brubaker Brothers (Dan, Galen, Cline and Emory), Fred S. Crittenden, A. L. Eller, Jr., Joseph P. Fontenot, William H. McClure, J.E. Poore, Reginald B. Reynolds, John H. Carter, Jr., Ernest E. Copenhaver, Harold W. Craun, H. John Gerken, Jr., Ervin T. Kornegay, David A. Leonard, John W. Riley, William E. Blalock, Patricia A. Douglas, Arden N. Huff, John H. Parker and L. A. (Andy) Swiger.

Nominations for those to be honored in 2016 must be made prior to the deadline of November 15, 2015.

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PAGE 36, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

Make Plans for Weaning Spring Calves

By: John Benner Weaning and backgrounding calves has its challenges.

Certainly, facilities are often the greatest obstacle for weaning calves on the farm.

Lack of adequate fence, forage, feed or more often than not, water, limit our ability to separate cows and calves and keep them separated.

Barring those limitations, labor availability is another resource that we must also supply. Given these drawbacks, why would we not simply pull calves out of the field and drive them into town to the stock sale? The simplest explanation is that weaned and preconditioned calves garner a premium that stocker and backgrounder are willing to pay more for, as they outperform calves and are more problem free than those that have been simply “truckweaned”. Just as importantly, the added weight from pushing calves during a 40-45 day backgrounding process adds dollars to the check.

That being said, any definition of successful weaning must include the phrase “profitable enterprise”. If

we do not evaluate and take inventory of our forage and feed resources months in advance and wean calves on a marginal nutritional balance, we will have a much more difficult time. If we have a severely restricted growing season due to drought, the weaning option may not be open to us. Provided we have had a growing season such as this one, here are a few basic recommendations for optimizing labor, feed and forage.

Take inventory of feed and forage resources. By now, much of the hay season is now behind us. Even with more hay to harvest, as well as grain and silage still to go we must evaluate if we have enough pasture and feed to move weaned cattle 2.0-2.5 lbs a day ahead for 45 days.

When should this be done?

At least 60 days before weaning.

own replacement bulls. This will require good recordkeeping as far as birth dates, calf and dam tags.

When should this be done?

60 Days + before weaning. A possible time is when herd bulls are pulled out.

Combine smaller breeding groups (bearing in mind step 1) after herd bull pull out to maximize grazing efficiency. This step can be most easily taken concurrently with Step 1. The goal of this step is to keep heifer groups, steer groups and bull groups together in large grazing groups to more effectively rotationally graze. An increase in grazing efficiency will pay off in terms of greater calf weights at weaning and just as importantly, extend the grazing season. If you have only one herd bull group, or this step is impractical due to pasture/cattle location, rotate grazing pastures as best fits Sort any intact bulls and your operation. their mothers from heifers When should this be done? and steer groups. This is not 60 Days + before weaning. an issue for many operations that castrate under or around Whenever possible, fenceline approx. 400 lbs. However, it wean. Fenceline weaning reis an absolute necessity for duces the social stress calves any producers raising their experience during wean-

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ing. After separating calves from cows, place cows in an adjacent pasture to the calf pasture with fence to fence contact between. Keep cattle in these paddocks for 7 days. After the 7 day period cows may be moved to an additional part of the farm.

This is done to increase time calves spend grazing.

When should this be done?

At weaning.

health plan, and following their guidelines on antibiotic use. The second part of this step is to have enough antibiotics and medicine on hand, in the event of a disease issue. Calves weaned in a drylot adjusting to concentrate feed will likely have greater challenges.

When should this be done?

Prior to weaning calves

Be prepared for sick calves.

This step includes ensuring that calves have received all veterinary recommended immunizations including blackleg and respiratory. Secondly, this includes working with your veterinarian on your weaning

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THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 37

Inside EPA’s WOTUS ruling: Confusion Over Exclusions By: Gary Baise, Farm Futures

In light of recent developments between the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers, the future of WOTUS still remains debatable and concerning at the same time.

There is still a great deal of confusion that exists among those within and outside the Beltway so below is an article touching on a defining theme of WOTUS – what is excluded?

EPA and the Corps of Engineers declare that a variety of waters and features are not “Waters of the United States.” They claim many of these exclusions are being established for the first time.

