ANGUS BEEF BULLETIN EXTRA

December 7, 2020 | Vol. 13 : No. 11

Management


management

Focusing on Longevity with AHIR

The American Angus Association announces updates to the Angus Herd Improvement Records program.

Jerry Cassady, director of member services, and Chris Stallo, chief operating officer of the American Angus Association, presented the “Focusing on Longevity” panel Nov. 8 at the 137th Angus Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Mo. The discussion shared how commercial cattlemen are turning to seedstock producers for maternal traits that have been difficult to characterize.

Scientists Warm Up to Fall Burn

Research on late-summer, early-fall controlled rangeland burning looks convincing.

For years, ranchers on the High Plains have used controlled burning, traditionally during the spring, to impede the growth of invasive plants on rangelands. In many ways, it’s been effective. The practice helps control weedy plants that rob moisture and nutrients from more desirable nutritious grasses for cattle to graze. But not every spring day lends itself to burning large swaths of the prairie, especially during high winds or spring rains, so sometimes those burns happen in a small window of time when conditions are favorable. That sometimes leads to hundreds of acres being burned in a short space of time, and resulting smoke wafts over communities large and small, reducing air quality.

Why Weed Killer Fails

Twelve reasons why that herbicide treatment didn’t work.

Spraying weeds is work that lacks instant gratification. Oh sure, there is gratification when an invasive plant is brought to its knees, or rather its stump, but the instant part is often unattainable. Spraying weeds can be mentally taxing — all those chemical rates, tank sizes, dyes and surfactants require serious calculating. It definitely is physically involved. Sunny days in May and June are often hot, and unless you own a plane, chances are, you’re hoofing it across pastures to find those pesky plants.

Three Herd Health Factors Affected by Pasture

Managing pasture properly improves your herd’s health and performance.

“A good grazing management program is just as important as a good vaccine program, a good feed program and a good mineral program, yet is overlooked,” warned Jeff Clark, market development specialist with Corteva Agriscience. Clark spoke about three aspects of herd health — toxic weeds, toxic forages and parasites — in the virtual Learning Lounge as part of the 137th Angus Annual Meeting in 2020.

Feedlot Audit Tool Available

BQA-based feedyard audit tool unveiled, ready for industry use.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced the release of a comprehensive industry feedyard audit tool. The Cattle Industry Feedyard Audit will serve as a standardized audit tool based on the sound science and common sense established in the Beef Quality Assurance program.

First Joint Partnership with Angus Australia

Angus Australia and the American Angus Association partner on foot score phenotypes.

The American Angus Association introduces the first-ever partnership with Angus Australia and the Canadian Angus Association to combine foot score phenotypes from all three databases. Following promising results from research conducted by Angus Genetics Inc., the first updated foot score expected progeny differences including phenotypes from all three databases were published Nov. 27.

Angus Advisor

Our team of Angus advisors offer regional tips for herd management for the fall season.