The Carolina Cattle Connection - Volume 37, Issue No. 2 (FEBRUARY 2023)

ONNECTION

2022 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts ............................................................. page 66

A Message from the CEO — Optimism, by Colin Woodall ............................................ page 58

Alltech News ......................................................................................................................... page 39

American Angus Association News ................................................................................. page 22

American Gelbvieh Association News ............................................................................ page 34

Animal Agriculture Alliance News ................................................................................... page 26

Ashley’s Beef Corner — N.C. CattleWomen Welcome Evelyn Greene, by Ashley W. Herring ....................................................................................................... page 12

Beef Checkoff News ............................................................................................................ page 57

Beef Cuts and Recommended Cooking Methods ......................................................... page 48 BioZyme News ..................................................................................................................... page 64

Bobby Aldridge Passes ........................................................................................................ page 21

Carolina Cooking — Individual Beef Wellingtons ......................................................... page 12

Cattlemen’s Beef Board Update — Beef & Dairy Industries Must Cooperate for Greater Success, by Mark Sustaine ......................................... page 60

Certified Angus Beef News ............................................................................................. page 24 Clemson and S.C. State Collaborate to Bring AgrAbility to South Carolina ............ page 44 Director’s Report — 71st Annual N.C. Cattlemen’s Association Conference, by Bryan K. Blinson ............................................................................................................. page 3

E.B.’s View from the Cow Pasture — A Sheep Path Will Lead You, by E.B. Harris ..................................................................................................................... page 15

Federation of State Beef Councils Update ..................................................................... page 50

Hannah Vanhoy Earns Junior Silver Award .................................................................... page 21

Have You Herd — The Importance of Fetal Programming to the Beef Industry, by Caitlinn McBride .......................................................................................................... page 16 Industry News ..................................................................................................................... page 68

International Brangus Breeders Association News ..................................................... page 33

John Deere News ................................................................................................................. page 66

Mud Management for Livestock Operations, by Chris LeMaster ................................ page 28

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association News ............................................................... page 62

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President’s Report — Looking to the Future While Staying Rooted in Tradition, by Don Schiefelbein ........................... page 52

New NCCA Members for 2023 .......................................................................................... page 42

North Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ...................................................... page 14

Phillip Ray Rucker, Sr. Passes ............................................................................................. page 31

Purina News ......................................................................................................................... page 46

Reinke Recognizes Brock Equipment with Dealer Performance Awards ............... page 49

S.C. Charolais Association News, by Georgeanne Webb ............................................... page 44

S.C. Women in Ag Conference Provides Connections, Shares Knowledge ............. page 41

Sandy Batten Passes ............................................................................................................ page 38

Santa Gertrudis Breeders International News .............................................................. page 38

South Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ...................................................... page 64

The Chaplain’s Corral — The Old Man, by Skeeter Spaulding ........................................ page 14

The Simmental Trail, by Jennie Rucker .............................................................................. page 30

Too Much of a Good Thing

— Ionophore Toxicity Discovered the Hard Way ................................................... page 63

Trending in Food & Media .................................................................................................. page 55

You Decide!, by Dr. Mike Walden ....................................................................................... page 18

N.C. Cattlemen’s Association

President BURON LANIER

2877 Piney Woods Road • Burgaw, NC 28425

Vice Presidents SCOTT WEST

489 Panacea Springs Road • Littleton, NC 27850

RYAN CLARK

5250 NC 772 Hwy. • Madison, NC 27025

BRANDON BOWMAN

2346 Ann Street • Claremont, NC 28610

Immediate Past President

KARL GILLESPIE

860 Corbin Road • Franklin, NC 28734

NCBA Regional Vice President (Policy)

FRED SMITH, JR.

NCBA Policy Division Director - JOHN LANGDON

N.C. Beef Council Director

RALPH BLALOCK, JR.

Beef Board Director - BRIAN WARREN

Secretary/Treasurer - EVERETT JOHNSON

Directors At Large

MATT POORE • NEIL BOWMAN • TODD SEE

Executive Director - BRYAN K. BLINSON

2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council Director of Consumer Information

ASHLEY W. HERRING

Administrative Assistant - KIM BURDGE

S.C. Cattlemen’s Association

Executive Director - TRAVIS MITCHELL

P.O. Box 207 • Saluda, SC 29138

Phone: 803-609-2828

Email: twmitch@clemson.edu

Website: www.sccattlemen.wildapricot.org

Executive Committee

President - Timmy Benton

1st Vice President - Joe Oswald IV

2nd Vice President - Gene Crim

Secretary - Carol Hendrix

Treasurer - Eric Seymour

Past President - Roscoe Kyle

William Brigman, Latta • Joe Oswald, IV, Allendale

Roscoe Kyle, Inman • Terry Kirkland, Batesburg

Eddie Evans, Easley • Cecil Eaddy, Manning

Thomas Legare, Johns Island • Richard Sox, Lexington

Carol Hendrix, Westminister • Clay Alexander, Starr

Timmy Benton, Walterboro • Michael Bailey, Lancaster

Bonnie Cann, Abbeville • Ashley Mills, Blair

Drake Yon, Ridge Spring • Gene Crim, St. Matthews

Lee Haddon, Gaffney • Eric Seymour, Columbia

S.C. Beef Council

P.O. Box 11280 • Columbia, SC 29211

Phone: 803-917-1119

Email: scbeef@scda.sc.gov

Website: www.sccattle.org

The Carolina Cattle Connection

Vol. 37, No. 2 FEBRUARY 2023

Sales & Publication Office 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

Phone: 919-552-9111

Fax: 919-552-9216

Email: mail@nccattle.com

Website: www.nccattle.com

The Carolina Cattle Connection is printed on 30 lb recycled newsprint by BN Printing in Benson, N.C.

STAFF

Manager, N.C. BRYAN BLINSON

Manager, S.C. TRAVIS MITCHELL

Editor & Advertising Director CASEY L. HINNANT

Assistant Editor & Proofreader

KIM BURDGE

N.C. Circulation KIM BURDGE

S.C. Circulation TRAVIS MITCHELL

Material in The Carolina Cattle Connection is not to be reproduced in total or in part without the written permission of the Editor. All submissions become property of The Carolina Cattle Connection, but we make every effort to return items such as photographs and artwork as requested.

The Carolina Cattle Connection, the official publication of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association and the S.C. Cattlemen’s Association is published monthly by the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association.

A complementary subscription is included with membership to each state’s association. Nonmember subscriptions are $30 per year.

All address changes for NCCA members to:

The Carolina Cattle Connection 2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

All address changes for SCCA members to:

The Carolina Cattle Connection P.O. Box 207 • Saluda, SC 29138

FORAGES

2023 American Forage & Grassland Council’s Annual Conference

— A Tale from North Carolina, by Dr. Deidre Harmon … page 4

Adaptive Management is the Key to the Success of Any Grazing System, by Matt Poore … page 6

Making the Most of Your Pastures with Multi-Species Grazing, by Andrew Weaver & Johnny Rogers … page 10

Triple Creek Journal. Life Goes On., by Matt Poore … page 7

Understanding Forage Quality for Livestock Production Systems, by Liliane Silva … page 8

Using Adaptive Grazing to Capture Value Under Ever Changing Conditions, by Johnny Rogers … page 9

71st Annual N.C. Cattlemen’s Conference

February 24-25, 2023

Hickory Metro Convention Center • Hickory, N.C.

Friday, February 24, 2023

7:30 a.m. — Board of Directors Breakfast

8:00 a.m. — Registration Opens

8:30 a.m. — Trade Show Opens

3:00 p.m. — Afternoon Break

3:00 p.m. — Committee Meetings

◆ Purebred Breeders Council

3:30 p.m. — Committee Meetings

◆ N.C. BCIP

◆ Joint Legislative/Membership

5:00 p.m. — N.C. Cattlemen’s Association

Joint Board of Directors & Annual Business Meeting

6:00 p.m. — Social

◆ Past Presidents’ & Young Producers Council Reception

MORNING SESSION

Theme: Cornerstone Cattle Management Principles

— Doing the right thing & becoming successful because of it

8:45 a.m. — Welcome

Dr. Todd See, N.C. State University

9:00 a.m. — Opening Session

Kevin & Lydia Yon, Yon Family Farms

9:45 a.m. — Cow/Calf Nutrition, Management, and Health

Dr. Tom Van Dyke • Dr. Deidre Harmon • Johnny Rogers N.C. State University

10:20 a.m. — Morning Break

10:45 a.m. — Concurrent Breakout Sessions

◆ Post Weaning to Market Commercial & Purebred Cattle

Dr. Tom Van Dyke • Dr. Deidre Harmon • Johnny Rogers

◆ Local Finishing - Management, Nutrition, & Market Research

- Got to be NC Program Participation

Dr. Matt Poore, N.C. State University • Lee Menius, NC Choices

12:00 noon — Awards Luncheon

AFTERNOON SESSION

1:30 p.m. — Trade Show Continues

2:00 p.m. — Committee Meetings

◆ CattleWomen

Guest Speaker - Evelyn Greene & Meg Palmer

◆ Forage and Grasslands Council

◆ Stocker & Cattle Feeders

◆ NCBA PAC Auction

7:00 p.m. — Cattlemen’s BBQ

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Theme: Building a Successful Industry for the Future

7:00 a.m. — Registration Opens

7:30 a.m. — Youth Recognition Breakfast Sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of North Carolina (AgCarolina, Cape Fear, & Carolina Farm Credit)

9:00 a.m. — Trade Show Opens

9:15 a.m. — Cow/Calf Post Weaning & Finishing Follow U Johnny Rogers, Dr. Tom Van Dyke, Dr. Deidre Harmon, Matt Poore, Lee Menius

9:30 a.m. — Morning Break

10:30 a.m. — Vet/Clinic Relationships

& New Herd Health Challenges

Dr. Tom Van Dyke

TRADE SHOW EDUCATION

◆ Meat Demonstration, Currey Nobles

◆ Multi-Species Grazing Opportunities, Dr. Andrew Weaver

◆ Reproduction Demo, Felipe Silva

◆ Got to be NC Marketing, Jack Nales

◆ Alternative Farm Income Ideas, Pete Anderson

◆ Skillathon Contest, Brent Jennings

◆ BQA Certification, NCSU Extension Booth

Director’s report

By BRYAN K. BLINSON Executive Director, NCCA

71st Annual N.C. Cattlemen’s Association Conference

Cornerstone Cattle Management Principles. Doing the right thing and becoming successful because of it. We welcome everyone to Hickory on February 24-25 to our 71st Annual N.C. Cattlemen’s Conference. Each year, our members, sponsors, educators, and guests gather to help strengthen our bond as an association and learn things that can make our farms more successful and our industry stronger. This year will be no different. The title of this column and the title of the conference hopefully will give you an idea of some of the exciting educational and inspirational topics we will cover.

In many ways, we plan to get back to the basics to help all of us take a good look at the practices we employ and those we might consider implementing. The ideas that we hope to explore will hopefully give us all a chance to enhance our farms for both the present and the future. Success and succession will be at the forefront of both the educational programs and policy decisions we will engage in during our time together.

We have all heard plenty about sustainability, and I am confident that the word will come up many times during the conference. However, the way that we hear it on the news or read about it in whatever form of media we choose to consume is much different than the true definition as it relates to us. We hope to help ensure the sustainability of our farms and our industry by being better informed about ways we can be financially sustainable and enjoy the fruits of good management decisions. We will explore ways to look outside of the box to help us make our farms and our industry successful and appreciated by the consumer.

I am excited to hear our lead off speaker discuss the way his family has looked outside of the box to be extremely successful for this and future generations. Kevin Yon will open our Educational Program with a peek into how he and his

wife have created a success story that is remarkable and how they have found ways to welcome their children back onto the farm to carry on the success and build upon it. To me, this is the true definition of sustainable succession. Our breakout sessions will provide ideas and insights that will speak to cow/calf, backgrounding, marketing, and other important topics that will be beneficial to all. We will continue our educational opportunities on Saturday morning with more hands on type programs that will include some exploration into how to enhance local meat programs that were so popular last year at the conference. Reproduction, herd health, marketing, and other topics will be covered in the education area of the trade show. In addition, make sure to check out the skillathon that will be set up for the youth in attendance.

In addition to the educational programs, our committees will meet in the afternoon to explore policy, discuss upcoming programs and events, and in some cases, have additional educational opportunities that will dig even deeper into some of the topics discussed in the morning.

All farmers and those who love us can never forget the importance of a good meal, and the conference is no exception. Our annual luncheon is always a highlight of the event, and we look forward to hearing from leaders of both our state and national associations and others. A special highlight this year at the luncheon will be the announcement of the county that won the “Mile of Fence” membership program, which was made possible by a generous, supportive, and forward thinking gift from Pasture Management Systems. Pasture Management will award a mile of fence to the county with the largest number of new members recruited to the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association. This program will help not only build membership into the future but will help the NCCA be sustainable through

participation and support for the cattle industry.