WOTUS designates the following as not being “waters of the United States:” • Artificially irrigated areas that would revert to dry land should application of irrigation water to that area cease • Artificial, constructed lakes or ponds create by ex-

cavating and/or diking dry land such as farm and stock watering ponds, irrigation ponds, settling basins, log cleaning ponds, cooling ponds, or fields flooded for rice growing • Artificial reflecting pools or swimming pools created by excavating and/or diking dry land • Small ornamental waters created by excavating and/or diking dry land for primarily aesthetic reasons • Water-filled depressions created in dry land incidental to mining or construction activity, including pits excavated for obtaining fill, sand or gravel that fill with water • Erosional features, including gullies, rills, and other ephemeral features that do not meet the definition of tributary, not-wetland swales, and lawfully constructed grassed waterways • Puddles Many exclusions use the

term “dry land.” One would think the term “dry land” would be straightforward.

It is not. For EPA, the term “dry land” “…refers to areas of the geographic landscape that are not water features such as streams, rivers, wetlands, lakes, ponds and the like.” Then the agency uses an interesting sentence. “It is important to note that a “water of the United States” is not considered “dry land” just because it lacks water at a given time. Similarly, an area remains “dry land” even if it is wet after a rainfall event.”

EPA even admits that it has a tough time defining “dry land.” It goes on to say it really doesn’t understand dry land when it states, “The agencies concluded that further clarity on this issue can be provided during implementation.” This is clarity?

Farm pond exclusions Another exclusion of interest

to farmers and ranchers is one relating to farm ponds.

EPA and the Corps of Engineers write “Artificial lakes and ponds created in dry land that do not connect to jurisdictional waters are covered by this exclusion.” Then the agencies turn around after making this statement and declare “Where these ponds do connect and discharge to jurisdictional waters, the agency will evaluate factors such as the potential for introduction of pollutants and coverage under an issued NPDES permit.”

So, it appears that if a pond has a spillway, and should it ever overflow towards a stream, then the discharge from the pond will be regulated. The exclusion, as you can see, is not cut and dry.

The rule does say that all erosional features including gullies and rills, would be excluded from jurisdiction and EPA control. The rule also

uses interesting language regarding grassed waterways.

“Grassed waterways are lawfully constructed for the purposes of this rule either whether they are on dry land and replace nonjurisdictional erosional features…”

Note the term “lawfully.”

Even here EPA states that a grassed waterway may not be totally excluded. It says “…Such conversion (of a grassed waterway) does not sever jurisdiction over the entire length of the tributary above and below the grassed waterway.” This exclusion, even though it appears quite clear, can become complicated.

Not all of the exclusions listed can be addressed given the limitations of space. One exclusion which has generated controversy is the subject of ditches. The rule states it “…excludes all ditches with ephemeral flow that are not Continued on Page 38

PAGE 38, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

From Page 37 EPA - WOTUS

excavated in or relocate a tributary. The rule also excludes ditches with intermittent flow that are not a relocated tributary, excavated tributary, or drain wetlands, regardless of whether or not the wetland is a jurisdictional water.” Then the agencies conclude this discussion, which appears to be reasonably clear, by saying that these exclusions do not impact the status of the ditch if the ditch is considered a point source.

The subject of much discussion and comment involved exclusion of roadside ditches. The agencies state the following are excluded: “… ditches that are not excavated in or relocate a tributary and ditches that do not drain a wetland.” The agencies admit they do not make an explicit exclusion for roadside ditches, but believe they have sufficiently described the characteristics of excluded

ditches and hope that the exclusions will apply to ditches adjacent to agricultural lands plus ditches along roadways.

As you can see, the exclusions are clear and not confusing at all!! They have more explosive impact than your July 4th firecrackers.

Now is the time to tell your Senators to stop the EPA Ask Virginia’s Senators to vote for S. 1140. As an example, the picture above is a VCA member farm in Virginia. The arrows point to a small ditch through cornfield that shows up on the map--it has a “bed, bank, and ordinary high water mark” and could therefore be regulated by the EPA. Call and or Senator Warner and Kaine’s offices and ask them to support S. 1140. It only takes a couple of minutes but is a very important way for you to make your voice heard.

