Flushes to the bulls of the buyer’s choice from this maternal sister to the $400,000 Spring Cove Grant 400K as well as her daughter pictured. CEDBWWW YW MILKCWMRBRE$M$W$F$G$B$C +7+.8+73+115+26+28+.92+.42+110+80+55+65+120+266
Purebred Issue
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PRESIDENT Jerry Wroten (Wilder) 208-831-7339
PRESIDENT-ELECT
Spencer Black (Almo) 208-647-8130
VICE PRESIDENT
Val Carter (Pingree) 208-390-4811
PAST PRESIDENT
Kim Burton Brackett (Kimberly) 208-308-1952
TREASURER
Cody Hendrix (Rigby) 208-360-9693
FEEDER COUNCIL CHAIR
Shawna Gill (Grandview) 208-850-9076
PUREBRED COUNCIL CHAIR
Arnold Callison (Blackfoot) 208-681-8441
COW-CALF COUNCIL CHAIR
Roscoe Lake (Blackfoot) 208-604-3650
CATTLEWOMEN COUNCIL CHAIR
Tay Brackett (Filer) 208-866-4967
DISTRICT 1 REPRESENTATIVES
Eric Wittman (Lapwai) 208-790-5344
Cece Baldwin (Coeur d’Alene) 208-699-6611
DISTRICT 2 REPRESENTATIVES
Lori Ireland (Mountain Home) 208-866-0112
Royce Schwenkfelder (Cambridge) 208-550-2200
DISTRICT 3 REPRESENTATIVES
Chase Lanting (Twin Falls) 208-539-4371
Jesse Human (Jerome) 208-358-1277
DISTRICT 4 REPRESENTATIVES
Shane Rosenkrance (Mackay) 208-589-3110
Chris Kirby (Salmon) 208-223-2258
DISTRICT 5 REPRESENTATIVES
Matt Thomson (Blackfoot) 208-589-6901
Tim Munns (Snowville) 435-279-4420
ALLIED INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE
Kody Dee Williams.....(Fruitland) 509-948-6430
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Casey Scott...............(Clarkston) 208-431-3024
CATTLEWOMEN BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
Christie Prescott (Filer) 208-420-3548
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Cameron Mulrony cameron@idahocattle.org
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & INDUSTRY RELATIONS
Morgan Lutgen morgan@idahocattle.org
MEMBER PROGRAMS & SERVICES MANAGER
Montana MacConnell montana@idahocattle.org
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Michelle Johnson michelle@idahocattle.org
NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY DIRECTOR
Karen Williams karen@idahocattle.org
Contact Idaho Cattle Association: Mailing address: P.O. Box 15397, Boise, ID 83715
Location: 2120 Airport Way, Boise, ID 83705 Phone: 208-343-1615
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The Line Rider is the official publication of the Idaho Cattle Association. It is published 10 times each year, in January, February, March, April/May, June, July/August, September, October, November and December.
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Chasing opportunities and geese
What motivates someone to take a leadership role
“
If you feel the urge, don’t be afraid to go on a wild goose chase. What do you think wild geese are for anyway?”
–W ill Rogers
Over the past year serving as the President of the Idaho Cattle Association (ICA), I have enjoyed the opportunity to traverse the state and the nation. I must be honest; this year has brought many unique experiences, cherished memories, and new friendships. These are only a few of the benefits of being a part of the ICA Board of Directors. Growing up, leadership in the ICA was never on my radar. Though I was aware of the association, I didn’t picture myself taking an active role in it.
“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second-best time to plant a tree is right now.”
Ol’ Will’s way with words will give you something to think about in the wee hours of the morning. One of his quotes that keeps me up at night is, “If you feel the urge, don’t be afraid to go on a wild goose chase. What do you think wild geese are for anyway?” Back in 2013, I was on the receiving end of a nudge, which turned into an urge and started my “chase.” In the last year, I have come to realize that there are many people who just assume that your pursuits are simply wild goose chases. They don’t understand your motivation to do the things you do. But that’s the importance of the chase, it’s yours
BY JERRY WROTEN ICA President
to understand and follow. For me, the goose I was pursuing was to do my part for the ICA, keeping the ship afloat and steering it in the right direction. I was driven to continue the legacy and help to build a strong future for the industry. Along the way, I faced difficult discussions in the legislature, as well as meaningful conversations with government officials. The road trips across the state and the missed flights trying to get to Washington D.C. on time are all part of what made the last year memorable. In trying to chase the wild geese of my life, I have met some wonderful and interesting people. The ICA membership is broad and diverse, with cow-calf producers, feedlot growers, purebred operators, and our valued allied industry partners. Each person I have met is dedicated to chasing their own wild geese. At the end of the day, it’s funny how everyone’s personal chases tend to overlap and lead to chasing the wildest goose of them all—success for our industry.