Succession is only necessary and possible when there is someone to carry on our efforts. That is why the youth appreciation breakfast on Saturday morning is so important. We will recognize our youth who have been successful at livestock judging, skillathon, quiz bowl, and showing, along with the newest crop of participants in the Perry and Doris Teeter Beef Leadership Institute. Don’t forget the much anticipated cake auction that benefits the youth. Throughout the conference and particularly in the trade show, we will have the opportunity to interact with members of the newly formed NCSU Collegiate Cattlemen’s group. They will be helping out in many areas of the conference and have some fun activities planned for the trade show floor.

Speaking of the trade show, the conference could not be successful without the support of the vendors in

the trade show. We will have supporters that provide goods and services for all aspects of our industry, from equipment, animal health products, financial services, forage products, and educational opportunities and services. Please invite any company or group you feel would be a good addition to the event to contact us for a space in the trade show. We will also have fun and educational events going on throughout the time we are together. On Friday night after the annual meeting, bring your checkbook so you can participate in the auction during the social. We will raise money for NCBA PAC as well as other beneficial programs. We will once again blend the old and the young with our Young Producers and Past President’s reception on Friday night.

The annual conference is always a good time to learn, plan, and support but most of all, to see old friends, make new friends, and feel part of the association and the Industry we love. See you in Hickory!

2023 American Forage and Grassland Council’s Annual Conference – A Tale From North Carolina

By DR. DEIDRE HARMON N.C. State University

I always start out the new year by writing a recap about the American Forage and Grassland Council’s (AFGC) Annual Conference, which is always held sometime in the first two weeks of January. This year, the update is extra special because, for the first time, AFGC’s annual conference was held in North Carolina. In addition, Ronnie Holman, a North Carolina resident, has served as the AFGC president throughout 2022 and had the honor of hosting and welcoming attendees to the conference. North Carolina has the second largest affiliate state council in the United States, and for years, we have been anxious about the chance to get to host this meeting in our state. This year, the conference was held at the Winston-Salem Marriott with the theme “Forage For The World: Think Globally. Grow Locally.” With around 300 attendees from over 25 states, this conference was a great chance to meet and learn from those across state lines.

The AFGC conference ran from January 7-11 and was chock full of events, meetings, and workshops. Saturday was dedicated to planning meetings of various International Grasslands Congress committees. The International Grasslands Congress (IGC) first met in Germany in 1927 and consisted of 16 scientists from seven countries. Today, IGC consists of hundreds of participants from all 11 geographical regions of the world. The United States has not hosted the IGC meeting since 1981, when it was held in Lexington, Kentucky. However,

May 14-19 will be the third time in history the United States has received the honor of hosting this worldwide conference. If you haven’t already done so, mark your calendars for this once in a lifetime opportunity. You will be able to participate in pre-congress tours in all regions of the United States, participate in a multitude of sub-themes during the conference, and even go on a midcongress tour of the Kentucky, Ohio, or Indiana regions. You can learn more about IGC at internationalgrasslands.org

Monday was “producer day” at AFGC and to officially kick off the start of the conference was our very own keynote speaker, Ray Starling, N.C. Chamber Legal Institute. If you have never heard Ray speak, you are really missing out, as he packs a punch that many of us aren’t prepared for. He started Monday morning off by describing a predicament we, in agriculture, are in. He described how the agricultural community is continually being painted as the “bad guy” by those who are not in agriculture, all while the data and facts do not support this claim. Nonetheless, these claims continue to gain more support and more steam as the population is further removed from the family farm. In his new book, “Farmers Versus Foodies,” Ray describes this ongoing battle in our food system and how the future of agriculture will be impacted by those not actually in agriculture. Ray’s book is available on Amazon if you want to know more about this predicament.

Monday morning’s workshops

were also packed with North Carolina speakers. Corteva Agriscience sponsored a workshop on managing pasture for diversity and production, where Dr. Matt Poore spoke on how to assess perennial pastures for diversity and how to use that information for the development of a renovation strategy. In an adjacent room was the alternative grazing species workshop coordinated by Johnny Rogers. In this room, we had a slew of North Carolina producers and professionals covering topics from small ruminants to equines to multi-species grazing. Dr. Andrew Weaver kicked off the workshop by describing multi-species grazing opportunities on beef cattle operations. Dr. Paul Siciliano then covered the role of horses in improved grazing systems, and small ruminant producers Joe Hampton and Rafael Bravo both spoke on utilizing small ruminants as grazing tools in monoor multi-species operations. We then broke for lunch, where we were given a glimpse into North Carolina agriculture, from the mountains to the sea, by our very own Weston McCorkle. Weston currently serves as an Agricultural Programs Specialist for the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and, in his spare time, also serves on the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors, is a volunteer firefighter, and runs a commercial brood cattle operation where he manages forages and commercial cow/calf pairs.

The afternoon was just as packed with informational sessions, including a poster session, a session on pasture and hay establishment, and a volunteer oral presentation session. In the volunteer oral presentations, Jason Smith from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission gave an inspiring update on the status of the Warm Season Grass Program. Jason has worked with many producers on the establishment of native grasses for the benefit of wildlife, forage production, quality, and improving seasonal forage distribution. If you are interested in this program, please contact Jason Smith, as he is an invaluable resource to our state.

Monday evening concluded with two

highly anticipated competitions. First was the forage spokesperson competition, where producers from all over the United States competed for this title. This year was one of the toughest competitions this conference has ever seen, with competitors from North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Georgia, and Indiana. In this year’s competition, the N.C. Forage and Grasslands Council nominated Chad Woods as their forage spokesperson. Together, Chad and Kim Woods are managing partners of Spring Crest Farms, LLC, a family owned and operated farming operation in Hurdle Mills, N.C., raising beef cattle and hay. During the competition, Chad spoke about how the once dairy farm transitioned into its current operation of orchardgrass and novel endophyte tall fescue hay. The story of Spring Crest Farms is one of a passion for farming, an eye on the future, and a drive for environmental stewardship. Chad clearly painted this picture as he spoke about stockpiling forages for deferred winter grazing, utilizing temporary fencing for rotational grazing systems, and taking advantage of the southeastern climate by using summer and winter annuals like crabgrass, pearl millet, sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, wheat, oats, rye, and crimson clover to maximize efficiency. We couldn’t be prouder to have Chad Woods, a past president of the N.C. Forage and Grassland Council represent the state in this competition.

The final competition of Monday

North Carolina attendees at the 2023 American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference.

Ronnie Holman receives an award for serving as the 2022 AFGC President from the incoming 2023 president.

Spotlight on FoRAgES e Special Section f

evening was the Forage Bowl Playoff. This competition is also a conference attendee favorite. Universities have the chance to send a forage bowl undergraduate team to the national conference each year for a chance to bring home the national title. Each team is made up of four undergraduate team members. There were four teams this year fighting to take home the title of Forage Bowl Champion. Monday night, we had two playoff games to determine the two teams that would advance to play each other in the national forage bowl finale on Tuesday morning. In the end, Purdue and Kansas State beat out Auburn University and Fort Hays State University to compete in the championship. The championship Tuesday morning was neck to neck between the two schools all the way to the final jeopardy question. In the end, Kansas State University came out on top to be the 2023 National Forage Bowl Champion.

Pam’s presentation was Dr. Rebecca McCulley from the University of Kentucky, who has been monitoring climate changes impacts on forages. Dr. McCulley has found that as our climate becomes warmer, you can expect KY 31 toxic tall fescue to produce greater levels of toxins. You can also expect reduced cool season grass persistence and a greater encroachment of warm season species. Wrapping up this session was Hunter Johnson, a crop insurance agent who gave producers insight on choosing a forage insurance plan to address the changing climate and unpredictable weather patterns.

the realm of forages as well as to award the efforts and contributions of AFGC members. Hitting close to home, North Carolina took home three coveted awards at the banquet. I was honored with receiving the Early Career Award, which is presented to an individual who has made significant contributions to the forage and grassland industry as a relatively new member of the field. Ronnie Holman awarded Johnny Rogers with an AFGC Merit Award, which is presented to individuals who have made superior contributions in some phase of forage and grassland agriculture. Recipients have earned recognition among their colleagues for work and productivity in forage and grassland agriculture in research, teaching, extension, production, or industrial development. Lastly, Ronnie Holman also awarded Mike Jones from Surry County, North Carolina, the Presidential Citation Award for his many years of service to the N.C. Forage and Grassland Council, AFGC, and the forage industry as a

whole. Mike’s vision and dream of having AFGC in North Carolina and his years of work toward this goal is the reason our state was able to host this conference a few weeks ago.

To wrap up, we had an amazing time hosting the American Forage and Grassland Council’s Annual Conference in Winston-Salem. If you are not a member of our state affiliate, the N.C. Forage and Grassland Council, I encourage you to do so today. The state membership gets you a membership to the national council as well. This has been an amazing organization to be a part of, and some of my best friendships have come from this organization. If you are looking for great educational opportunities, want to stay up to date on the latest industry trends, or just want to talk “grass” or “grazing” or “hay” with some other forage fanatics, I promise this is the organization for you. Join us for IGC in Kentucky May 14-19 or for the 2024 AFGC Annual Conference in January 2024 in Alabama.

Tuesday was another fun filled day at the conference. Besides the forage bowl championship, there were plenty of opportunities for attendees to be involved. Another poster session provided attendees with a glimpse into the wonderful research activities ongoing around the country. The plant identification contest allowed participants to test their plant identification skills, the hay evaluation contest allowed participants to check up on their guessing skills, and there were plenty of connections made in the sponsor exhibition area. At the climate workshop, Pam Knox from the University of Georgia spoke to us virtually about patterns in climate from the last 50 years and what to expect in the next 50. Unfortunately, based on Pam’s predictions, you can expect weather events to become more extreme moving forward. Following

Finally, the last workshops of the day included managing input costs for profitability and sustainability, organized by Dr. Alan Franzluebbers. In this workshop, Dr. Franzluebbers set out to address the rising input costs that have made agricultural production even more challenging than normal. This session focused on answering questions like “will input costs always be high?”, “what are the impacts of supply chain shocks on the farm economy?” and “how can one remain productive and profitable with high fertilizer prices?”. In a neighboring room was the emerging scientist competition, which included the brightest graduate students from across the country, providing attendees a glimpse into their research. During the allocated 15 minute timeslot, presenters provided a research question, a method of study, and presented findings while concluding with a question and answer session. This competition included participants from four states, Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky, and was very competitive.

At the end of every AFGC Annual Conference, an awards banquet is held to celebrate another successful year in

Deidre Harmon receives the AFGC Early Career Award.

Johnny Rogers receives an AFGC Merit Award for his service to the industry.

“DESIGNED FOR CATTLEMEN BY CATTLEMEN”

Adaptive Management is the Key to the Success of Any Grazing System

By MATT POORE

Interest in controlled grazing management has increased in recent years, in large part due to increased input costs. The promise of growing more grass with fewer inputs is intriguing, and some would suggest that there is only one way to get that done. Systems like high density/short duration grazing are receiving a lot of attention, and all these systems have the same basic principles. Frequent movement of animals with a high stocking density, resulting in short grazing bouts and long rest periods, are key principles. As you study the current popular press on these topics, you will find that these system names and definitions are used very loosely with a lot of overlap.

A recent name for these systems is “adaptive grazing management.” If you go on the web and look for information on this, you will find a lot written about it, but there is little said to define it for what it is. I found several university and private resources that state that adaptive grazing management is more or less synonymous with managed grazing, controlled grazing, etc. Others state that in adaptive grazing management, you need to follow very clear management practices such as very short grazing periods, very high forage mass, low forage utilization efficiency, and a high level of plant diversity. This same system was called “mob grazing” a decade ago.

At the Amazing Grazing Program, we teach adaptive grazing management to farmers and their advisors, but it is not the same as what is being taught by others that just grabbed this name and used it to describe a specific system. To better understand what we mean by Adaptive Grazing, let’s review the bro1ader

concept of adaptive management. Adaptive management has been used in many industries and in many other settings where there is a lot of uncertainty about many aspects of the system.

With traditional management, there is a relatively high level of confidence in how different components interact, and many things like inputs (raw materials) can be bought on forward contract. Managers and employees can do what they are told with relative certainty that the product will be consistent.

With systems that are more complex and which are impacted by many conditions that are beyond our control, those traditional management approaches don’t work very well. The most effective management for those situations will be more flexible and will involve a lot of thinking and changing of plans along the way to react to changing conditions. The final goals do not change, but how you get there does.

Grazing Systems don’t do well when implemented as a traditional rigid management scheme. There is just too much uncertainty about what you will face on any given day. Whatever you call your system and whatever the guiding principles, you still need to apply adaptive management practices. It is clear that every farmer will have a different ideal system based on their time availability, their interest in spending a lot of time with the livestock, the land resource they have to work with, and their production goals.