Now is the time to tell your Senators to stop the EPA Ask Virginia's Senators to vote for S. 1140. As an example, the picture above is a VCA member farm in Virginia. The arrows point to a small ditch through cornfield that shows up on the map--it has a "bed, bank, and ordinary high water mark" and could therefore be regulated by the EPA. Call and or Senator Warner and Kaine’s offices and ask them to support S. 1140. It only takes a couple of minutes but is a very important way for you to make your voice heard.

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 39

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PAGE 40, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

Beef Council Update Mission: To effectively maintain and build beef demand in Virginia for beef and beef products that satisfy consumer preferences through market development programs (consumer information, promotion, research, and industry information), thereby increasing the opportunity for the cattle industry to earn an adequate return on investment.

Tell Your Story

It is always a challenge to share your beef story, especially when there is fear of being criticized or targeted for your production methods. It is crucial, however, to explain to consumers how and why you raise cattle the way that you do in order to counter the emotion and fear-driven marketing tactics that anti-agriculture groups use to undermine the way that you and your families make a living. Sharing your story helps consumers feel more confident when purchasing food in the store because they have a face to put with their food.

Luckily for us, our current featured beef producer, Jerry Gustin, understands the importance of sharing his story. We asked Jerry a few questions about his operation and what he loves about his job to put on our website

and share a few posts on our social media pages. His post on Facebook sparked a lot of discussion about sustainably raised beef and led many people to weigh in on the matter by sharing their opinions and viewpoints.

Getting that discussion flowing in a way that is respectful and informative is a great way to explain what you do to consumers who may not fully understand what goes into raising and producing safe beef. Social media has become a great outlet for spreading our messages and reaching consumers here in America and around the world.

While it is important to share your knowledge and expertise with consumers, it is also important to keep in mind that not every consumer wants to hear your story. At times there may be individuals who refuse to

believe what you tell them and it is important to accept that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. By shar-

ing your story with others ers are working hard to raise you are opening the door for cattle in a safe way with the real conversations that help consumer in mind. promote how beef produc-

Check Out This Great Recipe!

Easy Skillet Chili Mac

Have you thought about BQA?

Maybe you have heard of BQA, but never really known what it is all about. Maybe you know what BQA is, but don’t know how you can make it work for your operation. Beef Quality Assurance is a great program funded through Beef Checkoff dollars designed at ensuring quality and safety for producers, consumers, and cattle and is something that you could be doing. There is no better time than the present to become BQA certified or renew your certification!

The BQA program helps to implement best practices related to record keeping and herd health across the country.

Through using these best practices at the farm level, a quality product can be carried through all the way to the grocery store where all aspects of the industry, from producers to consumers, reap the benefits.

It is a fairly simple process to become BQA certified.

Becoming BQA certified involves reviewing the BQA Mid-Atlantic manual, viewing the BQA lecture series, completing the chute-side portion, and signing the BQA Producer Agreement.

Several aspects are available online as well as in hard-copy for your convenience. There are training sessions offered across the state where you can complete all four of the requirements in four hours.

It truly is a positive step for all aspects of the beef industry when our producers become BQA certified. Contact the Beef Council or your local extension agent to learn more about how becoming BQA certified could benefit you!

Ingredients 1 pound ground beef 1 Can (15 to 16 ounces) chili beans 1-1/2 cups prepared thick-and-chunky salsa ½ cup water ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro Hot, cooked elbow macaroni Instructions 1. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking up into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove drippings.

2. Stir in beans, salsa and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring frequently. Stir in cilantro.

3. Serve beef mixture over macaroni.

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 41

BARN Facility Opens in Buckingham County The Buckingham Agricultural Resource Network (BARN) has become a reality for the Buckingham Cattlemen’s Association (BCA) and surrounding community.

Nearly 400 people rotated in and out throughout the day on June 30th for the BARN Grand Opening. Available throughout the day were 20 vendors, fencing demonstrations by local contractors, and cooking demonstrations provided by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Beef Industry Council. The BARN’s ribbon cutting was attended by members of the Board of Supervisors from Buckingham, Appomattox and Cumberland Counties, as well as the 5th District House of Representative - the Honorable Robert Hurt. In conjunction with the grand opening, The BCA held their annual summer picnic during which the Virginia Cooperative Extension hosted an edu-

cational program provided by the Virginia State Police Motor Carrier Unit. Troopers McCall and Hamlett conducted a presentation on Farm and Logger Road safety.