One of my favorite quotes (that isn’t from Will) is, “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, and the second-best time to plant a tree is right now.” That’s been my focus in my time with the ICA: planting seeds right now to better the industry. Between planting seeds and chasing geese, I’ve had a busy term. It takes a lot of effort to ensure that the cattle industry can continue to flourish in the future. This comes from increasing membership, providing quality knowledge to our members, and showing our world that we make a difference in the ecological systems we protect and on the American dinner plate. These tasks may be small at times, but that’s catching the tamer geese. The wildest ones are still out there and on the run. Yet, with a good a horse and a little rope, there’s always a chance… and I will always follow that urge to go on a wild goose chase, as that’s what they are for.
Guiding the industry
Communication generates advocacy
We are, again, approaching the final page of the calendar. As 2024 turns to 2025, the Idaho legislature will convene and the newly elected officials will take their seats in the state house. As this hits your mailbox, the results from the ballot box will be fresh on your mind.
Idaho’s legislature is our citizen-based governing body to help us guide our state with statute and service. As an association, we often discuss the items that we get across the finish line or successfully oppose in the committee rooms as well as their impact on the industry and the state.
The value of communication early and often from members is at the forefront of our needs as an association.
However, the things that do not see testimony in the statehouse are as important or nearly as important to the Idaho cattle industry. The items that are not ready for “prime time,” so to speak, are as critical in our work as those items that get much more attention as they are pushed forward. If we can take the opportunity to vet a draft prior to introduction, it allows for more input throughout the process.
The value of communication early and often from members is at the forefront of our needs as an association. Our membership and board of directors provide us with direction for how best to advocate for the industry. ICA’s processes have evolved over the years, but are we keeping up with the times? Over the past month, we held our committee meeting calls, which were open to all members.
BY CAMERON MULRONY ICA Executive Vice President
In the past, these meetings took place at the annual convention in Sun Valley on an as-needed basis, but now we’ve turned to an earlier virtual meeting in order to have new ideas brought forward prior to the resolutions deadline. Technology is great (when it works), but should we revisit the idea of in-person committee meetings in Sun Valley? We have hosted district meetings every other year except for 2020 since my arrival at the ICA office; should we expand these to include committee topics and suggestions? The goal is to have member input and make sure that staff has guidance from the industry. Involvement in the process is critical to ensure that when we hit the halls of the state house or are called to the national level, we are in lockstep and sending a clear and consistent message from the Idaho Cattle Association. I feel we are continuing to grow and evolve as an association and, with the continued support of our current members, we hope to progress at a rapid rate as we continue to work on behalf of Idaho’s cattlemen and women.
We hope to see many of you at the convention in a few short days and as always, staff and leadership will be available to field your calls and questions whenever it is necessary. Please do not forget to check The Western Martingale, our advocacy platform, for commenting on state policy as the session approaches at www.westernmartingale.com.
SINCE 1959
So much to be thankful for Finding gratitude in the face of adversity
Research has shown that people who feel gratitude are generally more healthy, happy and wise. I recently read about a study where one group of participants was asked to write a letter of gratitude each week for three weeks, while the other group was tasked with writing thoughts about their negative experiences. Unsurprisingly, the gratitude group reported having improved mental health for the following three months, while those who focused on negativity required increased counseling within that same time frame.
Among the things I am most thankful for, my love and appreciation for this great country of ours sits near the top.
November and the advent of the Thanksgiving holiday often gives people the opportunity to reflect on the good things. While most of us face a multitude of challenges in our lives, as the saying goes, there is always, always something to be grateful for. The same rings true for our industry. Various issues threaten the stability of the cattle industry, yet when viewed through the lens of gratitude, these issues give reason for optimism.
For example, the Biden administration’s heavy emphasis on renewable energy development on federal lands has led to an alarming increase of development applications on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in Idaho. The abundance of sunlight in Idaho has attracted solar energy developers who would cov-
BY KAREN WILLIAMS ICA Natural Resources Policy Director
er the landscape with solar panels, obliterating food and forage for livestock and wildlife alike. There are currently eleven large-scale solar development projects moving through the BLM’s pre-environmental review process. Developers have expressed interest or staked their claim on several more sites.
Gratitude lens translation: I love the sun and am grateful to live in an area that receives so much sunlight. (I better not mention the wind development projects underway—I could not stretch my imagination far enough to find any reason to be grateful for wind, ever.)