Once I was visiting farms in Costa Rica where rotational grazing through multiple paddocks is the prevailing management in many areas. It interested me that on most farms, the workers who moved

The Principles of Adaptive Management

1. Evaluate resources

2. Set system goals

3. Develop an initial management plan

4. Implement the management plan

5. Evaluate short term outcome

6. Modify the management plan

7. Continue to repeat steps 4-6

the cattle didn’t understand the principles of grazing management but were rather just following orders to move animals to the next paddock once a day. Some paddocks were consistently overgrazed, and some were consistently undergrazed. It struck me that these multi-paddock systems were not working much better than the continuous grazing systems that predominate in the United States. What is important is the workers who move the livestock need to be thinking and evaluating the daily outcome of their actions.

With adaptive management, it is important to set your long term goals and set up a general approach to reach those goals. The daily activities that lead you to the right outcome will differ as conditions change, and the grazing manager needs to be monitoring components of the system to keep them on the right track. Setting your long term goals is critical and should always aim to improve soil health and plant productivity. However, some may need to target a high level of consistent animal production, such as pasture based finishing systems that require a high quality product, purebred production, etc. Others may be relatively unconcerned with individual animal production but will focus more on plant diversity or other components of soil health.

My colleague Johnny Rogers, the Amazing Grazing Program Coordinator, offered a definition of adaptive grazing management that I think comes closer to capturing what it is than most of the other definitions out there. “The practice of using proven grazing management principles and

practices to meet the dynamic, biologic, economic and social needs of individual grazing operations and their communities.” This is a little vague and reminds me a lot of the definition of sustainability, but I think this captures it pretty well.

The key is there is no exact way you need to do grazing management to be successful. Don’t think that someone can come to your farm and tell you in a short time how to implement your grazing system. The key to your development will be to use that reiterative process of trying new practices and then modifying them to fit your system. Not all grazing practices will work on every farm, but you should be trying new things and evaluating them. Don’t be stuck in a specific system, as it will limit your ability to react to changing market conditions, rainfall (or the lack of it), animal health problems that occur along the way, etc.

As you develop your grazing management skills, attend grazing workshops and get help from skilled advisors. Apply what you learn on your farm and evaluate the outcome. Beware of folks who say they can tell you exactly what you need to do to be successful. The best manager will never say never and never say always to any practice. They will be open to new ideas and techniques, and they will critically evaluate every action they take so they can adapt management to reach their long term goals.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2023 issue of Hay and Forage Grower

Yearlings grazing ryegrass

Triple Creek Journal. Life Goes On.

By MATT POORE

We had a big loss to our farm a few weeks ago. My mom, Ninalei Bader Poore (Nina), passed away; she was 91. She had been in a slow decline for the last two years, but she stayed positive as she approached the end of her life. Life changed for her dramatically in 2015 when my dad passed away, and it seems like only a short time ago. My parents lived amazing lives and raised seven productive kids. Our main home was in Arizona, but in the summer, we traveled to North Carolina to work on a small tobacco and cattle farm my folks bought after we moved from the east to the west. This was a great experience for little kids, and along the way, I became convinced that I wanted to be a farmer.

About the time I entered college, my folks purchased nearby Triple Creek Ranch, which also grew tobacco but had a lot more cows and pasture. We now calve 110 cows and finish 50 calves for the local beef market. Many of the young people in our family have passed through “The Farm” over the years, taking gap years from college or taking a few years while deciding on a final course for life.

After graduate school, my spouse and I moved back to North Carolina, where I was close to the farm. I had a chance to spend a lot of time with my parents over the last three decades. Mom was especially important to our farm as she was the most conscientious cow checker at calving time, and she also loved to feed. I have a clear memory of her helping unroll a round bale down a hill and pouring whole cottonseed on top of it.

Mom was also the key to the early development of our local beef business. She loved talking to people, so she did our marketing and really had a knack for selling beef. We had many great experiences developing the program and then named it “Blake’s Beef” for my nephew Blake Herman who worked on the farm in the 1990s but passed away at age 25.

My dad was cremated, and small samples of his ashes were carried all over the world to his favorite places. Some of his ashes were spread on one of our pastures, and the balance was buried on the top of Gill Mountain, where we have

constructed a large stack of white rocks as a memorial. My nephew Blake was also spread on that pasture. In the spring, my mom will join Dad and Blake in the same pasture, and I hope that I will, in turn, join them someday. It gives me a comfortable feeling to realize that when I turn a group of cows into that pasture, my loved ones are part of the mineral cycle there and that a little piece of them is in the grass and in the cows as well. They will be part of the ecological cycles on this farm forever.

The passage of time is the hardest thing for me to get my hands around. It seems only months ago that Mom and Dad were here helping work cows and keeping the farm going. Now I am the old man, and I enjoy having my nieces and nephews and their families around to enjoy the beauty of the farm. I am also working with a young couple developing a pasture based livestock farm next to ours. They are hungry to learn about regenerative grazing management, and I look forward to helping them develop the skills they will need in the future.

I have changed the way I think about our farm over the years. When I was young, I was confident about what I was doing, and I thought I was in control of everything. Then, in middle age, I realized I was not in control at all, and I worried a lot about things beyond my control. In more recent years, I realize I

am a part of something much bigger than myself and that my job is to be observant and adaptive and to take my turn steering this huge ship through time.

Part of doing a good job of stewardship and management is being connected with the system. Take time to get out of your truck, walk pastures, and think about the incredible system that you have the pleasure to be a part of. When

I do this, my parents are right there with me, and I have a strong feeling of their presence. As you spend more and more time on the ground with the animals and the plants, you will realize this kind of work is good for your soul.

Reprinted with permission from Alliance for Grassland Renewal Novel Notes

2023 Spotlight iSSueS Schedule

Most of the breed associations in North and South Carolina have stepped forward and renewed their contracts for Spotlight sections in The Carolina Cattle Connection for 2023. If your breed is not featured as a Spotlight section and you would like to inquire on any open months please feel free to contact me. Below is the tentative schedule for the upcoming year.

2023 Reserved Spotlight Issues

Understanding Forage Quality for Livestock Production Systems

BY LILIANE SILVA Clemson University

In the Southeast, most livestock production systems are based on perennial grass forages. The nutrient concentration of forages directly impacts individual animal performance (e.g., growth, milk production), while the total amount of forage produced determines the animal production per area. Commonly, forage quality is defined as the nutrient concentration and digestibility of forages. It is important to emphasize that in the technical literature, forage quality is defined by forage nutritive value and intake. Understanding and measuring forage quality is crucial to determine supplementation and predicting animal performance in grazing systems or when feeding hay.

smaller patches is recommended. Several sites should be collected and compiled into a bucket, mixed thoroughly, and a composite sample sent to the laboratory for analysis. It is a similar approach to soil sampling.

research based guidelines for foragelivestock systems in the Southeast region” book available for download at https:// projects.sare.org/information-product/ concepts-and-research-based-guidelinesfor-forage-livestock-systems-in-thesoutheast-region/, or use the following QR code.

some forage species. Anti-quality factors include tannins, nitrates, and alkaloids, among others. These compounds can lower animal performance, compromise animal health, and even lead to death. Multiple factors, such as time of the year, environmental conditions, and species, determine the presence of anti-quality factors in forages. There are specific tests to determine those compounds’ concentrations in plants.

Collecting a forage sample for analysis - Most producers will request information on crude protein (CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) percentages from supplements they purchase. Still, they will never analyze forage samples from pastures or hay that animals consume. To determine the nutrient concentration, a forage sample must be analyzed to determine the percentages of crude protein (CP), digestibility, and fiber fractions, among other factors. These parameters are obtained in the laboratory report and additional calculated indicators such as total digestible nutrients and relative forage quality.

In order to conduct a forage analysis, it is essential to collect a representative forage sample. For live plants (pasture or hayfields), forage should be randomly collected throughout each field at the target stubble height recommended. In large fields, splitting the area into

Hay, haylage, and baleage should also be sampled for analysis before feeding. When sampling them, use a hay probe with a power drill to facilitate the process. Several bales should be tested to collect a representative forage sample. Bales should be sampled at the round size on round bales and the short side on square bales. On wrapped bales, after collecting the samples, use heavy duty, UV resistant tape to cover each hole to prevent air and wildlife from entering the bales because this would lead to losses in quantity and quality. It is essential always to follow the recommendations from the laboratory for the size and storage of forage samples to be sent for analysis. Consult your local Extension agent if you have any questions on how or where to send collect forage samples.

Then, once the samples are analyzed, a report is generated with information on several parameters. For more information on the definitions of main parameters, please refer to Extension technical resources, such as the “Concepts and

Factors affecting forage quality -

The main factors affecting forage quality are plant species, management practices, and the environment. Generally, legumes are of higher quality than grasses due to less fiber and higher CP concentration in legumes. This is one reason that the incorporation of legumes into grass systems has been increasing, aiming to balance production and quality in the animal’s diet. There are also differences between cool and warm season species once the leaf anatomy is different between C4 and C3 plants, and C4 species accumulate a higher proportion of structural fractions, for example, that are less digestible.

Regarding management practices, fertility levels, regrowth interval, maturity, and forage composition will determine forage quality. Proper nutrient replenishment supports the plants’ growth and nutrient accumulation. In contrast, excessive plant maturity leads to an increased proportion of stems and accumulation of less digestible fractions. Overly mature forage will have a lower passage rate due to lower digestibility, reducing overall intake and compromising animal performance. Many factors influence animal performance; one that has been gaining more visibility lately is the occurrence of anti-quality factors in

It is important to mention the importance of properly storing bales as well to decrease losses in quality and quantity. For hay, haylage/baleage, or silage bales, proper storage will help maintain quality of the conserved forage. Decreasing contact with soil, rainfall, wildlife, and air (for high moisture options) is crucial in supporting the quality of stored feed. Then, upon feeding, it is important to make sure the animal’s nutritional needs are met. Conducting a forage analysis is the first step since it is the only way to determine the forage quality. The nutrient concentration report helps balance diets properly to meet nutritional requirements for the different livestock categories and can also help save money overall. Don’t get caught napping!

Using Adaptive Grazing to Capture Value Under Ever Changing Conditions

By JOHNNY ROGERS

For the casual observer, pasture based agriculture can seem very simple. The plants in our pastures capture sunlight, use water, and soil minerals to create plant tissue. Herbivores consume these grasses, legumes, and forbs and produce meat, milk, fiber, and recreational value (i.e., horses, etc.) for human consumption. Building profitable enterprises should be simple when most of the raw materials needed are free. Those of us engaged in this industry understand the complexity of grazing systems. Developing a better understanding of pasture ecology has been the primary focus of the Amazing Grazing program. By shifting our focus from only grazing livestock to a broader view of all the elements in pasture ecosystems, we can better see the impact of our decisions. Unfortunately, this will not always lead to clear solutions that can be applied in all situations. Rather it needs to provide land stewards with a framework to make decisions about which tools they can use to address the challenges arising on their farms.

A pasture inventory is a great starting point, and it will show current pasture conditions. Plant type and condition can tell you about prior management. Overgrazed and overrested conditions can be identified and a renovation plan developed. Remember, renovation does not always mean establishing new plantings. Adjusting management to allow for an ample rest period between grazings can rejuvenate overgrazed pastures. Great pastures are built from the ground up. In other words, we need to become familiar with the soils on our farm. The Web Soil Survey is a great online resource that can help you become more familiar

with your soils. Soil sampling pastures every three years will help manage soil fertility. Using good grazing management will help maintain fertility over time and improve soil health.

The pasture inventory will reveal the most common forages in our pastures. We can use this information to build a grazing plan. Using forage production estimates, we can get an idea about when our forage will be available and address any excess or shortages. NCRS, Soil & Water, and Extension staff can assist with this step. For cool season grasses like tall fescue, managing the spring flush can be challenging, especially for operations that do not harvest hay. A flexible stocking rate is beneficial but not always practical. Bringing in more grazing livestock during this time can be valuable but difficult to manage because the cattle may need to leave in 60-90 days or less. Biosecurity is a concern for many cow/calf producers when bringing in other cattle. In some cases, not grazing some paddocks in the spring is the best alternative to maintaining the proper rest period for the paddocks being grazed. The overrested paddocks can be used later in the season with a class of

livestock with low nutrient requirements. A common mistake made by many new graziers is becoming obsessed with a high level of forage utilization. They want to take all plants grazed down to the target height so the post grazing appearance and forage regrowth will be uniform. However, animal performance may (not always) suffer because the livestock was not able to achieve the proper dry matter intake. Meeting the needs of our livestock should be the goal of all graziers. Of course, nutrient requirements vary greatly between livestock classes. For example, pasture finished beeves should be grazed in a manner that allows them to choose the best forages at a high level of intake. A strategy could be to use them as “first grazers” followed by dry ewes (or cows) to increase forage utilization. With this technique, we used our forage but met the livestock needs as well. To a large degree, grazing management is essentially time management. We need to evaluate when our livestock has access to a paddock, how long they will remain, and when they will return for the next grazing event. Grazing practices must fit the individual operation. Setting up a system that requires daily moves for someone with an off-farm job may not work very well. Make sure the grazing practices fit your context to avoid “grazing burnout.”