Invited guests included representatives from the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission (TICRC), the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) and the Virginia Secretary of Agriculture, Todd Haymore and the 59th District House of Delegate – the Honorable Matt Farriss. The BARN facility was made possible through cooperative efforts by the BCA and Virginia Cooperative Extension through funding and grants with TICRC and VDACS. It is the BCA’s desire that this facility be used to spotlight agriculture in Central Virginia as well being accessible to the community for private functions.

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Nathan and Sue Ellen Haver 969 Little River Rd Goshen, VA 24439 540-997-5376 540-997-5358 FAX 866-580-5335 (toll free) EMAIL nate@southforkfarms.com James D. Bennett 434-376-7299

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THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 43

7 Tools to Win the War Against Cattle Flies By: Burt Rutherford Advertisement

For most of cattle country, winter is a bygone memory.

While drought still plagues cattle producers, particularly in the Far West, rains have blessed many pastures and spring and summer grazing is upon us.

That means so are the winged annoyances that bother cattle and hurt productivity.

According to David Boxler, Extension educator-livestock entomology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in North Platte, Neb., there are two fly species of importance to cattle producers—the face fly and the horn fly.

Face flies are pasture flies that feed on secretions, such as eye irritations or other things that cause an animal’s immune system to exude a secretion onto the skin. Adult female face flies often cluster around an animal’s eyes, mouth and muzzle, causing extreme annoyance, Boxler says.

“Face flies ae economically important to cattle producers, since they can transmit several eye diseases and parasites to cattle,” Boxler says. These diseases include pinkeye and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), and the flies can be a source of a nematode eye worm.

However, it’s the horn fly that really gets a cattle producer’s goat—and his cattle as well.

“The horn fly is considered one of the most important blood-sucking pests of pastured cattle and can have significant economic impact on animal performance,” Boxler says.

Horn flies remain on cattle most of the time, and feed on the animal’s blood. During the heat of the day, they often congregate on the animal’s belly, seeking shade.

Economic losses associated with horn flies are estimated at more than $800 million annually in the United States. Horn flies can cause blood loss, reduced grazing efficiency, reduced weight gain and a drop in milk production.

While horn flies are inclined to infest larger animals, such as

bulls and adult cow, they will attack calves as well, Boxler says.

“Nebraska studies demonstrated calf weaning weights were 10-20 pounds higher when horn flies were controlled on cows,” Boxler says.

“Other studies utilizing stocker cattle and replacement heifers demonstrated that treated animals had an 18% weight gain advantage over untreated animals.”

Treatment options Here’s a list of treatment options to consider as the fly wars heat up: Ear tags Insecticide ear tags are one of the best devices for deterring flies. If you use insecticide ear tags, Boxler suggests these management tips: Apply the tags when horn fly numbers approach the economic injury level of 200 flies per animal.

Tag all adult animals in the herd at the recommended label rate.

Rotate insecticide classes.

Don’t use the same insecticide class year after year.

Remove the tags when they no longer provide effective control, or in the fall after first fros 2. Waste management Remove the places where flies breed, and you will start to notice a significant decrease in the number of flying foes circling your herd. “Buildup of organic matter is the biggest breeding grounds for flies,” says Mike Peacock, Southern States Cooperative ruminant nutritionist. With the average 1,250-pound beef cow generating 75 pounds of manure a day, this leaves many areas for flies to reproduce.

On average, the fly life cycle lasts anywhere from 10 to 21 days. To break the fly cycle, you need to remove fly-breeding material on a regular basis. Manure, wet grain, spilled silage, moist hay — focus on these areas first.

“You can eliminate a large portion of flies by simply cleaning the hay rings where cattle were fed all winter,” Peacock says.

To further eliminate breeding areas, start by removing manure from livestock pens as

frequently as possible. Take the manure and spread it thinly on fields or other large outdoor areas to facilitate drying.

Flies cannot develop in dry environments, therefore they cannot develop in dry manure.

Drag your fields to more evenly distribute manure. The key

is to dry out the manure.

Remember, it’s easier and more cost-effective to prevent fly breeding than to try and control adult flies already born. The quicker you can remove their habitat and breeding grounds, the better off you’ll be.