Here’s another one: The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) has proposed a plan to protect “old-growth” forests. The public comment period closed in September and ICA submitted comments in opposition to the plan. It will alter management of the forests in areas where old trees are found. USFS lands have been both undermanaged and mismanaged for the past few decades. Preservationist philosophies have limited active land management. which in turn have created unsustainably dense forests with dying trees that carry dangerously high fuel loads and result in catastrophic fires. Although the plan may be well-intentioned to protect old-growth forest, it will likely actually cause the opposite result. When a protective layer of designation is placed on federal lands, the ability to manage those lands ultimately becomes restricted. Those old stands are more likely to burn due to this increased protection than if the land were more actively managed. As those who understand this need for management say, “Log it, graze it, or watch it burn.” Beyond wildfire, another significant concern with the plan is that it may result in limitations on control of decadent and encroaching pinyon juniper stands. Pinyon juniper has been proven to create an abundance of challenges to the landscape including reduced plant
diversity, over-consumption of limited water resources, increased fire risk, negative consequences to wildlife species such as sage grouse, and associated increased invasive species spread. These trees need to be controlled, regardless of their age.
Gratitude lens translation: I am thankful for trees. I love the mountains that surround our valleys and the beautiful forests that cover them. I am so glad we have something worth protecting in Idaho.
While we are twisting scenarios around, let’s talk about the BLM’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, also known as the Public Lands Rule. We have cussed and discussed this rule several times over the past couple of years. Despite our efforts to halt it, the BLM is moving forward with the rule’s implementation. They are in the process of updating their manuals and preparing Instruction Memorandums (IM) to direct staff on how to incorporate it. We expect to see some of these details as the year ends. In addition to our grave concerns about expanding Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) designations, we have felt great hesitancy about what were initially called conservation leases, but are now referred to as restoration and mitigation leases. The BLM has assured us that these new leases cannot affect existing authorized uses, such as grazing permits, and they must support those existing uses. However, we continue to feel trepidation about how these leases could become a tool against grazing in the hands of organizations with ill-intent toward the grazing industry. The Public Lands Council (PLC) and a coalition of other natural resource organizations have filed a legal challenge to the rule in the District Court for Wyoming. The case generally holds that the final rule violates both the Administrative Procedures Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, is the result of BLM exceeding their statutory authority, and causes significant adverse impacts through an expedited executive process to designate Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. We will see how the rule stands up in court. Meanwhile, we will work with the BLM to ensure that their implementation guidance does not unnecessarily restrict grazing, whether intended or not.
Gratitude lens translation: Isn’t is great that we have still wide-open spaces in Idaho? These spaces provide a multitude of benefits to society, livestock grazing use being chief among them.
For my last example, I honestly do not know whether to laugh or cry. You will be reading this after the 2024 general election, but I am writing before the votes have been cast and counted. Regardless of the outcome, there will be great work
to do for our industry. Either we will be working with allies to amend or halt actions harmful to our industry that were taken by the previous administration, and we will be brainstorming new ideas to ease the regulatory burdens for livestock producers, or we will be gearing up to play defense against further unjust attacks and unnecessary restrictions. Either outcome justifies the existence of industry organizations such as the Idaho Cattle Association, Public Lands Council, or the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association to keep a wary and watchful eye out for the cattle industry and to present innovative solutions to legal and legislative challenges.
Gratitude lens translation: Among the things I am most thankful for, my love and appreciation for this great country of ours sits near the top. The freedoms we are afforded and the peace we live in when compared to many other countries around the world are worth the fight it has been to keep them.
This month, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to look upon your frustrations and hardships with a new eye. Consider the blessings you have that have either enabled your trial or given you the strength to endure it. As you reflect upon these things, realize there are countless reasons to be grateful and use that gratitude as a motivating force to improve either yourself or your situation.
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Tell me why we do this again…
Creating a legacy with the ranching
lifestyle
Late September in Idaho is as good as it gets. Crisp clear mornings, warm afternoon sun, and quick cool-downs in the evening. My favorite time of year in the livestock world. Preconditioning, weaning, preg testing, gathering, sorting, and more. The cows are happy and the calves are fat. It is the perfect time of year.
Soak it in, as this time of year offsets the dark days of winter. Not too long ago, we were up to our knees and beyond in mud during calving and breeding, and the year before that we were out of room to push snow. We have short memories when it comes to breeding to calve around the weather.
Get involved at local, state, or national levels and stay involved to protect the future.
During the winter there is much to be done... and then you throw tax season on top of it. This is the time of year my wife Teresa wraps herself in a blanket and plows through our expenses, reading off amounts as I enter them in a 20-year-old excel spreadsheet that somehow still works. Emotions are raw and tensions are high as we work through last year’s expenses. This is when the annual question comes without fail: “Tell me why we do this again?” I am prepared each year, yet still it cuts to the bone. I cheerfully remind her that we are gaining lots of equity, and the lifestyle is what makes it worthwhile. But our accountant does not help my cause when she tells Teresa each year, “if you sell the cows, you could quit your job and make more money.” (Editor’s note: Arnold, can we recommend a new accountant??)
