Richard Beal's Blog » Cattle

Safe and Caring Cattle Handling Practices In Feedlots

richardbeal — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:00:38 +0000

If you have problems seeing the video below click HERE.

DeLaval Swinging Cow Brush

richardbeal — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 09:00:36 +0000

DeLaval makes many animal care and monitoring products but here is a fun one.

You can get more information at their website by clicking HERE.

If you have problems seeing the video below click HERE.

Livestock & Poultry Groups Call for End of Ethanol Subsidies, Protective Tariff

richardbeal — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:00:38 +0000

The nation’s largest livestock and poultry trade associations asked the Senate leadership to allow a 30-year-old tax credit and a protective tariff for ethanol to expire as scheduled at the end of the year. The request was made in a letter signed by the American Meat Institute, the National Turkey Federation, the National Chicken Council, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Pork Producer’s Council and the National Meat Association.

“Although we support the need to advance renewable and alternative sources of energy, we strongly believe it is time that the mature corn-based ethanol industry operate on a level playing field with other commodities that rely on corn as their major input,” the groups said in its letter. “Favoring one segment of agriculture at the expense of another does not benefit agriculture as a whole or the consumers that ultimately purchase our products.”

The Senate Finance Committee now is considering whether to extend the ethanol blender’s credit and the tariff on imported ethanol. Both expire at the end of 2010. The groups noted their serious concerns over the negative economic effects on animal agriculture that government support for corn-ethanol has had, specifically the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) and the import tariff on foreign ethanol. The groups said animal agriculture has suffered serious economic hardship, including:

* The turkey industry has endured the deepest cutbacks of any in animal agriculture – a decrease in turkeys raised of more than 6 percent since 2007 levels and a near 9 percent reduction from 2008 levels – to adjust to these increased input costs. More importantly, the turkey industry eliminated nearly 3,000 jobs vital to rural America in 2008 and 2009 alone.

* The U.S. pork industry endured the two most challenging years in the industry’s history in 2008 and 2009. Total losses for the industry amounted to nearly $6 billion, and average farrow-to-finish operations lost nearly $23 for each animal marketed from October 2007 through February 2010. This financial disaster occurred despite near-record hog prices in 2008. The cause of the losses was higher production costs driven primarily by higher corn and soybean prices. Even now, projected production costs for 2010 are 25 percent higher than the costs that prevailed from 2000 through 2006.

* The cattle feeding sector of the beef industry lost a record $7 billion in equity from December 2007 to February 2010 because of high feed costs and economic factors that have negatively affected beef demand.

* The broiler industry has experienced a cumulative additional cost of nearly $15 billion, as of April 2010, since corn prices began their rise in the fall of 2006. This additional cost does not include the higher cost of other feed ingredients, such as soybean meal, whose prices tend to move in tandem with corn. Accordingly, broiler companies have suffered reduced profitability.

The groups reminded the committee that animal agriculture is united in its support for energy independence and the development of the renewable fuels industry. “However, 30 years of support has created a mature corn ethanol industry that now needs to compete fairly in the marketplace and allow for the next generation of renewable fuels to grow,” they said.

Bull Replacement Opportunity

richardbeal — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:00:09 +0000

From Cattle-FAX

Below weak imports and tight grinding beef supplies have driven cull cow and bull prices to record high level in recent months. Cull cows and bulls typically represent 15% of a cow/calf operation’s annual income, and there may be other opportunities to benefit from this market anomaly.

Bulls turned out in the spring are typically done breeding by the end of August in most parts of the country. They then graze with the cowherd and are penned up for the winter. Bull costs over the winter are significant, and dropout rates from injury or infertility can be expensive.

In the current market environment, if the cull bull prices hold through August (or past your breeding season), bulls can be taken to the sale, garner a sizeable price, and the money can be held for re-purchasing bulls the following spring. For example: A 1,800 pound bull in August bringing $70 puts $1,260 in your pocket. Wintering costs can range around $350-400 / head. Add in $50 for testing and figure a few getting injured or testing in-fertile, and it’s pretty easy to find $1,700-1,800 to put toward next spring’s bull purchase.

While this may not be feasible for the entire bull battery, it could be a good year to cull deeply and upgrade next spring.

Harry Redford Cattle Drive – Aramac, Australia

richardbeal — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 09:00:48 +0000

If you have problems seeing the video below click HERE.