Dust bags Dust bags can be a low-maintenance and effective way to combat flies. “This fly control technique requires fencing around a water tank or mineral feeder and suspending dust bags at the entrance-exit gate,” Continued on Page 50

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VIRGINIA CHAROLAIS ASSOCIATION

2015 - 2016 VCA Officers

Bill Thompson - President 1295 Park Avenue Clifton Forge, VA 24422 540-968-1987 Kaitlin Smith - Vice President 454 Old Farm Road Lexington, VA 24333 540-463-6778 Deidre Harmon - Secretary 1445 Pipers Gap Road Galax, VA 24333 276-233-8852

more pounds at weaning!

Walt Winkler - Treasurer 124 Kindig Road Waynesboro, VA 22980 540-943-6144

more pounds at yearling!

Data from the Spring 2012 Across-Breed EPD Genetic Trends presented at the Beef Improvement Federation documents Charolais and Charolais-influenced genetics lead all major breeds compared for both weaning and yearling weights. In fact, Charolais cattle were proven to excel at adding more pounds at weaning and yearling.

Rob Farmer- Past President 8030 Greenwich Road Catlett, VA 20119 540-270-3886

Every beef producer knows profitability starts with more pounds.

More pounds. More profits.

Simple math.

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We would like to invite anyone interested in becoming a member of our association to call one of the officers list above.

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River Croft Charolais Breeding Polled - Registered Performance Charolais William and Agnes Anerson P.O. Box 304 Altavista, VA 24517 434-369-5366 “Keeping the commerical producers in mind”

15th Fall Herd Improvement Sale, at Virginia Tech November 7, 2015 1:00pm The consignment form for our Fall Sale has been mailed out. The purebred Charolais you consign should be of a quality to promote your herd and the Charolais breed as well.

You must be a member of our VA Charolais Assoc to consign or the dues will be taken out. Our association rules are that a consigner may consign one breeding age bull per each female lot. All breeding aged bulls must pass a complete fertility exam.

Our sales manager for this sale is Dennis Adams of Outfront Cattle Service. He would like consignments in by August 1st. If you would like to consign cattle to our sale, and did not receive a consignment form, please contact one of the persons listed below immediately.

Dennis Adams: 979-693-1310 cell 979-2294472 email outfrontcattle@ gmai.

Bill Thompson: cell 540-968-1987 mountainmeadows@ higlandcomputers.com

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Robert Farmer Chatham, VA 8030 Greenwich Rd. Billy Crews, Barry Crews 124 Kindig Road Billy C. Crews, Brent Crews Catlettt, VA 20195 Waynesboro, VA 22980 540-270-3886 Walt Winkler 434-656-2361 Gerry Scott 540-379-1975 540-943-6144 434-656-3771

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 45

How To Get More Than a Preg-check From The Vet’s Preg-Check Visit By: Lee Jones, DVM

Checking cows for pregnancy is an essential component of reproductive efficiency.

However, most articles about the value of pregnancy diagnosis focus on identifying the open cows and getting them off the feed bill. With carrying cost being greater than $2 per day over the winter, there is a lot of value in that approach. And really, that’s about all many producers expect from the preg check process. But there is more we can do with preg check information. We can make money with it, or at least be more efficient by spending less. And there’s lots of money being left on the table. According to the 2007 NAHMS study, only about 20% of all operations used palpation or ultrasound to pregnancy test their cows. The blood test wasn’t available at that time.

Just using preg check information to get the freeloaders off the payroll will help the bottom line of the remaining 80%. However, focusing only on the open cow misses part of the value of the procedure. Using the information to manage the pregnant cows for optimum fertility can pay real dividends in this high calf market.

How to use the preg-check data To effectively use data to manage cows in the dry period, there are several essential pieces of information required at preg check other than cow ID and pregnancy status: cow body condition score (BCS) on a scale of 1-9 with being 2 dangerously thin and 9 being obese, weight if scales are available, age, condition of teeth if an aged cow, udder and hoof condition, any injuries, lameness or other signs of external problems like a bad eyes and estimated days pregnant.

Blood tests will give you a

yes, no and maybe result, but ultrasound and palpation should give you estimated days pregnant. Ultrasound is most useful prior to 120 days of pregnancy to determine fetal age. A trained, experienced palpater can accurately estimate gestational age. The procedure needs to be performed early enough to allow sufficient time to make management changes if needed (usually at least four months before calving). Producers often have it done around the same time as weaning or calf preconditioning.