Grazing management is both an art and a science. Many in the academic community are still debating the value of

improved grazing management. I concede it is often difficult to demonstrate the value of improved grazing practices on research stations. The daily observations and adjustments (adaptive grazing) needed for success complicate the research model. Furthermore, the time required to see management benefits is longer than the typical research project. Yet many practitioners of this craft continue to find advantages with this approach to resource management. It is my opinion that sometimes science leads to innovation, and other times innovation is later validated by science. There is still much to learn about managing soil, plants, animals, and people in our stewardship of these resources. A multidisciplined approach with scientists, farmers, and industry advocates will move us forward in our journey.

(Adapted from the 2023 Virginia Forage and Grasslands Council Winter Conference Proceedings)

the Spotlight.

Plan grazing that works for you.

Cattle enjoy diverse pastures.

Pasture subdivision with temporary electric fence can increase forage utilization.

Our breed Spotlight special sections are excellent forums to reach producers and cattle industry insiders in the Carolinas and throughout the Southeast. Advertisers also receive a special discount for placing their message in

Making the Most of Your Pastures with Multi-Species Grazing

By ANDREW WEAVER & JOHNNY ROGERS, N.C. State University

Why Multi-Species Grazing?

Increased value of land and other inputs over recent years have stimulated discussion on how to get the most out of available resources. One option that should be considered is multi-species grazing. Adding small ruminants to a cattle operation may provide improved pasture utilization, parasite management, and risk mitigation. Some of the benefits and considerations for adding small ruminants to a cattle enterprise were discussed in an article in the September 2019 issue of The Carolina Cattle Connection. In short, grazing preferences vary between sheep and cattle. Sheep can be more selective, favoring the highest quality grasses and forbes, while cattle are less selective. Consequently, a saying was developed, “for every cow your operation runs you can add one ewe and never miss the grass,” eluding to the potential of multi-species grazing without negative effects on your pasture productivity. Cattle and small ruminants do not share the same parasites, so pasture parasite contamination may also be reduced in multi-species systems. Further, diversified marketing opportunities with small ruminants and cattle may improve risk management through better cash flow and resistance to market fluctuations.

That said, small ruminants require above average management to be

successful. They may require additions to existing fencing, housing, and feeding infrastructure and will demand additional labor, especially around lambing or kidding time. If pasture health is already of concern (overgrazing, etc.), adding small ruminants may not be the best option.

Practical ConsiderationsQuestions I receive when discussing multi-species grazing often relate to fencing needs and feed requirements. A single strand of polywire will rarely contain sheep and will certainly not contain goats. Two or three strands of polywire may be sufficient for sheep. Polynet provides the most substantial barrier for small ruminants, but it is more expensive and labor intensive. Unfortunately, containing small ruminants is only half the battle. Sheep and goats must have protection from predators such as coyotes and dogs. This can mean additional fencing to slow the entrance of coyotes to your pastures and/or keeping livestock guardian dogs with your flock. Other management strategies like night penning can reduce predation as well.

Additionally, sheep should not have access to cattle feed or mineral due to high copper levels. This often leads to the question of true co-grazing (multiple species housed together) or a leaderfollower system where groups are housed

separately, with one group grazing ahead of the other. The latter offers benefits in that mineral and feed can be provided separately.

Multi-species Grazing Demonstration Summary - To demonstrate feasibility and impact on pastureland, a multispecies grazing project was conducted in the summer of 2022 at the N.C. State University Small Ruminant Educational Unit in Raleigh, N.C., (funded by the N.C. Cattle Industry Assessment). Crabgrass was planted the first week of May, and grazing started mid-July. A five acre paddock was separated into three equal size sections. One section contained four 7-weight heifers (cattle only), one section contained 20 mature ewes (sheep only), and one section contained four heifers and four ewes (cattle+sheep) grazing in a leader-follower system. One week grazing allocations were made within each section. Pastures were grazed

until early September (57 days). Parasite infection based on fecal egg count was minimal in all animals during the grazing period.

Forage yield, quality, and botanical composition were measured at the start, midpoint, and end of the grazing period. Forage yield was similar across all sections at the start of grazing (~2,500 lb./ac). Forage yield remained similar between the cattle only and cattle+sheep sections at the midpoint (3,700 lb./ac) and end of the grazing period (1,200 lb./ ac). The sheep only section had the lowest yield at both of these time points (2,400 and 800 lb./ac, respectively). This may indicate overstocking by adding five ewes for every heifer in the sheep only section. However, each section (~1.5 acres) supported 2,500-3,000 lb. of livestock for the entire grazing period.

While crabgrass was planted in these pastures, other forages were present as

1Assume 5:1 sheep-to-cattle ratio

2Assume 1:1 sheep-to-cattle ratio in multi-species system 3Cattle system: 90% conception rate, 90% calf survival, and 10% replacement rate. Sheep system: 90% conception rate, 150% lamb crop, 90% lamb survival, and 20% replacement rate.

Table 1. Economic returns of cattle only, sheep only, or multi-species systems

Various images from the summer 2022 multi-species grazing project. Sheep were grazed using polynet while the cattle were grazed using a single polywire. Large shade structures were used for each group. Natural shade could also be provided with trees in or around pastures.

Cattle and sheep grazing in a leader-follower system. The growing heifers (left) were grazed ahead of the mature ewes (right).

Spotlight on FoRAgES e Special Section f

well. At the start of grazing, crabgrass as a portion of the total plant population was greatest for the cattle+sheep section (60 percent), the cattle-only section had the lowest (44 percent), with the sheep only section intermediate (54 percent). At the midpoint, the sheep only section had decreased to 26 percent, with the cattle only section at 38 percent, and the cattle+sheep section remaining somewhat constant at 56 percent. At the end of the grazing period, the sheep only section remained the lowest (40 percent), with equal crabgrass concentrations in the cattle only and cattle+sheep sections (62 percent). The sheep may have preferred the crabgrass and been more selective in their grazing.

Forage quality was relatively similar in all sections throughout the grazing period. Dry matter content increased from around 20 percent to 35 percent in all sections from the start to the end. Neutral detergent fiber started around 59 percent and ended around 65 percent. Total digestible nutrients was relatively high

at the start of grazing (74 percent) and decreased to around 66 percent by the end of grazing. Crude protein started around 9 percent for all sections. The cattle+sheep and sheep only sections ended around 9 percent, while the cattle only section ended at 11 percent. Crabgrass is a relatively high energy forage, especially when grazed at early maturity. However, supplemental protein may be needed to support animals at highly demanding times. In addition, applying nitrogen to the crabgrass pastures could increase crude protein levels and increase yields. These results support previous data indicating sheep can be added to a cattle enterprise at a 1:1 ratio without significant changes to forage yield or quality.

Conclusions - Diversifying your operation through multi-species grazing may yield benefits in land productivity, decreased parasite exposure, and improved risk management. A comparison of hypothetical economic returns can be found in the associated table. Apply metrics for your operation

to help decide if multi-species grazing is the right choice for you. Investments in improved fencing, housing, and feeding infrastructure should also be considered

before getting started. N.C. Cooperative Extension and the Amazing Grazing Team can assist with any questions you may have in this decision making process.

Sheep are more selective in their grazing behavior than cattle. The image on the left is from the sheep only section. The image on the right is from the cattle only section. Sheep selectively grazed leaves off foxtail while the cattle left the entire plant.

Ashley’s Beef Corner T

N.C. CattleWomen Welcome

Evelyn Greene

By ASHLEY W. HERRING Director of Consumer Information N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council

Our North Carolina CattleWomen’s organization is looking forward to hosting Evelyn Greene, former president of the American National CattleWomen, at our upcoming meeting. Evelyn will speak to our group at the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association Annual Conference on February 24 at the Hickory Metro Center. All are welcome, and we are excited to hear about opportunities that support our interest in beef.

The N.C. CattleWomen was founded with the goal of promoting beef. From the beginning with cooking contests, the organization now focuses on promotion and education to enhance the image of beef.

In 1952, the American National CattleWomen organization was formed to unite all into a national voice. This is a professional networking group that is involved in many aspects of beef, from school age education, legislative interests, and consumer information. It provides an opportunity to network with women who have a shared interest in the beef industry and beyond.

If you’re looking for a place to join a welcoming community of like minded friends with similar interests and a shared way of life, this is the place for you!

Evelyn’s focus while leading the ANCW was on promoting sustainable beef production and encouraging more women to carve out careers in the agriculture industry. Here’s a bit more about her:

Evelyn Greene, from Auburn, Ala., grew up on an agriculture farm in Cullman County, Alabama. Growing up on a diversified farm with cattle, sweet potatoes, corn, and soybeans gave her the value of hard work. Her family’s beef operation was in the largest beef producing county in Alabama, and this

is where she gained her passion for the industry. She is a beef advocate and beef promoter.

She was involved with 4-H in her elementary and high school years. Since 1982, she has been the support and management of her family farm – row crop and cow/calf operation.

She is married to Wayne Greene, Ph.D., P.A.S. professor and head of animal sciences at Auburn University and a specialist in beef cattle nutrition.

Evelyn has a diverse background in many capacities and leadership roles through her community, county, state, and national levels as a cattlewoman with over 27 years of actively serving the beef industry. She has served in all the officer positions for Cullman County CattleWomen’s Association.

She is currently serving with Lee County CattleWomen’s and Cattlemen’s Associations. She also has served in all the officer roles of the Alabama CattleWomen’s Association and became President in 2011. She has served as Secretary (2010), National Beef Cook-Off Committee (2008-2011), Chair National

Beef Cook-Off Committee (2012-2014), Chair Board of Directors (2012-2016), Collegiate Beef Advocacy Program manager (2016 – 2018), Vice President (2018), President-Elect (2019) and President (2020-2021) for the American National CattleWomen’s Association.

Evelyn is an alumnus of the Masters of Beef Advocacy Program, Beef Quality Assurance certified, and was a part of the first class to graduate from ANCW Women’s Leadership Program in 2018. During her professional career of 30 years, she was a certified Optician and

office manager of a growing Optometry Practice in Cullman, Alabama.

After retiring from her professional career, she continues the passion she grew up with, farming and agriculture. To her, the beef community is a snapshot of all things that have made America great. She is driven by her passion for the industry to strive for excellence.

Please join us on February 24 at 2:00 p.m. to participate. We are excited about the opportunities the cattlewomen organization can bring to us and are ready to hear from Evelyn.

Carolina Cooking

Individual Beef Wellingtons

Total Time - 1 hour

4 beef tenderloin steaks, 1 inch thick (4 ounces each)

2 teaspoons olive oil

½ pound mushrooms, finely chopped

3 tablespoons dry red wine

3 tablespoons finely chopped green onions

¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves

Salt and pepper

12 sheets phyllo dough

Garnish:

Dijon style mustard (optional)

Heat oven to 425°F. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over mediumhigh heat until hot. Add mushrooms; cook and stir until tender. Add wine; cook for 2-3 minutes or until liquid is evaporated. Stir in green onions, thyme, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ⅛ teaspoon pepper. Remove from skillet; cool thoroughly.

Heat the same skillet over mediumhigh heat until hot. Place steaks in skillet; cook for 3 minutes, turning once. (Steaks will be partially cooked. Do not overcook.) Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

On a flat surface, layer half the phyllo dough, spraying each sheet thoroughly with cooking spray. Cut stacked layers lengthwise in half lengthwise to make 2 equal portions. Place about 2 tablespoons of mushroom mixture in the center of each portion; spread the mixture to the diameter of each steak. Place steaks on

the mushroom mixture. Bring together all 4 corners of phyllo dough; twist tightly to close. Lightly spray each with cooking spray; place on greased baking sheet. Repeat this process for the remaining half of the phyllo dough.

Immediately bake in 425°F oven for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Individual Beef Wellingtons

the chaplain’s corral

By SKEETER SPAULDING Chaplain, Cowboys for Christ

The Old Man

The Old Man lay stark still on the bunkhouse bed, suffering a high fever. A life of range work left his dark face and hands scarred and weathered. His worn body bent with age, and he limped from a horse wreck sometime back — another’s mistake. If one were not intently watching his shallow breathing, you’d think him dead. Had it not been for him, the two young cowhands sitting near his bedside would not be the strong men they are today.

The life he labored through in the South before becoming a free man was a most difficult one. Born on a cold winter night to slave parents sometime around 1815 on a Virginia tobacco plantation, he knew what hard work was. By 1835, the region’s soil was depleted from over farming tobacco. So, in 1836 he was sold down river as a young man. The Old Man was never to see another family member again. Countless slaves suffered the same deep loss in the years that followed. Having been auctioned off to a Louisiana cotton grower. He was sold again two years later. In 1839 that journey found him on a cotton and ranching plantation near Victoria, in the Gulf Coast region of the new Republic of Texas. There, he learned to work livestock and handle the horses used in the daily chores. He became a good smithy as a helper in the plantation’s blacksmith shop, soon skillfully forging horseshoes and other items of bent steel.