The lifestyle and family time is important. I have
BY ARNOLD CALLISON Purebred Council Chair
always said that our kids have never been to Disneyland, but they have been to the Denver Stock show, and they have continued the tradition of exhibiting at the Eastern Idaho State Fair for 57 consecutive years. Our family time is spent with livestock. We couldn’t do it without all of their help.
Now we are on to the 4th generation. Our youngest brood is made up of five-year-old twins, Maizy and Elaina, and their little sister “Miss Independence,” Opal Irene. They live 10 hours away, so our time with them is precious. During the winter of 2022, the girls stayed for a week. We did it all: calving, feeding, strawing, and moving pairs. While in the red tractor in their stiff snowsuits and new over-sized snow boots Grammy bought them for Christmas, we did chores. All three girls were excited and engaged. As a few minutes turned to close to an hour, young Elaina asked, “Papa, why is there so much work?” All three girls went quiet and waited for my answer. What a teaching moment! I explained that Grammy and Papa do this every morning and night in the dark. I carried on about how important it is and how much we like it. It stayed quiet in the tractor as the girls listened intently. Or so I thought. Near the end of my important lesson Maizy blurted out, “There is a kitty!” And the tractor ride with the life lesson ended. But the seed is set. They know that there is “much” work.
Our granddaughter Angie is now sixteen, but at the tender age of five she gave us a lifelong memory. I was hand-feeding silage bales off a three-point on that same red tractor. The tractor was bought for the cab and heat for the grandkids. Nothing else mattered. I needed a driver and Angie said, “I will do it Papa,” and out we went. I put the tractor in low and propped her up in the seat. As I was feeding, the tractor drifted hard towards the fence. I stepped to the door and looked in and she was fast asleep, head on the steering wheel,
legs swinging. I opened the cab, and she snapped up. I asked her if she was okay. Before she could answer she slumped back to the steering wheel and was out. I made a bed for her with my vest and finished feeding. Carrying her back to the house, Teresa met me at the sidewalk. I assured her nothing was wrong, and this event became when Angie “was asleep at the wheel”!
Our grandson Conner has grown into a 6-foot bean pole, machine-loving helper. As a seven-year-old, he was riding in that red tractor. He was talking with his hands, explaining to me that he was going to build a bigger fence over there where the heavy pen is. I asked him why, as there was a rather good fence there now. He said, “You told me if the wind comes from that way it’s hard on the new calves and cows.” I was elated that he really was listening. As we approached the gate he stated, “We work hard, don’t we, Papa?” Pride flowed though me as I answered yes, and his perfect response was, “It’s good for you!” I was speechless as I took him back to the house. Embracing Teresa, I told her our work here is done.
Whatever you choose as your reason for this lifestyle, embrace it and continue the legacy. Get involved at local, state, or national levels and stay involved to protect the future. Be a voice for agriculture. Be an advocate for livestock. Promote beef!
And remember to answer the question each year: “Why do we do this again?”
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BY MONTANA MacCONNELL
What’s in a
BRAND?
What it means to make your mark
BRANDING PROVIDES A PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION FOR AN ANIMAL THROUGHOUT ITS LIFE.
Horses kick up dust as ropes swing for the next best catch. Syringes are loaded and the vaccine cooler is stocked. Amid the excitement, everyone steps aside as the almighty branding iron moves forward, hot and ready. Branding season marks one of the most anticipated times of the year for ranchers. Though branding day is always busy, it often acts as a makeshift family reunion and celebration of a successful calving season. Whether you use a hot brand or freeze brand, whether you rope and drag or flip a calf table, you know that you are taking the opportunity to establish legal ownership of your livestock. We may take brands for granted at times, but they are an integral part of not only modern-day ranching, but the history of cattle raising itself.
Photo by John Tucker
A BRIEF HISTORY OF BRANDING
The oldest known proof of cattle branding is depicted on the walls of an ancient Egyptian tomb, where a painting shows cows being rounded up and branded with a hot iron to demonstrate ownership. Brands surface throughout history again and again. In ancient Rome, it was believed that brands had magical properties that could protect the herd from predators, disease, or other dangers. Branding is even referenced in the Bible, with the story of Jacob the herdsman.
The practice of branding cattle reached the Americas with the first cattle that were imported by Spanish colonists. The first brand known to be used in the Western Hemisphere may have been the three Latin crosses of Hernan Cortez, which he marked his cattle with in the late sixteenth century valley of Mexicalzimgo. In 1537, the Spanish crown ordered the establishment of a New Spain stockmen’s organization. Called Mesta, this orga -
nization mandated that each cattle owner register their own individual brand. These early Spanish brands were typically more pictographic than the brands of today, with lots of curlicues and pendants in the design. If the family brand was passed to the son, a curlicue would be added. The more generations in a brand, the more elaborate the design became. As the practice of branding moved into Anglo-American Texas, the cattle owner’s initials would be made into a brand, leading to the alphabet-based brands that we recognize today.