Then you can start to manage your cows using your pregcheck data. After preg checking, there are two groups of cows: the pregnant cows and the opens. But there are subgroups of those. In the pregnant cows, there are the first calf heifers, middle-aged cows and aged cows. They can be further divided into cows in adequate body condition and those that are thin.

Then there are the early-bred cows, cows that will calve in the middle of the season and the late-bred cows. Using this information to manage high-risk groups will improve the health of the calf crop, fertility during the next breeding season, the profitability of future calf crops and longevity of the cows.

Cows that consistently calve early every calving season are the all-stars. They are the ones that often wean the biggest and best calves. The early-bred cows and cows that will calve in the middle of the calving season in good body condition (BCS 5 or better) don’t require much management. They just need to be managed to maintain their body condition and calve in a clean environment.

More than 80% of cows that calve with a BCS of 5 or 6 and do not lose condition after calving are cycling by 60

during the dry period to ment since it can enhance days post-partum.

The cows that are in thin gain weight is a good investContinued on Page 46 body condition are the concern. They need more groceries in order to be successful.

There’s plenty of research that shows cows that calve with a body condition score of 4 or less may take as long as four months to cycle back after calving and even longer if they lose body condition Division of Ashby Herd Health Services, Inc. after calving. That increas2420 Grace Chapel Road es her risk of breeding late Harrisonburg, VA 22801 or not getting pregnant and leaving the herd earlier than Day/Night (540) 433-0430 planned. Managing those 1-800-296-COWS (2697) thin cows to gain weight during the dry season can shorten the time it takes to Randall H. Hinshaw, D.V.M. (540) 246-2697 cycle and breed back after calving. Depending on cow frame size, mature body weight, forage quality and availability, it may take two to three months for a cow to improve one body condition score during the dry period on forage alone (1 score = approximately 80 pounds).

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From Page 45

Preg-Check Visit her chances of breeding back after calving, plus it can improve colostrum quality as well as calf health. If cows are very thin, it might pay to wean the calf early and provide high-quality feed through calving and lactation.

Advantages of sorting A couple of advantages of separating pregnant cows into management groups at pregnancy check by BCS and estimated calving period are these: thin cows and first calf heifers can be fed more intentionally and efficiently and late cows can be kept separate from the earlier-bred cows. Keeping calving groups in separate pastures helps reduce the contamination of the calving area during calving. Scours typically don’t affect the earlier-born calves as much as the later-born calves. If these cows are already in a separate pasture, they aren’t exposed to the increased pathogen load of a contaminated calving area.

Old cows or cows with bad udders, hooves, are lame or have other problems like bad eyes may need to be culled, depending on the severity of their condition. Producers may want to keep them and get that last calf if they are bred early. It may not be practical to calve these cows separately, but having them identified for extra attention at calving time may increase chances of a successful calving. Also, depending on how many of these cows are in the herd, producers may opt to keep them as a separate group and not waste valuable bull power on them in the breeding season since they are tagged for culling at weaning anyway.

Managing cows according to BCS and expected calving period will improve fertility.

But whether it is practical or not to manage separate cow groups prior to calving likely depends on available facilities and labor, howev-

er it’s worth the effort. Reproductive efficiency is the single most important factor affecting productivity and profitability, and the success of a breeding season is most affected by how the cows were managed in the dry period before calving. Economic sustainability of the

ranch depends on efficiently managing our cows to get an optimum return on our efforts. Using data to manage our cows improves production, efficiency and longevity of our cow herd and can have a positive impact on calf health.

John Hunter’s Cattle of New Castle, VA. Photo Taken by Chris Marshall

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VIRGINIA LIMOUSIN JUNIORS IN THE NEWS North American Limousin Junior Association members competed in several regional and national Limousin shows this summer. Samantha Moore of Raphine and Cole Kaufman of Mount Sidney represented Virginia.

Samantha Moore showed five Lim-Flex females in June in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at the Eastern Regional Junior Show and Southeast Summer Classic Level 1 Medal of Excellence Show. There were 76 head exhibited at the Middle Tennessee State University Livestock Center. Samantha’s bred and owned March 2014 heifer, SJMR Brandy 401B, a daughter of MAGS

YIP, was Grand Champion Female in both shows. Her cowcalf pair, TJMR Peaches 226Z (a CJSL Wild West 9060W daughter) and SJMR Claire 501C (daughter of WULFS Yukon Trail 8084Y), was Reserve Grand Champion pair in the Eastern Regional Junior Show and SJMR Claire 501C was Division 1 Champion of the Eastern Regional Junior Show and Division 1 Reserve Champion in the Southeast Summer Classic Level 1 MOE. Cole Kaufman had a class winner with a heifer owned by another junior, Dylan Downs, of Churchville, Virginia in the Southeast Summer Clas-

sic. Downs heifer is JCL Libby 233A, a BC Classic daughter.