He was secretly taught how to read in secret — at great peril — by a very discreet abolitionist preacher who ran the blacksmith shop. He eventually traveled the countryside with the preacher, shoeing horses and mules for other plantation owners. While it did not earn him his freedom, he was still free to move about more than most. Preacher Brown’s affection for this quiet man grew as he watched the man’s faith in Christ build upon that he already possessed. As they discussed the teachings of Jesus from the reading they so often did while they traveled about the countryside, the young man, too, vowed that one day he would,

too, become a preacher.

In 1855, he managed to escape through the Underground Railroad into Mexico with the help of an abolitionist. Mexico outlawed slavery, and so many other slaves risked their lives making that same arduous journey to freedom. The man made a fair living once he found employment on a grande rancho doing his blacksmith work. He was well respected for his quality and hard work. He learned much from the vaqueros of Old Mexico. He became a renowned horseman himself. The man could break, ride, and rope off any horse that wore hair.

During the great American cattle boom after the War Between the States, he returned and trailed cattle from South Texas to Montana. In his later years, he was the cookie in charge of the chuck wagon, the trail doc, the farrier — and most of all to him — a preacher when they wanted one. Not everyone liked him because of the color of his skin, but nearly all respected him regardless because he was a man of his word. He was more than just the average man out in that buck wild country. To this day, he would not boast of himself if he was still able to talk at all.

It had been a rainy spring dawn in 1883 when the Old Man found brothers Mack and Dodge Lawrence kneeling broken hearted over their fallen friend Buck. Buck lost his life when trampled to death just hours earlier in a wild stampede. The cow crew did all they could to hold the herd in that open flat country, but the night skies were electrified with ghostly glowing forms due to a late spring lightning storm. The best Buck’s friends could figure was that the lightning spooked their friend’s young horse. The line back dun must have thrown him, leaving Buck with no way of escaping the onslaught of stampeding hooves.

The Old Man and a few cowhands helped Buck’s two friends dig a grave for him out on the prairie. As Buck was buried, the cow crew stood near the grave while the Old Man said a prayer and read aloud from his Bible. He took time in

asking everyone if they knew where they were going to spend eternity when the time came for their own passing. All went back to work except Mack, Dodge, and the Old Man. The three of them lingered at the grave. The grieved stood with tears at this loss of a young life gone too soon. They adorned the grave site with wild spring prairie flowers and a cross, held together with a piece of rawhide, fashioned from branches of a nearby scrub tree.

The next two days were filled with hard work and long hours in the saddle for the cow crew to gather up the scattered herd before moving on. Buck’s horse was found dead at the bottom of a bluff, having plunged to its demise.

Weeks later, Mack turned his life over to Christ with the Old Man’s guidance. Dodge did the same shortly after on the trail up to Montana. A month later, the herd of Longhorns of the Lazy K was finally settled in the pens at the stockyards. Everyone who came up with the Lazy K spent one week in Bozeman resting up and buying new clothes and supplies for the trip home. Some of the men lingered in one of the many saloons, as there was no liquor permitted on the trail up.

The ride back to Texas in the chuck wagon with two horses in tow gave the Old Man and the two cowboys time to talk and read the Bible at night by firelight. Mack and Dodge learned much

N.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of DECEMBER 2022

Cattle Receipts: 12,247 • Previous Month: 16,934

Feeder supply - 27% steers • 43% heifers • 29% bulls

from the Old Man about walking with God. He was a sage with a lifetime of forgiving wrongs done to him, at the same time, receiving forgiveness for his own sinfulness. He told them of his life on a Virginia plantation and the heartbreak of being sold off from his kin folks. Telling them of the dangers of learning to read. Then regaled them of his escape into Mexico, traveling only at night. By the time they got back to Texas, he told them of the passing of his Spanish wife Maria while giving birth to a stillborn little girl in Mexico. Maria was the love of his life, and he never married again. These young cowboys grew to love the Old Man like a father they never had. His love for his Savior was the light of his life, and an infectious joy of the Lord deeply inspired these young men.

Three years passed since that day Buck lost his life. The winter of 1886 was extremely bitter cold throughout the west. Many lives and thousands of cattle perished from the deep freeze. They all held up the winter on the Lazy K between the cow town of Abilene and Buffalo Gap until the coming spring thaw. At first, the Old Man came down with a persistent cough. After weeks of that, it went deeper into his chest. He developed a fever, and it became laborious for him to even breathe. Doc Watson from Abilene said it was pneumonia, leaving the only thing to do for the Old Man was to keep him resting. He was weakened and would no longer eat or drink except for an occasional sip of water. The Lawrence boys knew the Old Man’s life was in grave jeopardy. The thought of losing him was very unsettling. They loved him to the core of their being.

Mack and Dodge took turns staying up night and day watching over the Old Man to keep him comfortable as possible. No longer able to speak back to his two young friends, they just read to him from his worn, tattered Bible. Oh, how he would love to tell anyone who would listen about Jesus.

AND THEN IT HAPPENED.

Around 2:00 a.m., the Old Man stirred and sat straightway up in bed. His eyes were big as saucers with excitement. With a captivating deep breath, he said in a clear voice,” Oh my!” He slumped backyards onto the bunk and entered eternity.

When he did, there was the sound of nickering horses and hooves that filled the room as though a remuda stampeded right through the bunkhouse!

The young cowboys were at a loss for words when a peace filled the oil lamp lit room, astonished at what they had just experienced but unafraid. Heaven’s glory filled them with praise and thankfulness

to Jesus. These two cowboys danced a jig fit for a barn dance while crying with joy like they had just found a gold vein. Maybe they had, indeed. They were barely able to contain themselves. Joyfully smacking each other’s backs and arms while tears streamed down their faces. They wondered if anyone would dare believe them about what they had just witnessed. They covered the Old Man back up and sat by his bed, praying and reading the Old Man’s Bible. They sang “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” to the top of their lungs, for it was his favorite hymn. By George, didn’t it come true?

The new morning came without sleep for Mack and Dodge, setting about digging a grave on a knoll near a couple of cottonwood trees set back some distance from the bunkhouse. Once through the frozen ground, they worked for six hours with a pick and shovel until satisfied it was a respectable place for their dearest friend. Lovingly wrapping the Old Man in a quilt that they bought for him from the general store when he came down sick. They placed him in the pine box they built from some rough sawn lumber. Carefully they lowered him down into his final resting place. Putting the softest dirt in around him first then finished shoveling in the grave with a heavy heart. When the job at hand was done, they made a cross from branches of the cottonwood tree held together with a piece of rawhide as he had done for Buck.

Two months later, they set a stone marker made in Abilene that read:

Robert Berry 1815-1886

Father And Cowboy for Christ

E.B.'s ViEw from thE Cow PasturE

By E.B. HARRIS

A Sheep Path Will Lead You a Long Way

I recently headed out to Rocky Mount for my dental check. I go twice a year to have my teeth cleaned, checked, and x-rayed. It’s just like changing the oil in a tractor. You need to do it to maintain your health. I was sitting in the chair, and the young lady was working on my teeth. I asked myself how I ended up in Rocky Mount, which is about 45 minutes from the house.

I thought about the dental hygienist changes that have gone on throughout my life. You spend more time with the hygienist now than the dentist most of the time. The first dental hygienist I heard about was in about 1970. Prior to that, you went to the dentist. When 1970 came along, a young lady who went to church with me had gone to dental hygienist school after graduating from high school. Her name was Linda Norwood, and she was working with the dentist in Warrenton, who was my dentist at the time.

Sometime in the mid-’70s, she got married. She and her husband moved out of the area, so I had to find me a new dental hygienist. I went back to Louisburg to Dr. Eagles, who had gone to school with my daddy. He had a partner named

Dr. Stewart. The dental hygienist working for Dr. Stewart was named Joan. She was my dental hygienist. She stayed 20 years or more before retiring.

After Joan retired, a young lady from the Spring Hope area in Nash County came to work for Dr. Stewart, and she did a good job. It wasn’t too long before Dr. Stewart retired and sold the practice. This young lady stayed on for a year or more. She then took a job with a dental office in Rocky Mount. I had always been satisfied with her work. She was always very thorough and pleasant to work with. She knew how to treat your mouth. In other words, I don’t think her gentle ways would work for floating and rasping horse teeth.

Anne called down to Rocky Mount during the height of COVID-19. They said they were not taking any new patients right now, but she would see what she could do. After several months, she called and told me that she was going to be able to take me in as a new patient. While sitting in the chair, I thought back and what really put me down here was sheep. My daddy had a herd of sheep in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and Dr. Eagles would trade out mine and my brother Jimmy’s dental bill for lamb.

“If you have cattle, pastureland, or raise hay like I do, you need to call Donna Byrum. In 10 minutes on the hood of my pickup, she signed me up for a program that I had no idea about. The next time she came by the farm, she brought me a check!

~ E.B. Harris

By CAITLINN McBRIDE N.C. State University -- ANS 402 Beef Management

The Importance of Fetal Programming to the Beef Industry

What is Fetal Programming? Fetal programming can be described as the changes in the expression of calves’ genes based on maternal nutrition (Du et al., 2015). This means that having maternal stimulus or maternal insult during fetal development has long term impacts on calves (Moriel, 2016) . Any stress on pregnant cows can be an insult, which can negatively impact the developing fetus. Luckily, there are things cattle producers can do in terms of managing pregnant cows that will keep the mothers in good condition, which will ultimately better their calves (Moriel, 2016) . Maternal nutritional management heavily impacts fetal programming: nutrient restrictions or supplements placed on pregnant cattle must be evaluated based not only on their performance but the development of their calf in utero as well as throughout their lives (Funston & Summers, 2015)

The long lasting effects that maternal nutrition during gestation has on calves are demonstrated in Figure B.

Management strategies that result in fetal programming are vital to the beef industry because they help maintain the health of cows during gestation and improve the growth and development of calves. Most muscle fibers calves form during the fetal stage and ensuring proper nutrition for cows and heifers carrying fetuses is key to the development of those muscle fibers (Du et al., 2015) . Fetal programming has also been shown to have links to the development of fat and connective tissue, which is correlated to the marbling of meat (Du et al., 2015) This can be demonstrated in a study done on two groups of cattle, one which

received nutritional supplementation and one that did not. The results of this study showed that the steer calves born to the cows in the group that received supplementation had increased back fat and higher marbling scores (Funston & Summers, 2015) . Additionally, supplementing protein to cows during late pregnancy increased weaning weight and average daily gain of calves (Funston & Summers, 2015)

The nutrition of pregnant cattle also impacts the development of the placenta and calf vasculature (Polizel, 2021) When fed a diet that is nutritionally insufficient, placental development, specifically of the cotyledons, is negatively impacted (Funston & Summers, 2015) . This is important because fetal calves receive nutrients from the placenta (Funston & Summers, 2015) . If calves do not receive their nutrition through the placenta while in utero, they will suffer from decreased health and lower growth rates (Funston & Summers, 2015)

Studies have shown that calves born to undernourished cows have lower birth weights and higher rates of mortality (Funston & Summers, 2015) Research has also proved a link between the undernourishment of cows and calf predisposition to insulin resistance (Tedeschi, 2017) , which will result in declined overall calf health as well as increased stress for producers who must care for calves with health issues.

Calves born on farms that focus on fetal programming have also shown boosted immunity, which is valuable to producers and the animals themselves (Thomas, 2015).

Fetal Programming OptionsPregnant cows have higher nutrient requirements than non-pregnant cows, as shown in Figure A. The figure shows that the nutritional requirements of pregnant cattle increase as pregnancy progresses; cattle in the first trimester of gestation have higher needs than non-pregnant females, and the requirements increase during the second trimester as well as the third (Gilmoren & Bergen, 2019) . According to Rory Lewandowski, the initial step when considering a fetal programming plan is conducting an analysis of the hay or pasture that is fed on a farm (2011) By doing this, beef farmers and producers can analyze their own feed and make decisions on what is needed to supplement their cattle. Thus, the challenge with fetal programming is figuring out a balanced diet for pregnant cows.

Fortunately, there are many resources that can help producers figure out the needs of their cattle, and there are many supplementation options to use in addition to pasture and/or hay. One resource that producers can use to figure out the nutritional needs of their cattle is Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle, a book published by the National Research Council. Additionally, many universities publish information on the topic on their extension websites. For example, Oklahoma State University has published an extremely helpful downloadable booklet called “Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle” (Lalman, 2010)

How Does Fetal Programming Impact Producers? Fetal programming majorly impacts beef producers because supplying gestating cows with adequate forage and supplementation that meet their requirements during pregnancy improves the growth and health of calves (Polizel, 2021) . Adequately nourished mothers result in positive

fetal programming, which is exemplified through greater marbling and improved carcass quality (Polizel, 2021) . Beef producers will receive more profit from selling cattle born from adequately nourished mothers because of enhanced carcass qualities, which are associated with market premiums.