BRANDING IN IDAHO’S HISTORY
In the 1860s, the livestock industry surged to the Northwest to feed and clothe the many mining towns that had appeared during the gold rush. Fences were uncommon, and the vast use of open range meant that everyone’s cows were grazed together. Brands were crucial at the end-ofyear gather to ensure that everyone took home their own animals. The first brand recording and inspection system in the Northwest was created by the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association in Laramie in 1872.
Brand laws were first mentioned in the Territory of Idaho in 1881. In 1887, Session Laws ordered that a brand would be recorded in the county office where the rancher lived. In 1905, fifteen years after Idaho’s statehood, Senate Bill 61 defined brand rules for the state, including penalties for violation and a $1 registration fee. The state auditor acted as the state recorder of brands and published the first official Idaho brand book that year.
In 1917, Idaho State Code called for county commissioners to appoint experienced stockmen as brand inspectors and
FREEZE BRANDS CHILLED AND READY TO MAKE THEIR MARK.
BRANDING HAS BEEN A PART OF RANCHING SINCE CATTLE FIRST REACHED AMERICA.
deputies for each county. The main requirement for being an inspector was honesty. These officials would go to railheads and make sure that any cattle being loaded or unloaded were accounted for by a brand and hadn’t been rustled. In 1918, recording brands for the state of Idaho became a responsibility of the state veterinarian. This is also when brands were required to be renewed every five years for a fee of 50 cents. Next, the department of agriculture took over recording brands. It was 1943 when Idaho Session Laws created the structure we know today: the office of the State Brand Inspector was moved into the Department of Law Enforcement. The position of State Brand Inspector was appointed by the governor and all previous brand records were transferred from the county level to the state office. Three years later, at the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association 32nd annual convention, a resolution was passed to appoint a committee to draft legislation regarding brands. The next year, the state brand board was created. The three members of the brand board were appointed by the governor with respect to the recommendations of the Idaho Cattlemen’s Association. It was specified that these people be personally involved in the livestock industry. In 2015, the brand board was increased to five members—one in livestock auctions, one in the dairy industry, and the other three experienced in beef production. The current Idaho State Brand Inspector is Cody Burlile, and the State Brand Board is made up of Jay
Branding is even referenced in the Bible, with the story of Jacob the herdsman.
Smith, Carl Crabtree, Ted VanderSchaaf, Aron Bennett, and Dan Henry. The Idaho Cattle Association nominates members to the board who are then appointed by the governor.
Branding has persisted because it remains the most cost-effective and permanent way to identify livestock. Even with the rise of new animal identification technologies, such as EID tags, brands are still vital. Rustlers can cut or swap tags, but it’s far more difficult to tamper with a brand. Beyond their practical use, brands also carry a sense of tradition and legacy. Idaho is home to thousands of unique brands, from the Bar-O of Davis Cattle Company to the 3N of Noah’s Angus Ranch, which honors the three founders of the ranch. The Owyhee Cattlemen’s Association, Idaho’s oldest local cattle group, uses its own distinct brand, the OYE. To those in the industry, brands like US, 3X, MR, MF, and ICA aren’t just alphabet soup—they represent ownership, history, and identity in the cattle world.
THE CURRENT STATE OF IDAHO BRANDS
Today, the brand department continues to function, in short, to prevent livestock theft. A brand inspection is required when ownership changes in any way, when an animal leaves Idaho, or when an animal is going to slaughter. The current owner is responsible for obtaining a brand inspection and paying the associated fee. Failure to get a brand inspection is an infraction at the first offense and misdemeanor for the second offense, punishable by a fine of up to $300 and/or six months in jail.
Brand laws and department functionality varies from state to state. It’s important to understand that in Idaho, the brand department is completely self-funded and uses no taxpayer dollars, meaning the dairy, beef and horse industries are the main segments that benefit from and financially contribute to this fund. Caps for fees imposed by the department are approved by the legislature and go into statute—which means that over a period of time, small adjustments may be made inside of those limits without needing to endure a legislative process, as it is overseen by the Brand Board. However, one of the topics that ICA will see among the host of items during 2025’s legislative season is an
A CALF IS HEADED AND HEELED BEFORE IT RECEIVES THE RANCH BRAND.
executive proposal for adjustments to the fees, which will require legislative approval. Idaho’s brand department sees modern day costs associated with inspector transportation, technology (both hardware and software), and labor wages that have increased over the years. With the current fee structure and long-term outlook, these costs run the risk of rendering the department insufficiently funded, leading to the necessity of this discussion. While the Brand Board is responsible for overseeing the financial decisions of the State Brand Department, it is not without input from those affected. A working group, comprised of industry representatives (including ICA leadership), has diligently met for over a year in preparation for this legislative action.