A total of 226 junior Limousin members from 18 different states made the trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma in July for this year’s Junior Nationals.

Samantha Moore and Cole Kaufman again represented Virginia. Samantha Moore’s cow-calf pair, TJMR Peaches 226Z and SJMR Claire 501C, was awarded Grand Cham-

THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 47

pion Lim-Flex Pair and SJMR Claire 501C was Division 1 champion. A MAGS Y-Axis daughter, TJMR Bella 419B, Samantha’s September 2014 heifer, was second in class.

The 2015 All American Limousin Futurity was also held in conjunction with the Junior National Show and Samantha Moore’s cow-calf pair was named Reserve Grand Champion Pair and TJMR Bella 419B

was second in class. Cole Kaufman was awarded a coveted Limousin Boosters scholarship at the Junior Nationals awards banquet.

At Nationals, the junior members also participated in photograph contests, magazine advertisement competitions, quiz bowl, showmanship and fitting contests and Cook-off fun.

September Select Samantha Moore Showing her Heifer

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PAGE 48, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

Working for Virginia’s Cattle Industry  Marketing Virginia feeder cattle through special graded sales, tel-o-auctions, and special board load sales  Supporting Virginia’s cattle industry through representation at regional and national industry events  Providing educational opportunities to Virginia’s cattle producers on a local and state-wide level  Representing the cattle industry in regulatory and policy issues  Working with industry groups, media and government to insure Virginia’s Cattlemen have a voice Membership benefits include a one year subscription to The Virginia Cattleman newspaper—providing valuable and timely information to VCA members!!

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THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 49 KNOLL CREST FARM JAMES, PAUL, JIM, BRIAN BENNETT 17659 RED HOUSE RD. RED HOUSE, VA 23963 434-376-3567 OFFICE 434-376-7008 FAX JAMES BENNETT - 434-376-7299 PAUL BENNETT - 434-941-8245 JIM BENNETT - 434-664-7935 DALTON G. BENNETT - 434-664-7946 BRIAN BENNETT - 434-664-8309 SCOTT BENNETT - 434-660-7268

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PAGE 50, SEPTEMBER 2015, THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN

From Page 43 Fly War

and control adult flies already

born. The quicker you can remove their habitat and breeding grounds, the better off you’ll be.

Dust bags - Dust bags can be a low-maintenance and effective way to combat flies. “This fly control technique requires fencing around a water tank or mineral feeder and suspending dust bags at the entrance-exit gate,” Boxler says. “Dust bags placed in a forced-use situation will usually reduce fly numbers by 80-90% throughout the season if properly maintained. Dust bags in a free-choice design (like a loafing area) will provide 2550% less control than a forceduse dust bag design,” he saysBack rubbers - Back rubbers are used much in the same way as a dust bag. A small amount of oil or insecticide gets on the animal as it rubs under the device.

“When charging a back rubber, use a quality grade mineral oil or fuel oil (not motor oil) to mix with the insecticide to avoid irritation,” Boxler says. Back rubbers and oilers are most effective when used in a forced-use design, he adds.

Pour-ons - Pour-ons are readyto-use formulations poured along the backline of cattle.

“As a rule, they provide several weeks of fly reduction, so they must be re-applied throughout the fly season,” Boxler says.

Sprays - Animal sprays can be effective in controlling horn fly populations, Boxler says, but it’s important to get complete coverage of the animals. High pressure sprays may provide better coverage, but it’s necessary to gather and corral the cattle, which may make this application method unpractical.

Sprays can also be delivered using a mist blower or low pressure sprayer mounted on an ATV. With this method, you can drive to where the cattle are and apply the insecticide by driving around and amongst the cattle.