The results of fetal programming have also been shown to improve overall calf health and decrease morbidity, which in turn positively impacts producers because they end up with more live, healthy calves that produce higher quality meat, which ultimately means more profit for them (Du et al., 2015)

How Does Fetal Programming Impact Consumers? Consumers are positively impacted by fetal programming through maternal nutrition because they end up with more high quality meat to

Note that this is a Canadian resource. The Canadian BCS system ranges from 1-5. The equivalent of a 3.0 on this resource is a 5-6 on the American scale. (Gilmoren & Bergen, 2019)

Figure A – Nutrient requirements for gestating cows in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy.

(Moriel, 2016)

Figure B – Weights of male offspring born to cows who grazed native pasture versus improved pasture at different production stages.

(Morris, 2019)

Figure C – USDA infographic explaining beef marbling.

purchase from retailers. Since marbling and tenderness are increased in calves when fetal programming is implemented (Du et al., 2015), the meat will taste and look better to consumers. To get a better understanding of marbling in beef, take a look at Figure C.

Summary - Fetal programming research shows the link between maternal nutrition and fetal development. Calves born on farms where fetal programming is used have better performance than calves born to undernourished mothers. Implementation of maternal nutritional supplementation results in positive fetal programming, which benefits both producers and consumers. In conclusion, fetal programming is a simple way for beef producers to enhance their yields and produce cattle that are healthy and marketable while providing consumers with meat that is high quality and more satisfying.

References

Du, M., Wang, B., Fu, X., Yang, Q., & Zhu, M.J. (2015). Fetal programming in meat production. Meat Science, 109, 40–47. https://doi.org/https://doi. org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.04.010

Funston, R.N., P., & Summers, A.F. (2015). Fetal programming: Implications for

beef cattle production. American Association of Bovine Practitioners Conference. 35-41. Retrieved from www.proquest.com/tradejournals/fetal-programming-implicationsbeef-cattle/docview/1833947638/se2?accountid=12725

Gilmoren, B., & Bergen, R. (2019, October 23). Winter feeding cost comparison – hay vs. alternative feeds. BeefResearch.ca.

Retrieved February 25, 2022, from www. beefresearch.ca/blog/winter-feeding-costcomparison-hay-vs-alternative-feeds/ Lalman, D. (2010, February).

Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle. Oklahoma State University Extension. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from http:// factsheets.okstate.edu/wp-content/ uploads/2016/11/E-974web.pdf

Lewandowski, R. (2011, December 30). Prepare for Late Gestation Nutrition. Ohio Country Journal. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://ocj.com/2011/12/ prepare-for-late-gestation-nutrition/

Moriel, P. (2016, February 26). Fetal Programming: Cow Nutrition and its effects on Calf Performance. N.C. State Extension. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https:// content.ces.ncsu.edu/fetal-programmingcow-nutrition-and-its-effects-on-calfperformance#section_heading_7527

Morris, C. A. (2019, December 17).

Beef up your knowledge: Meat marbling 101. USDA Blog Archives. Retrieved April 4, 2022, from www.usda.gov/media/ blog/2014/05/15/beef-your-knowledgemeat-marbling-101

Polizel, G.H.G., Strefezzi, R. de F., Cracco, R.C., Fernandes, A.C., Zuca, C.B., Castellar, H.H., Baldin, G.C., & Santana, M.H. de A. (2021). Effects on different maternal nutrition approaches on weight gain and on adipose and muscle tissue development of young bulls in the rearing phase. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 53. https://doi.org/https:// doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02982-y

Tedeschi, L.O., Fonseca, M.A., Muir, J.P., Poppi, D.P., Carstens, G.E., Angerer, J.P., & Fox, D.G. (2017). A glimpse of the future in Animal Nutrition Science. 2. current and future solutions. Revista Brasileira De Zootecnia, 46(5), 452–469. https://doi.org/10.1590/s180692902017000500012

Thomas, H.S. (2015, January 29). Producers must look beyond the cow in winter feeding. Research indicates her developing fetus can be greatly affected, too. Beef Magazine. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from www.beefmagazine.com/ nutrition/when-you-re-feeding-pregnantcow-you-re-feeding-two

Have You Herd articles written as a portion of the ANS 402 Beef Management course requirement at N.C. State University Department of Animal Science. The opinions of Caitlin McBride are not necessarily those of N.C. State University or Dr. Carrie Pickworth.

Regular copy deadline is FEBRUARY 5 for the MARCH issue!

Is there a problem?

You Decide!

By DR. MIKE WALDEN William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus N.C. State University

You Decide: Can Economics Help You Survive 2023? This will be a challenging year for the economy. We’re starting the year with the ongoing problem of high inflation. Although progress has been made — with the year over year inflation rate dropping from 9.1 percent in June to 7.1 percent in November — prices are still rising too rapidly. Most people’s incomes haven’t kept up with inflation, meaning standards of living have fallen.

To add to the inflation problems now comes the prospect of a recession. Ironically, a recession, where consumer spending falls, and unemployment rises, is often the tonic used to reduce the inflation rate. Still, this implies that for several months in 2023, we may be confronted with fast rising prices and reductions in our incomes and jobs.

How can people cope? Since economics deals with topics like financial management, buying, and investing, are

Abattoir and Processor

there any survival strategies an economist like me can recommend? Fortunately, I think there are.

I’ll divide my recommendations into two significant parts of our financial lives: income and spending. What can people do to increase their income, especially when faced with the possibility of job cuts? On the spending side, what can we do to reduce our spending when prices are rising, especially when our incomes are cut? In short, how can we meet the two ends of income and spending when the gap between them has been widening?

On the income side, if you are laid off from your job or think you may be, the first option is to consider other jobs. One beneficial aspect of today’s economy is that there are plenty of unfilled jobs. Granted, they may be jobs you may not like, or they may pay much less than your current job, but at least they would provide some income. Together with strategies to reduce spending, a new — but maybe not better — job may let you cope until the recession ends. If you are able to keep your job but have your hours and income cut, there could be another option – a second job. Recent labor market data suggest more workers have been taking second jobs. If a recession occurs, second jobs may become even more lucrative. Again, a second job may not be preferred, but if it helps you get through several months of hard times, it may be a logical choice.

Technology and, more recently, remote work have provided more flexibility in the workplace, which in turn has given workers options not available two or three decades ago. People can remotely work for companies hundreds or thousands of miles away and never visit the company headquarters. If you have the skills appropriate for remote work, consider this possibility as another way to supplement your income.

Ironically, bad economic times are often periods when new businesses start.

This makes sense for two reasons. First, with more people out of work, some decide to create their own work. Second, bad times often generate more opportunities for doing things differently, especially if the new way can cut costs but still deliver the same — or better — result. Therefore, don’t ignore starting your own business. But there is one downside – outside financing will be more difficult to obtain during a recession.

Now turning to the spending side, there is one task you must do before beginning to economize on buying. You must create a household budget to see where your money is going. Record where your money is spent for at least a

month since many bills are paid monthly. Try to continue tracking your spending every month, especially when you begin to make changes.

There are some tried and true ways to spend less without sacrificing quantity or quality. Strategies like using coupons, buying in bulk when items are on sale, which is my wife’s personal favorite, and buying “off peak” when products aren’t as popular. If fewer people want a product, the product’s price will usually be lower.

The good thing about these strategies is they don’t involve cutting back. You still consume what you always did, but just at a lower cost.

However, there are cost saving strategies that do involve cutting back, meaning there will be a sacrifice. Entertainment is a good example. Save money on the cable or streaming bill by reducing the channels you receive. Meals are another good example. Eat out less and eat in more. Meals eaten in restaurants are always more expensive because you pay for the preparation and service.

I know people have been very limited in their travel and vacation in the last couple of years, but 2023 might be another year to delay trips. In just the last year, the price of air flights is up over 40 percent, and some hotel rooms are up almost as much. If a getaway in 2023 is absolutely necessary, then substitute cheaper alternatives. Fortunately, in North Carolina, there are plenty of outstanding vacation sites, many of which only involve a day trip.

My last recommendation for curtailing spending in 2023 is an obvious one. Don’t take on any new expenditures, especially those involving borrowing. If you have your eye on buying a home, replacing your aging vehicle, or overhauling your furniture and appliances, try to push that spending off another year. You don’t want to make balancing your budget more difficult.

When will the economy get better? I expect that a year from now, we’ll be in a better place. In the meantime, I’ve given you some ideas for coping. You decide if you can use them.

You Decide: How Can We Fix the Labor Market? There are several worries about today’s labor market.

The first is the ongoing “labor shortage.” The percentage of adults who are working or looking for work — termed the “labor force participation rate — has substantially recovered from its low during the pandemic, but it has not fully recovered. If the same labor force participation rate that existed before the pandemic was applied today, there would

be over two million more adults in the labor force nationally and 46,000 more in North Carolina.

The second concern is the possibility the labor shortage will only worsen in the future. Lower birth rates are causing slow growth in the nation’s population and workforce. North Carolina is in better shape due to the large number of people who continue to move to the state from other states. But even with this interstate in-migration, North Carolina’s prime labor force — considered to be adults aged 25-54 — is projected to increase by less than 1 percent annually in future years.

The last worry is about skills. Will the education and training of our workforce be sufficient to provide workers with the skills needed for future jobs? This question is made even more important as the nature of jobs and the skills required for those jobs rapidly change as technology takes on a more important role in shaping the economy.

The good news is that total jobs in North Carolina are actually 6 percent higher today than immediately before the pandemic. However, this growth in jobs is 25 percent less than the state’s economic expansion over the same time period, resulting in two job openings for every unemployed person.

One way that businesses in our state have responded to the labor shortage has been to raise wage rates substantially. Since the last month before the pandemic in early 2020, the average wage rate in North Carolina is up 17 percent, actually slightly higher than the total inflation rate over the same period of 15 percent.

Interestingly, the sectors with the highest wage gains have been those with moderate or low pay scales, including leisure/hospitality, personal services, and construction. These sectors increased their wage rates between 22-25 percent from early 2020 to late 2022. But while construction saw its workforce increase by 8 percent, jobs in leisure/hospitality only expanded by 3 percent, and personal services jobs increased a modest 4 percent.

There is an important takeaway from these results. While sectors like leisure/ hospitality and personal services have significantly raised their pay, it may not be enough, especially in a growing state like North Carolina, where jobs in better paying sectors are expanding, and labor supply will continue to be tight. Firms in these sectors will need to decide if they can afford to pay even more. If the answer is “no,” then we may see the firms turn to technology to replace humans in the accomplishment of work tasks.

Nationally, college enrollments are

expected to decline in the coming years. With a downward trend in the number of high school graduates in North Carolina, there is concern the number of college students in our state may also drop. Together with ongoing concerns over college tuition and student debt, the role of colleges and universities in training future workers could be on the verge of changing.

Indeed, with the potential need to retrain thousands of workers for new skills needed in the post pandemic economy, universities and colleges may be motivated to step up and expand their program offerings to adults between occupations.

Such programs will likely be much shorter than the traditional four-year degrees common to higher education. Many adult students will have family and other responsibilities that make quick retraining a necessity. Degree programs will therefore be shortened to meet this need. The result could be that future universities will no longer be dominated by students ages 18-24. “Middle age” may ultimately be the common description of future college students.

Let me close by being very futuristic. While today’s labor market issues will likely prompt changes in businesses and educational institutions, advances in interactive technology may create entirely new methods of both education and work.

The pandemic caused an explosion in computer technology for learning and interacting. During the pandemic, Zoom classes and meetings offered ways to learn and meet without personal contact. While not as prominent as during the peak of COVID-19, “zooming” has continued after the pandemic due to its advantages in convenience and cost.

A big disadvantage of zooming is the inability to interact directly with other persons like company colleagues, other students, and instructors. Yet, futurists say it is only a matter of time before technology overcomes this limitation. From the comfort of your home, technology would create duplicates of yourself — called “avatars” by some — that provide sensory experience from a distant location directly to you. It’s like you are there! Such a capability could enhance both learning and working, even from long distances. Versions of this technology already exist.

The labor issues we see today may be a bridge to new ways of learning and working in the future. Decades from now, people may look back and consider our current educational and work methods exceedingly primitive. Is this exciting or scary? You decide.

Hannah Vanhoy Earns Junior Silver Award

Hannah Vanhoy, Catawba, N.C., has earned the National Junior Angus Association’s (NJAA) Silver award, according to Caitlyn Brandt, events and junior activities director of the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

Vanhoy is the 17-year-old daughter of Nathan Vanhoy and attends Bandys High School. She is a member of the NJAA and the N.C. Junior Angus Association, where she has served as director and secretary.