ICA is proud to be offering a general session about all things Brand Department at our Annual Convention in November. While the details of the fee structure proposal were not concrete at the time of writing this piece, we encourage you to attend the session and reach out to ICA leadership or members of the Brand Board for further information. We also would love to hear from you if you’re interested in participating on future working group issues or being a part of the Brand Board. ICA’s Western Martingale will serve as a platform to gain more information throughout the process, as well as make your thoughts known to the applicable legislative body. Be sure to subscribe to receive calls to action at www.westernmartingale.com. To get a brand inspection, you can contact your district brand inspector. More information about the Idaho State Brand Department can be found on the website at https://isp.idaho.gov/brands/. And finally, if you enjoyed this article and the historical perspective of our cattle industry, check out “100 Years of Cattle,” a 2016 book produced by the Idaho Cattle Association. Call (208) 343-1615 or email info@idahocattle.org to get your own copy and continue the deep dive into Idaho cattle’s rich history!
A CALF TABLE AND ELECTRIC BRANDING IRON SHOW SOME OF THE MODERNIZATIONS OF BRANDING.
BRANDING OFTEN PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAG, CASTRATE, AND CHECK THE HEALTH OF CALVES.
Beef Counts: A Lifeline For Idaho Families in Need
As the holiday season approaches, thousands of Idahoans face tough choices to make ends meet. Cutting back on food and vital nutrition should not be one of them. For this reason, the Beef Counts program is bringing together Idaho’s beef industry, in partnership with The Idaho Foodbank to deliver high-quality beef protein to families in need.
According to The Idaho Foodbank and the Feeding America Map the Meal Gap Study, more than 150,000 people are facing food insecurity in Idaho –lacking access to enough food to support a healthy and active lifestyle. This represents nearly 9% of the state’s population and includes more than 46,000 kids.
With the support of industry partners including the Idaho Cattle Association, Idaho CattleWomen, Agri Beef and valuable corporate sponsors, The Idaho Foodbank has delivered 2.4 million 3-ounce servings since its inception in 2010.
For over a decade, Beef Counts has responded to this need, and has made a profound impact across the state, thanks to its generous sponsors and the tireless work of the Idaho beef industry. Yet, the need for support remains particularly critical during the holiday season, when the demand for food assistance peaks.
In a state celebrated for its rugged character and deep-rooted traditions, the Beef Counts program highlights the unique spirit of Idaho’s beef community. Here, where independence and teamwork go hand-in-hand, ranchers and industry members have united to make a meaningful difference. The Idaho beef industry is about more than just raising cattle and producing top-quality beef; it’s about supporting and nourishing the very people who call Idaho home. Beef Counts embodies this commitment, ensuring that no one in our state is left without the nutrition they need to fortify their families.
The Beef Counts program serves as an inspiring model for other states and regions with agricultural and food production industries. The state of Washington also operates a Beef Counts
Idaho cattle industry helps deliver protein to battle hunger.
A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEERS TURNED OUT TO HELP WITH THE BEEF COUNTS LABELING AND PACKAGING EVENT.
program which demonstrates the power of collaboration be tween the private sector, nonprofit organizations, and individ uals in addressing hunger in their communities.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsorship is at the heart of Beef Counts’ success. Indus try partners along the supply chain, including Agri Beef, play an equally important role by fundraising and promoting the pro gram. These partnerships are critical to the program’s ability to deliver beef to families who need it most. The 2024 sponsors and donors include:
2024 Gold Sponsors ($10,000 - $49,999)
• AgWest Farm Credit
• Zions Bank Corporate Trust
2024 Silver Sponsors ($5,000 - $9,999)
• Advantage Veterinary
• Diamond Peak Cattle Feeders L
• Hepton Livestock, LLC
• Laurie Lickley
• Paul Nettleton, Joyce Ranch
• Pendleton Whisky
• Reynolds Creek Calf Ranch
• Weiser River Cattle Feeders,
• Wilder Cattle Feeders, LLC
• Wilson Creek Cattle Feeders,
2024 Bronze Sponsors ($1,000 - $4,999)
• InterMountain Beef Producers
These generous donations have amounted to more than $88,082! However, Beef Counts is still counting on you to hit our goal of $150,000. Up to $50,000 of donations will be matched by AgriBeef, and we want to be sure 2024 is a record year for the Beef Counts program.
The holiday season, in particular, poses a critical time for giving. For families who are struggling, receiving a nutritious beef meal can make all the difference in their ability to celebrate the holidays with dignity and warmth. That’s why Beef Counts is ramping up its efforts, calling on both corporations and individuals to support its mission.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Sponsorship and donations are the foundation of the Beef Counts program. During the holidays, financial contributions are especially impactful, as they help the program scale to meet the increased demand. Donations go directly toward purchasing beef, ensuring that every dollar makes a meaningful impact.