Cows In A Convenience Store

richardbeal — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 09:00:13 +0000

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Proposed New Cow Horse Class

richardbeal — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 09:00:20 +0000

Ted Robinson and Todd Crawford are proposing a new cow horse class for the National Reined Cow Horse Association and the National Stock Horse Association.

If you have problems seeing the video below click HERE.

Santa Cruz Cattle

richardbeal — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:00:15 +0000

From the Breeds of Livestock website:

“King Ranch Santa Cruz cattle represent more than seven years of intense research and development aimed at creating a more market acceptable beef animal that produced superior results as both a feeder and seedstock animal. The new cattle are a composite breed, produced by first crossing Santa Gertrudis cows with Red Angus and Gelbvieh bulls. This initial union produces 1/2 Santa Gertrudis and 1/2 Red Angus males and females; as well as 1/2 Santa Gertrudis and 1/2 Gelbvieh males and females. These half bloods are then crossed back on each other to produce a 1/2 Santa Gertrudis, 1/4 Red Angus and 1/4 Gelbvieh composite animal, the finished product. This is King Ranch Santa Cruz, as composites are then bred to composites, fixing the characteristics desired in the cattle and demanded by today’s beef market.

“Stephen J. Kleberg, Vice President of King Ranch, Inc. said that King Ranch Santa Cruz cattle have “excellent conformation, perform extremely well in the feedyard, and obtain maximum results at the packing plant.” Hal Hawkins, King Ranch animal physiologist, described the cattle as “very fertile, both male and female, reaching an early sexual maturity at 12 – 14 months of age. Weaning and yearling weights are excellent, and they are very gentle cattle that demonstrate good mothering instincts.”

“The new breed produces both polled and horned individuals. In color, they range from a light red or honey to a Santa Gertrudis cherry red. Mature weight in cows ranges from 1,100 – 1,200 pounds, while bulls tip the scales from 1,800 – 2,000 pounds. The cattle have proven very heat resistant and adapt extremely well to South Texas’ harsh climate and environments. They range far and wide and work the large pastures of King Ranch very well.

“Early in 1987, the need for a more market acceptable beef animal at King Ranch was the topic of conversation from the working pens to the board room. Top producers in the beef and livestock industry were brought in to aid in the project. Educators from the major agricultural universities across the United States were invited to share their knowledge with King Ranch. Twenty-six professors from fourteen universities participated in the formulation of a master breeding plan. These specialists in the various research fields which undergird progressive livestock operations, like King Ranch, included carcass and meat experts, reproduction and physiology scientists, breeds and breeding selection specialists, geneticists, nutritionists, botanists, veterinary scientists, and climatologists.

“As a result of these meetings, King Ranch set some short and long term objectives in its breeding plan. Short term objectives included improved production (reproduction and fertility); improved market acceptability (carcass quality – grade and tenderness); and, cull cattle on strict economic considerations. Long term objectives included single breed type mating system using a composite breed; genetic policy that would produce a phenotypic look-alike; and, early sexual maturity with superior carcass quality and grade. The Santa Gertrudis breed was maintained, improved, and made more competitive.

“Two breeds were selected to add to the Santa Gertrudis to achieve these goals. Gelbvieh were chosen for their fertility, high growth, early maturity, shortened gestation length, and moderate milk production. Red Angus were selected to add early fertility, ease in calving, high carcass quality, efficiency, and polled characteristics.”

Schweppes Bull

richardbeal — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:00:24 +0000

If you have problems seeing the video below click HERE.

Super Bowl – Texas Longhorn Bull

richardbeal — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:00:36 +0000

Super Bowl has 76-1/4 inch tip-to-tip horns. One of the great young generation bulls. He is by Superman, the longest horned son of Overwhelmer. His dam is a Bouncer daughter. Bouncer sired the largest horned steers and horn circumference of any Longhorn bull. Granddam Kingly Blend is over 60″ horn. This flashy pinto stamps a cookie cutter duplicate appearance to his calves that is not seen often. He breeds very small ears, a small symmetrical head, consistent deep red pinto colors and serious horn. Super Bowl was bred and raised by Dickinson Cattle Co., Inc. He is one of the most popular bulls in history. His sons are very coveted with vibrant style. He is a leading sire of 70″ T2T sons.

If you have problems seeing the video below click HERE.