She has participated in local, state, regional, and national shows and showmanship contests. At the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), Vanhoy participated in the career development contest and the All-American Certified Angus Beef Cook-Off. She also participated in the Leaders Engaged in Angus Development (LEAD) conference in 2021 and 2022.

The Silver award is the second level of the NJAA Recognition Program that began in 1972. Junior Angus breeders must apply for the award, then meet point

North Carolina Angus Association ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS

Backed by the world’s largest and most reliable genetic evaluation program. Registered Angus genetics deliver better calving ease, more growth, and superior marbling.

455 GORE FAMILY ANGUS Mark & Lori Gore Tabor City

702-401-8005 • 455goreangus@gmail.com www.455farms.com

requirements in many areas of participation before receiving the honor. Applicants are evaluated in areas of junior Angus association activities and leadership, participation in showmanship, contests, and shows, using performance testing to improve their herd, and their progress in producing and merchandising Angus cattle.

About the National Junior Angus Association. The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle while also providing leadership and self development opportunities for the nearly 4,500 active members nationwide.

Bobby Aldridge Passes

Bobby Franklin Aldridge, 86, passed away peacefully on January 1 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Caswell County to the late Carlton and Edna Rudd Aldridge and was married for 63 years to the late Kathleen Rice Aldridge.

He was a member of Bush Arbor Primitive Baptist Church. Bobby was a member of the American Angus Association, N.C. Angus Association, N.C. Cattlemen’s Association, Southern Caswell Ruritan, and was a Caswell County Commissioner. He was in the N.C. Angus Hall of Fame, received the American Angus Historic Herd Award, the Outstanding Young Farmer Award, and had worked with black Angus cows for 77 years since he was nine years old. Bobby loved working outside on the farm and enjoyed spending time with his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather, and brother who will be dearly missed.

He is survived by his sons, Tim Aldridge and his wife, Montina, Norman Aldridge and his wife, Linda, and Terry Aldridge; 4 grandchildren, Jill Overman and her husband, C.T., Chad Aldridge and his wife, Blair, Katie McCann and her husband, Jared, Lauren Crawford and her husband, Dustin; 6 great grandchildren, Alison Bartley and her husband, Josh, Eli Aldridge, William Murphy, Jamie Grace McCann, Macie Kathleen McCann, River Jean Crawford; and four great great grandchildren, Jade, Joshua, Jamie, and Jaxxon Bartley; sisters, Carolyn Aldridge and Linda Ballance. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sister Shirley Aldridge Dabbs, and brother Irvin Aldridge. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

4K FARMS/TARHEEL ANGUS Richard D. Kirkman, DVM Siler City 919-742-5500 • rdk.cefa@gmail.com

BACK CREEK Joe & Robin Hampton Mt. Ulla

704-880-2488 (Joe); 704-880-3572 (Robin) robinbackcreek@att.net Facebook: Back Creek Angus

BILTMORE ESTATE Kyle Mayberry - Manager Asheville

828-768-1956 • livestock@biltmore.com www.biltmorelivestock.com

CARSON FAMILY FARM, LLC

John, Callie, Isaac & J.R. Carson Laurel Springs

336-818-9087 • carsonfamilyfarm@gmail.com

CHAPMAN CATTLE COMPANY Bryant Chapman Taylorsville 828-514-0526

FOUR S FARMS

Kim & Connie and Jason & Robin Starnes Luther Lyerly - Manager Salisbury 704-640-5875 • kim-4sfarms@carolina.rr.com

GENTRY HOMEPLACE ANGUS Howard & Donna Gentry King 336-413-6698 • whgentry@windstream.net

GRAGG FARMS

Paul, Chris & David Gragg Boone 828-268-4136 (Paul); 828-268-4137 (Chris) 828-268-4135 (David) gragg_farms@hotmail.com

H&H FARMS

Buddy & Jennifer Hamrick - Owners Bly Hamrick - Manager Boiling Springs 704-472-1912 • jennham@bellsouth.net

HI-LO FARMS, LLC

William & Kate Reichert Fuquay-Varina 919-812-0435 • hilofarmsblackangus.gmail.com

Cortney Holshouser NCAA Executive Secretary 919-796-2346 ncaa.sec@gmail.com www.ncangus.org

HILL ANGUS FARM

Dr. Gary M. Hill Hendersonville 229-848-3695 • gmhill@uga.edu

JACK KNOB FARMS

Karl, Janet & Logan Gillespie Franklin 828-371-2220 • karl@jackknobfarms.com www.jackknobfarms.com

JENKINS ANGUS FARM

Jaime & Christy Jenkins Marshall 828-206-1345 • jenkinsangusfarm@gmail.com

KNOLL CREST FARM

The Bennett Family Red House, VA 434-376-3567 • knollcrestfarm@knollcrestfarm.com www.knollcrestfarm.com

LANE ANGUS

Roger & Bundy Lane

Bundy Lane - Manager Gates

252-398-7705 (Bundy); 252-398-7719 (Miranda) 252-357-1279 (Office) bundylane@hughes.net; laneangusbeef@gmail.com www.laneangusbeef.com

PANTHER CREEK FARMS

John C. Smith, Jr. Pink Hill 252-526-1929 • johnsmith3982@embarqmail.com

S&J Farms

Steven & Julie Lung Nathan Lung - Manager Carthage 910-947-3414 • sandjfarms2013@gmail.com

SMITH CREEK ANGUS FARM

Marty & Lynne Rooker Norlina 252-213-1553 • mrooker@mrookerlaw.com

SPRINGFIELD ANGUS

Phil Goodson Louisburg 919-880-9062 • philgoodson2@gmail.com www.springfieldangus.com

TRIPLE LLL ANGUS Greg Little Monroe 704-219-1294 • greg.little@atimetals.com

VANDEMARK ANGUS

Keaton & Janie Vandemark Spring Hope 252-885-0210 • keaton@vandemarkfarms.com

WINDY HILL FARMS, LLC

Michael A. Moss Will Moss - Manager Ramseur 336-460-7451 • windyhillfarmsllc@gmail.com

WINSLOW GENETICS

Ben & Kathleen Winslow Halifax 252-578-5487 • bensbulls@gmail.com

WOOD ANGUS FARM, LLC Russell Wood Willow Spring 919-275-4397 • rwood4400@gmail.com www.woodangus.com

ANGUS NEWS

American Angus Association partners with IMI Global. Strategic collaboration drives profitability for independent cattle producers. For today’s cattle producers, it is more important than ever to be able to differentiate their cattle in the marketplace. Two of the leading third party verification companies, IMI Global and the American Angus Association’s AngusLink, have joined forces to create an improved experience for those cattle producers while offering more value added opportunities.

Through this new relationship, IMI Global will be providing the verification services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Process Verified Program (PVP) for IMI Global and AngusLink customers. The collaboration makes it easier and more efficient for producers to access an extensive suite of verification

programs and the feeder cattle industry’s leading genetic merit evaluation tool in one enrollment.

“With tightening margins, the need for producers to differentiate their cattle and create market access with flexibility is key. At the same time, the value of superior genetics has never been greater,” said Mark McCully, Association chief executive officer. “These two market drivers are creating tremendous opportunities for producers to describe and verify their cattle.”

Now available to IMI customers, the AngusLink Genetic Merit Scorecard gives producers the ability to effectively communicate the genetic potential of their feeder calves to prospective buyers with three scores: Beef, Feedlot, and Grid. The scores are calculated based on the Association’s extensive genetic database

with more than 80 million data points.

In addition, AngusLink customers will also have access to IMI’s new sustainability standard, CARE Certified, which encompasses Animal Care, Environmental Stewardship, and People & Community, which are all of growing importance in today’s marketplace. Other PVP claims available include AngusVerified, Source, Age, NonHormone Treated Cattle (NHTC), Verified Natural Beef, and more.

“This working relationship streamlines the process for producers by making it easier for them to enroll in all verification programs at once while also allowing them access to programs they may not have had before,” said John Saunders, IMI Global chief executive officer. “This partnership proves that everyone involved is prioritizing innovation and collaboration in order for cattlemen all over the country to achieve success.”

IMI Global, a division of Where Food Comes From, Inc., is the market leader in third party verification services enrolling over 1.25 million cattle annually in various verification programs. American Angus Association is the leader in Angus genetics and creating value for Angus sired feeder cattle through their AngusLink Genetic Merit Scorecard and AngusVerified programs.

Understanding female reproduction accelerates positive momentum in the cow herd. Latest Angus University webinar discusses improving fertility and overall income. Everyone wants cattle that breed easily, calve early and display good reproductive performance. Though this may sound simple enough, how do cattlemen achieve those things simultaneously?

“I’m a big fan of a concept called ‘positive momentum’ because I believe really good reproductive success this year ensures really good reproductive success next year,” said Dr. Bob Larson, a veterinarian with the Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University.

During the Angus University webinar, Keys to Reproductive Success: Female Edition, held on December 13, Larson shared tools and practices to help cattlemen achieve optimal success in their cow herds.

One way to achieve this goal is to benchmark a producer’s current situation and compare it to a desired plan. For example, a producer with an eight percent open rate might set a goal of Larson’s ideal open rate of five percent. This allows for a significant increase in earned income as earlier calving cows lead to heavier weaning calves and a faster rebreed window.

Larson also described the difference

in reproductive success for first calf heifers. To meet the constraints of having an 83 day period for cows to rebreed and calve at the same time next year, Larson recommended heifers calve ahead of cows for their first calf. To help ensure heifers reach puberty at the right time, he advised assistance from your veterinarian.

“It is important for veterinarians to really evaluate the heifers to make sure each individual heifer and the group as a whole can reach puberty in time to get bred a little ahead of the cows,” Larson said.

He explained how the onset of puberty is primarily influenced by age and weight within breeds. Which leads to a common question, what is the appropriate target weight?

“The real question is, what ration should I feed heifers to result in the desired number reaching puberty by the desired date,” Larson said. He emphasized again how working alongside a veterinarian and nutritionist helps producers answer those questions.

Larson reiterated for producers to achieve this success in their operations, they must avoid the primary threats to positive momentum. These threats include having heifers who don’t calve ahead of cows, calving in thin body condition, bulls that fail to successfully breed cows, and diseases ending pregnancy. Avoiding these issues promises potential for success year after year.

To dive deeper into Dr. Larson’s presentation, visit bit.ly/ DecemberAUrecording. To learn more about Angus University webinars and the upcoming episode, Keys to Reproductive Success: Bull Edition, visit www. angus.org/Pub/AngusNewsRoom/2023cattlemens-congress-au-session

2023 Angus Foundation Heifer Package sells for $130,000. Ingram Angus LLC of Tennessee purchases bred heifer Coleman Chloe 173 at the National Angus Bull Sale in Oklahoma City. Since 1980, the Angus Foundation Heifer Package has been sold to generate unrestricted funds to further its mission of supporting education, youth, and research for the breed. This year, Ingram Angus LLC of Pulaski, Tenn., purchased the Foundation Heifer Package, donated by Coleman Angus of Charlo, Montana. The package was sold to lead off the National Angus Bull Sale on January 6 during Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City and raised $130,000 to continue the legacy of the Angus breed.

Coleman Angus generously donated Coleman Chloe 173 (AAA+*20076459) for the 2023 Angus Foundation Heifer Package. The bred heifer is the highest $M valued Coleman Chloe female in the ranch’s herd, with a pedigree comprised

of the operation’s most notable cow families. She is due to calve to Coleman Full Deck 118 on January 20. The heifer package also includes an Advanced Reproductive Technology Package from Trans Ova Genetics, trucking to the buyer donated by Lathrop Livestock Services, and 30 days of mortality insurance donated by Liberty Specialty Markets.

Coleman Angus is a family operation that prides itself in placing emphasis on the power of the Angus cow. Through the meticulous selection of maternal traits, they have grown a loyal base of customers who value their herd’s genetics. The ranch hosts an annual bull sale in February, offering between 175 to 200 bulls, and holds a female sale each year in October.

“We couldn’t be more thankful for the generosity of the Coleman, Haag and Ingram families,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “The Coleman’s brought us an outstanding female to offer, and coupled with the Ingram’s generosity, the tradition of the Foundation Heifer Package continues to pave a bright future for the Angus breed.”

Funds raised through the sale of the heifer package will benefit the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted dollars to further the Foundation’s mission of education, youth, and research. The Foundation supports a diverse set of efforts focused on ensuring a bright future for the breed. Academic scholarships, leadership conferences, and cutting edge research are among the many programs sustained by the Angus Fund.

The Angus Foundation Heifer

Package has raised more than $2.7 million since the inception of the program.