If you or someone you know—whether a fellow rancher or a partner in Idaho’s allied industries—wants to support Beef Counts, please visit https://www.idbeef.org/beef-counts. Every donation brings the program closer to its $150,000 goal, helping
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EACH ONE-POUND BEEF CHUB GETS A DISTINCTIVE BEEF COUNTS LABEL WITH THE PROGRAM.
A UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP WORKING TO SOLVE HUNGER IN IDAHO
Idaho’s beef community is working hard to end hunger in our state. Food pantries have a great need for high-quality protein, and the Idaho beef industry’s Beef Counts program is helping meet that need by distributing nutritious beef products through The Idaho Foodbank.
Since its inception in 2010, the program has distributed more than 2.4 million 3-ounce servings of beef through The Idaho Foodbank’s statewide network of community partners that includes food pantries, senior centers and shelters. For additional information about the Beef Counts Program, visit our website: idahofoodbank.org/beef-counts
If you or someone you know would like to become a Beef Counts sponsor, please scan this code and help combat hunger in Idaho.
The Idaho Foodbank is an independent, donor-supported, nonprofit organization founded in 1984. From warehouses in Boise, Lewiston and Pocatello, the Foodbank has distributed more than 23.8 million meals in the last fiscal year to Idaho families through a network of more than 440 community-based partners. These include schools, food pantries, feeding sites, shelters, and senior centers. The Idaho Foodbank focuses on providing nutritious food and collaborates with community organizations to promote nutrition education, wellness resources, and healthy living.
Make Improvements in Safety, Performance and Profits Through Improved Disposition
Disposition is an important consideration in today’s beef cattle market.
BY J. BENTON GLAZE, JR., PH.D.
Extension Beef Cattle Specialist Animal, Veterinary and Food Sciences Department University of Idaho
Beef cattle producers regularly handle or interact with animals to perform routine health and management procedures, to measure and monitor performance, and for transportation to various pastures, ranges and markets. Over time, beef producers who handle their cattle on a regular basis become keenly aware of animals that consistently present problems during handling. These problem cattle may cause damage to working facilities, require additional labor, and pose a health hazard to humans and other cattle.
During the 1980’s and 1990’s, several states reported that at least 50% of all human injuries on farms and ranches involved livestock. Some of the common injuries included sprains/strains, fractures, bruises, and cuts/lacerations of the upper and lower extremities. Less common, but more serious injuries such as internal organ damage and head trauma were also noted. These injuries resulted from individuals being kicked, trampled,
butted/gored, and smashed. Survey data from 2011-2015 from farms and ranches in a seven-state region in the northcentral United States found an average injury incidence rate of 7.0 injuries/100 operators per year. The most frequent (22%) sources of injuries reported were livestock. In a 2021 study surveying the occupational injuries among feedyard workers in Nebraska, it was reported that approximately 33% of the injuries occurred due to interactions with livestock. To assist in improving safety on farms and ranches, producers should consider removing problem cattle (e.g., ornery, poor disposition, hard to handle) from the herd.
Disposition has been on the radar of producers for several years. This is evidenced by the percentage of producers culling cattle for poor dispositions. According to the results of the 1997 USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) survey, 6.4% of responding producers marketed (culled) at least one cow due to disposition. In the 2007 NAHMS report, the percentage of producers marketing (culling) at least one cow due to disposition increased to 16.6%. In the 2017 NAHMS report, the percentage of producers marketing (culling) at least one cow due to poor disposition decreased to 7.1%.
Considering the safety factor, it would seem these numbers might be larger. However, due to the selection protocols implemented by producers, there may be fewer high-headed, hard-to-handle cattle that need to be removed from herds.
Just as mentioned, producers may be using disposition as a selection criterion in their herds. The extent to which disposition is used and the importance of disposition can also be seen in the way bulls are being selected and purchased for use in beef herds. Regularly, BEEF® Magazine conducts a production/genetics survey. In the surveys, producers are routinely asked what information they require when purchasing a bull. In 2010, 21.7% of responding producers noted a disposition EPD as a requirement to purchase a bull. Results from the 2014 and 2019 surveys show that percentage increased to 30.2% and 59.0%, respectively. Results from the 2023 CattleFax Cow-calf survey found that 54.6% of the respondents noted disposition as the primary reason for their bull breed choice.