Oral larvicides - Oral larvicides, such as feed additives and boluses, are products that are incorporated into minerals or other feed products. The insecticide passes through the animal’s digestive tract into the manure, where it prevents fly larvae from developing into adults. “To be effective, cattle must consume a label-specified amount on a daily basis,” Boxler says.

Fly predators - Not all flies are bad. Fly predators, nature’s own

self-inflicted enemy, can be your ally in the fight against pest flies.

These are tiny, non-stinging, non-biting wasps that feed on fly larvae and interrupt the breeding cycle of flies, destroying the next generation of flies before they hatch into disease-carrying adults, Peacock says.Fly predators work by both laying eggs in the fly pupa (or cocoon) and feeding on fly larvae while it’s in the manure on your farm.

The wasps “bug” the bugs but never disturb the cattle, pasture plants, or humans for that matter.Although a natural method of controlling flies, fly predators aren’t typically found in large enough amounts to control the entire fly population on your farm. However, many companies sell fly predators and can ship them straight to your farm.

Once they arrive, all you have to do is sprinkle the predators on manure piles at dusk and watch them go to work.As a rule of thumb, replenish your fly predator supply once a month from April to September. It’s important to use them during the entire fly season; otherwise the fly life cycle will only be broken for a few weeks.

Don’t get frustrated if you don’t see an immediate reduction in fly populations. Both face flies

and horn flies can travel several miles in search of cattle. If you’re managing your fly population, but your neighbor isn’t, you may be getting “flies without

borders” as they travel in search of a meal. With an ongoing fly management program, however, both you and your cattle should rest a little easier.

A Dirt Road Diary - We were them By: Steve Lucas

We were them, way back then Kids among the white haired men.

They’d been us, but they’d been poor First the depression, then the war Steamy, Carl, Calvin, Jack All tellin’ tales of times back In the days when they were young Bad wrecks, good women, buckles won.

Scoffing at our lives of ease, Called us cowboy wannabees.

But taught us how to make top hand And the importance of ridin’ for the brand.

And now we are the white haired men, Recollecting ‘bout how it was when We were young and times were tough The young boys seldom do enough For us to give the praise they seek To toughen them, we call them weak Schooling them on the when and how For when they are who we are now.

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THE VIRGINIA CATTLEMAN, SEPTEMBER 2015, PAGE 51

Federal Judge Tosses Idaho’s ‘Ag-gag’ Law A federal judge on August 3rd deemed unconstitutional Idaho’s new “ag-gag” law that criminalizes undercover investigations in agricultural facilities, according to court documents.

U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill’s ruling is the first to strike down a state “ag-gag” law. Seven other states have enacted similar statutes in recent years. Idaho enacted its iteration in February 2014 in response to an undercover video captured and released by animal activist group Mercy for Animals showing workers at a dairy farm in Hansen, Idaho, abusing cows.

The Idaho Dairymen’s Association had drafted and sponsored the bill that became code, contending that Mercy for Animals failed to immediately report the abuse and therefore allowed additional abuse to occur.

The law ultimately would deem “interference with agricultural production” — or what one supporter of the bill called “farm terrorism” — a new crime. Under the

law, a journalist or animal rights investigator can be convicted for not disclosing his media or political affiliations when requesting a tour of an industrial feedlot or applying for work at a dairy farm. Violators could face up to a year in jail.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), joined by other organizations and individuals, challenged the law as unconstitutional, according to the ruling, “by (1) criminalizing all employment-based undercover investigations; and (2) criminalizing investigative journalism, whistleblowing by employees, or other expository efforts that entail images or sounds.”

ALDF moved for summary judgment on their First and Fourteenth Amendment claims.

Winmill’s take on the Idaho law was that it “seeks to limit and punish those who speak out on topics relating to the agricultural industry, striking at the heart of important First Amendment values.

The effect of the statute will be to suppress speech by un-

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5

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5

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5 Spring 2015 ASA Sire Summary CE BW WW

EPD Acc % Rank

13.0 .28 15

5

-1.6 .44 4

YW

MCE

Milk

MWW

Stay

Doc

CW

YG

61.0 95.5 11.8 30.0 60.6 N/A 11.2 24.6 -.43 .18 .35 .26 .40 .44 .20 .22 .27 20 5 15 10

Marb

Fat

REA

API

TI

.42 -.049 1.12 149.0 76.3 .40 .24 .31 3 4 5 10

K

PB SM Homo Black Homo Polled

5

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