Scholarship Application Available
The American Angus Association seeks college-age applicants for commercial-focused scholarship.
To ensure the next generation of commercial cattle producers is well-prepared with the knowledge and tools to become successful, the American Angus Association and Allflex USA encourage ambitious young cattle producers to apply for the Future Angus Stockmen scholarship.
The Future Angus Stockmen program is aimed toward college-age or recent graduates willing to learn about utilizing expected progeny differences (EPDs), incorporating DNA technology to make data-driven decisions, developing recordkeeping plans using the Beef Records Service (BRS) or Maternal Plus® at a reduced cost, and connecting with cattlemen from across the nation. Read more.
Drew Feller
Association Perspective
The benefits of video auctions.
Summer grazing season is in full swing. Are you driving through pastures looking at your outstanding set of feeder cattle wondering, “How will I fetch my premium price? How do I get my cattle in front of the largest crowd of buyers possible?”
As a producer, you have put in the time to keep your cattle healthy and the money to invest in top Angus bull genetics. Why wouldn’t you want to get your product to as many buyers as possible?
There are a variety of options available to sell your cattle. Video auctions have established a value in the marketplace of feeder-cattle sales. These video sales have taken regional livestock auction barns and brought them to the national level. Buyers seeking outstanding feeder cattle that fit their individual needs can now find these cattle all over the United States. Read more.
Allen Moczygemba
The Front Gate
New genomic test coming.
During the Genomics Symposium at the National Angus Convention in Fort Worth, the American Angus Association will be introducing a new genomic test, AngusGS™. AngusGS will be a high-density 50K test designed by the team of geneticists at Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI) and powered by Neogen GeneSeek®.
It’s truly an exciting development. The new genomic test is built specifically for Angus cattle, which, over time, will mean improved accuracy and better results. AngusGS is the culmination of your commitment to the use of genomic testing, the long-term vision of the AGI team and the support of our friends at Neogen.
The AGI team has worked to saturate the new genomic test with markers targeting Angus-specific regions of the genome. This means future improved test accuracy once a subset of animals has been tested with AngusGS. Additional markers for traits like fertility, feed efficiency and tenderness, including Calpain and Calpastatin, have been included to advance research for future trait selection. Read more.
Alliance Releases Report From
2017 Animal Rights National Conference
Speakers focus on methods to pressure restaurant, retail and foodservice companies.
The Animal Agriculture Alliance released a report detailing observations from the Animal Rights National Conference, hosted Aug. 3-6 in Alexandria, Va. The event was hosted by the Farm Animal Rights Movement and sponsored by Compassion Over Killing, Mercy for Animals, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and The Humane League, along with other animal rights activist groups. According to conference organizers, nearly 2,000 individuals were present at the event, described as “dedicated to the vision that animals have the right to be free from all forms of human exploitation.” Read more.
What’s Inside …
In this August edition of the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, you'll find valuable articles devoted to the management, marketing, and health and nutrition of your beef enterprise. Select from the tabs at the top of the page to access this month’s entire offering by category. A few select features include:
- Managing Through the Drought
- Growing Yearlings After Early Weaning
- Beef Talk: Ways to reduce costs
- Reminders for Cattle Transport
- Using Drought-stressed Corn for Silage
- Battling Flies that Bother Beef Cattle
- Money that Matters
- New Beef WISE Study
- Detecting Defects Hidden in Hides
News Briefs …
The American Angus Association and its subsidiaries generate a wealth of information to keep members and affiliates informed of what's happening within the industry, as well as with the programs and services they offer. Click here for easy access to the newsrooms of the American Angus Association and Certified Angus Beef LLC and the Angus Journal Daily archive available in the API Virtual Library.
TSCRA Issues Warning Amid Uptick in Scams Targeting Ranchers
Six tips to protect yourself from a scam.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) special rangers have noticed a troubling increase in a scam that targets ranchers and agriculture producers. TSCRA’s special rangers are credentialed peace officers who primarily investigate livestock and agriculture-related crimes, including theft by fraud. Read more.
Risk Factors for Dementia
NIH-funded study supports link between cognition and vascular health.
A large, long-term study suggests that middle-aged Americans who have vascular health risk factors, including diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking have a greater chance of suffering from dementia later in life. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“With an aging population, dementia is becoming a greater health concern. This study supports the importance of controlling vascular risk factors like high blood pressure early in life in an effort to prevent dementia as we age,” said Walter Koroshetz, director of NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which partially funded the study and created the Mind Your Risks public health campaign to make people more aware of the link between cardiovascular and brain health.
“What’s good for the heart is good for the brain,” he added. Read more.