As beef producers attempt to alter the disposition of cattle in their herds, they need information and tools to help them achieve their breeding objectives. Since the early 1990’s the beef industry has been measuring beef cattle disposition (e.g., chute scores, chute exit velocities, and pen scores) and incorporating the measurements into genetic evaluations [expected progeny differences (EPDs)]. These EPDs can be used by beef producers to improve the disposition of cattle in their herds. An example of how docility EPDs are used and interpreted follows: Two bulls, A and B, are being evaluated for use on a group of beef females. Bull A has a docility EPD of +4.0 and Bull B has a docility EPD of +22.0. Based on these EPD, it is expected that Bull B would sire 18% (22.0 – 4.0 = 18.0) more offspring with acceptable dispositions than Bull A. In general, increased values in docility EPD correspond with animals that have improved dispositions. However, it is important that before selection decisions are made, producers should refer to a breed association sire summary for the most up to date EPD definitions and descriptions.
All breed associations do not provide a form of disposition EPD for use by their producers and some producers may feel they lack the information and tools to improve disposition in their herds. Even without a docility (disposition) EPD, the trait can be improved in beef cattle herds. A number of studies have shown that disposition is heritable (passed from parent to offspring) and the heritability estimates for the trait are moderate to high, suggesting that the trait will respond to selection. Cattle that challenge handlers and other animals, cattle that overreact to being confined in chutes and pens, and cattle that are easily put on the defensive should be culled
from the herd in a timely fashion and replaced with cattle that have more tolerable dispositions. A well-defined protocol for assessing disposition and an accurate, up to date record keeping system is essential to identifying cattle with good and bad dispositions.
The interest and importance of disposition in beef cattle herds may have initially been centered on the difficulty of handling cattle with poor dispositions and the hazards they posed to humans, other animals, and facilities. However, as animals have been selected for improved dispositions, benefits have been seen in several other areas (traits) as well. In 2008, Mississippi State University researchers reported results from a study that was conducted to determine the effects of disposition on cattle performance, cattle health, and carcass value. The study included information on cattle that were a part of the Mississippi Farm to Feedlot program. Cattle disposition was evaluated in chutes and pens using a 5-point scale (1 = docile; 5 = aggressive). In addition, exit velocities (speed at which animal leaves the chute) were recorded electronically. As is the case with other studies, results of this study indicate that cattle with a more aggressive disposition had decreased average daily gains, decreased final body weights, increased treatment costs, and increased number of days treated. Net profit was also significantly affected by disposition. Cattle with pen scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (1 = docile; 5 = aggressive) had net profits per head of $121.89, $100.98, $107.18, $83.75, and $80.81, respectively.
In 2014, a group led by a Washington State University (WSU) researcher conducted two experiments to evaluate the effects of disposition on reproductive performance of beef cattle. In the first experiment, approximately 1,600 beef cows were assigned chute exit-gait scores (1 = slow exit, walking gait = calm disposition; 2 = fast exit, trotting, running, or jumping = excitable disposition) two to four weeks prior to the breeding season. Pregnancy status and stage of gestation were determined by transrectal palpation 35 days after the end of the breeding season. Excited cows were found to have lower (88.6% versus 94.1%) breeding season pregnancy rates than calm cows. In addition, excited cows took an extra 24 days (59 days versus 35 days) to become pregnant compared to calm cows. In the second experiment, approximately 1,400 beef cows were assigned chute exit-gait scores. The results of the transrectal palpations at two months and six months from the start of the breeding season showed excited cows having higher pregnancy losses (5.5% versus 3.2%) than calm cows.
In 2019, Texas researchers reported results from a study that was conducted to determine the effects of
beef heifer disposition on productivity, feed efficiency, and carcass quality traits. To evaluate disposition, exit velocities were recorded on animals as they arrived at a feedlot. The animals were then divided into calm and excitable disposition groups. Calm heifers had 4% greater initial body weights, 12% greater average daily gains, 8% greater intakes, and 4% greater feed efficiencies. Carcasses from the calm heifers were 4% heavier and had 12% more backfat depth. Loin steaks from each group were evaluated for tenderness using Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force values. The calm heifers had 8% lower WBS values indicating greater tenderness. In addition, when the two groups of heifers were compared on a carcass grid that included premiums and discounts for hot carcass weight, yield grade, quality grade, and tenderness, the calm heifers returned $62 more per head than the excitable heifers.
These studies make it clear that cattle with calmer dispositions have value and benefit in the beef industry. Improvements in disposition can lead to greater safety for humans and animals, improved reproductive performance, improved feedlot performance, and improved end product value. In turn, beef producers could see improved productivity and profitability for their operations.
TOP NOTCH
Bunkstart supports a healthy adjustment period for young calves by encouraging eating and promoting wellness in your herd upon feedlot arrival.
Bunkstart is fed as part of the total mixed ration during your cattle’s first 14 days.
Bunkstart contains balanced ingredients and promotes rumen health while high levels of organic trace minerals improve immune function.
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