Nine ranches support Angus Foundation through heifer pregnancies. Pregnancies sold at Cattlemen’s Congress and National Western Stock Show raise funds to support Angus Foundation’s mission. The Angus Foundation started the year with strong support for its mission, raising $61,000 through the sale of four heifer pregnancies at Cattlemen’s Congress and the National Western Stock Show. The pregnancies sold in Oklahoma City at the Bases Loaded, Denim and Diamonds and Angus at the Congress sales and in Denver at the Foundation Angus Sale at the National Western Stock Show. Money raised benefits the Angus Fund, which provides unrestricted funding for Angus education, youth, and research.

The pregnancies were generously donated by Brinkley Angus Ranch and Lazy H Ranch, Big Timber Cattle Company, Williams Angus, and Poss Angus. Lathrop Livestock Services donated complimentary trucking for the females.

“Those who supported our heifer pregnancies weren’t just investing in elite genetics — they were also investing in the future of our breed,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “We’re thankful to this set of donors and buyers for their commitment to the Angus legacy, as well as the sale management companies who included the pregnancies in their sales.”

Angus Foundation hosts 150 Years of Angus Celebration. Event held at Cattlemen’s Congress celebrates Angus cattle arriving in the United States. The Angus Foundation kicked off the year with a celebration commemorating 150 years since Angus cattle first arrived in the United States. The 150 Years of Angus celebration was held on January 6 in Oklahoma City during Cattlemen’s Congress and raised nearly $20,000 to support the Foundation’s mission. The event welcomed the Angus family for an evening of fellowship and featured refreshments, door prizes, auction items, and the announcement of the 2023 Angus Herdsman of the Year.

In 1873, George Grant settled in Victoria, Kan., with four Angus bulls from Scotland. In the following 150 years, the breed has built a legacy in the beef industry. The Angus Foundation works to ensure this legacy continues through its mission to support education, youth, and research efforts for the breed. In support of the Foundation’s mission, the event featured several auction and door prize items. Past National Junior Angus Board Foundation director Josh Jasper served as the auctioneer. The

items sold included a Live Oak Plantation Experience, an Angus History Sketch, a Custom Greeley Hat, and a Two-Night Wine Country Getaway for Six.

“We had a wonderful evening celebrating this huge milestone for our breed with the Angus family,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “It’s through our donors’ generous support that we can ensure the legacy we’ve built for the last 150 years continues well into the future.”

The program concluded with the announcement of Jeff and Kathi Creamer of Lazy JB Angus, Colorado, as the 2023 Angus Herdsmen of the Year. The Creamers’ longstanding dedication to Angus cattle is a testament to the breed’s influence on cattlemen and their operations.

“We always feel fortunate to have an opportunity like this for our breeders to gather,” said Mark McCully, American Angus Association CEO. “This year it’s extra special as we commemorate such an important event in Angus history.”

The Foundation supports a diverse set of efforts focused on ensuring the Angus legacy remains strong. For more

information about the Angus Foundation, visit www.AngusFoundation.org

About the Angus Foundation. Established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1980, the Angus Foundation remains focused on its mission to support Angus education, youth, and research. The organization has distributed more than $4.2 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.3 million in beef cattle research in the past decade. For more information, contact the Angus Foundation at 816383-5100.

Angus Means Business. The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 22,000 members across the United States, Canada, and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by more than 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers, and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers. For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org.

G&E Virginia Premium Assured Heifer Sale

Certified Angus Beef news

Putting Premiums in the Cattleman’s Pocket. The best way to engage with Certified Angus Beef is by raising cattle that qualify for the brand. Through genetics and progressive management, the opportunity exists for cattlemen to earn premiums on cattle sold.

Those premiums translate to more high quality product available to the consumer through retail or restaurant avenues. When they choose the Certified Angus Beef brand, it boosts demand.

“Folks want the best beef, and they seek it out,” said Paul Dykstra, Certified Angus Beef (CAB) director of supply management and analysis. “As a result, the premium structure of the beef industry has developed around the brand and the attributes that it represents.”

During Angus University at the 2022 Angus Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, CAB shared ways producers focused on raising high quality beef can be more connected with the brand.

The first of its kind, CAB got its start in 1978. Since its inception, 101 other USDA certified beef brands have developed, and as of now, 80 of those also have Angus in the name.

While the competition is growing, the brand’s team of 150 diligently works to differentiate CAB from the rest of the pack. Consumers can feel confident purchasing the Certified Angus Beef brand, a high quality product that is the result of Angus farmers’ and ranchers’ commitment to quality.

As demand grows, producers receive these market signals in the form of premiums throughout the supply chain. Capturing those takes genetic, marketing, and management strategies.

Marketing for a Premium - “The best way for cattlemen to engage with the brand is to help increase supply,” said Kara Lee, CAB director of producer engagement.

Accessible premiums motivate that. Nearly 85 percent of North American packing plants are licensed to certify carcasses into the Certified Angus Beef brand.

The first and most simple piece of CAB qualification is that cattle be predominantly black hided, defined as having no white behind the shoulder, above the flanks, or breaking the midline (excluding the tail). According to USDA

data, more than 70 percent of fed cattle are Angus influenced and meet these criteria, Dykstra said.

Then, those eligible carcasses must meet all 10 of the brand’s specifications: (1) modest or higher marbling, (2) 10-16 square inch ribeye area, (3) 1,100 lb. or less hot carcass weight, (4) 1 inch or less fat thickness, (5) medium or fine marbling texture, (6) 30 months of age or younger, (7) superior muscling, (8) no neck hump exceeding 2 inches, (9) practically free of capillary rupture, and (10) no dark cutters.

In 2021, CAB premiums reached $182 million, or roughly $500,000, paid daily by licensed packers to owners of cattle qualifying for the brand. That incentive is the market communicating strong demand for the leading brand of premium beef.

“CAB premiums are happening all through the supply chain, even if it doesn’t always get its own line item on a receipt,” Dykstra added.

Farmers and ranchers have a history of success in hitting a market target with a financial reward. While retaining ownership through the feedyard is the most direct way to earn CAB premiums, there are more ways to capture some of that.

Cattle should be marketed in a way that communicates the potential value they hold under the hide. For seedstock breeders, it’s by making sure customers know this potential and the value of the genetics they’re buying, Dykstra said.

“When those commercial feeder calves are weaned in the fall, a phone call to a feedyard or cattle buyer is a basic but great place to start. If they’ve got the genetics backing them up, that’s greater marketability for the seller,” he said.

The Right Genetic Base - The more cattlemen produce for the brand, the more beef CAB licensed partners can sell. Last year that total came to 1.234 billion pounds, the second highest sales year on record. The brand’s goal is to sell more than two billion pounds annually.

“We first have to put two billion pounds of the Certified Angus Beef brand in a box, and we don’t do that today,” Lee said. The recent average acceptance rate into the brand is 35 percent, but it needs to be closer to 50 percent to reach that goal.

“The number one reason carcasses are not successful in earning the brand most often comes down to marbling,” Dykstra said. “That’s why we talk about it a lot.”

Marbling is a lifetime event and highly heritable, so it’s an easy place for Angus breeders to start. The correlations are relatively weak between marbling and many other traits that are important to cow/calf producers, like performance and maternal function, Lee said. Those weak correlations allow for simultaneous progress across multiple traits in a cow herd.

For Angus breeders who put an emphasis on carcass genetics, an easy tool to identify animals with greater potential for those traits is the Targeting the Brand™ logo. Any registered Angus animal that meets a minimum expected progeny difference (EPD) for marbling of +0.65 and Value Grid Index ($G) of +55 can be marketed alongside the Targeting the Brand logo.

Cattlemen need a balanced cow herd, ensuring cows and bulls are also phenotypically correct. Targeting the Brand is simply a marketing tool – a threshold – to quickly identify those bulls and females with the genetic potential to produce more CAB qualifiers. But it also gives them latitude to look for other economically important traits needed in their commercial programs, Lee said.

After marbling, a ribeye too large, heavy hot carcass weight, or excessive backfat are the next most common areas where cattle miss certification for the brand.

“We’re not going to capitalize on mating decisions at the consumer level for a few more years,” she said. “So we have to live with those decisions for a long time, whether they’re good or bad.”

With genetics only part of the

equation, responsibility falls on cattlemen and women to manage cattle and resources for optimal performance.

Progressive Management - As the leading data collectors in the cattle business, Angus breeders can take it a step further by validating and documenting their management practices. An easy and effective way to communicate how cattle are cared for at the ranch is through Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification or an equivalent program. “But we really need you to tell us that you’re certified,” she said.

“Not because we think farmers and ranchers are doing things wrong and we’re trying to fix their ways. We’re trying to help producers get more credit for the things already being done,” Lee said.

That’s why CAB launched a rancher facing campaign called “Cut the Bull.” The campaign highlights BQA certification as a tool for truth for farmers and ranchers to verify the good work they do every day raising cattle. If interested, cattlemen and women can share their BQA or equivalent certificate at CutTheBull.info

Little details go a long way in differentiating the brand from other programs. It helps consumers feel good about their beef and keeps them reaching for the Certified Angus Beef brand on grocery store shelves.

“The new dollars in our business come from the consumer,” Dykstra said. “We get to share consumer dollars back through the beef supply chain based on what we’ve achieved at CAB by each player capitalizing on a margin opportunity. Otherwise, they wouldn’t do it.”

Who is Certified Angus Beef? At Certified Angus Beef, we know people want to put great meals on the table. Our employees work across the beef supply chain to ensure chefs and home cooks find and prepare the best Angus beef. Led by our culinary, beef, and marketing experts, our team provides consultation, marketing materials, training, market insights, and tools that help businesses like grocery stores and restaurants thrive. Our team is also dedicated to sharing the story of family farmers and ranchers who supply the brand.

Registration now open for Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 Stakeholders Summit. Become “Partners in Progress” May 4-5 in Arlington, Virginia. The Animal Agriculture Alliance announced recently that registration is now open for the 2023 Stakeholders Summit, themed “Partners in Progress: Building a Sustainable Future for Animal Ag.” The event is set for May 4-5 in Arlington, Virginia. An outline of the Summit agenda has been posted on the event website, and the full speaker lineup will be announced soon. To register, visit bit.ly/AAA23Summit Early registration discounts are available through March 10. Discounted hotel rooms are available to attendees through April 11 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View hotel.

How can we create a sustainable future for animal agriculture? By building it together. The 2023 Stakeholders Summit is your opportunity to help take the incredible progress we’ve already made to new heights. It’s your best chance to partner with stakeholders throughout the food chain and across commodities. To share ideas and form connections that will elevate the farm and food communities in ways that lift everyone. To collaborate toward vital progress. And to learn how you can do your part to help protect, sustain and advance our entire community. So, wherever you are in the food chain, join us in making a real difference. Join us as Partners in Progress.

“Sustainability is a continuous journey, not a destination. It takes

a continued commitment from all stakeholders in the food supply chain to advance progress already made in animal care, environmental stewardship, responsible antibiotic use, and food safety,” said Hannah ThompsonWeeman, president and CEO of Animal Agriculture Alliance. “The Alliance’s 2023 Stakeholders Summit is the ideal place for everyone involved in producing, processing, and providing meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, and seafood to connect with others throughout the food supply chain, engage on key issues, and safeguard the future of our food supply.”

Former presidential agriculture advisor Ray Starling to keynote 2023 Stakeholders Summit. Starling’s new book, “Farmers Versus Foodies,” available for purchase at registration. Outsider influence in food and farming is growing, and the animal agriculture community is often pitted against those claiming the food system is “broken.” Ray Starling, author and attorney, will consider why this seems to be the case and what we can do to safeguard

our future at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 Stakeholders Summit. Starling’s new book, “Farmers Versus Foodies,” is available to attendees to purchase at a discounted rate during registration.

In his keynote, Starling will discuss what he calls the “farmer versus foodie conundrum” that has the potential to impact food security for generations to come. On one side are “insiders” who understand the food system and are rightly proud of it. On the other side are “outsiders” who champion the in vogue notion that the food system is “broken.” In his keynote session, Starling will examine the following:

• How “foodies” are impacting public policy through their purchasing influence and through growing legislative prowess;

• How advocates are leveraging the legal system to effectuate their desired outcomes, with farming interests typically on the other side;

• How optimistic, socially conscious investors are, even if misguided, driving tremendous change in food and farming;

• How American farmers and ranchers are not just susceptible to the American “foodie” but to “foodies” around the world; and

• How today’s cultural trends offer an environment in which many ill advised ideas about farming and agribusiness can flourish.

“The future of the food system continues to be an area of growing discussion – with policymakers, investors, food brands, and consumers alike joining the dialog,” said Abby Kornegay, manager of issues and engagement at the Animal Agriculture Alliance. “There are continued calls for food system transformation and reform from those not directly involved in the production of our food, and the differing views and visions for the future of farming and food production will likely take us to two very different places. Starling’s keynote session will provide insight into this disconnect between farmers and ‘foodies’ and how the food and farming communities can bridge the gap.”

As general counsel of the North Carolina Chamber and president of the North Carolina Chamber Legal Institute, Starling sets strategy for litigation. He

also serves as the lead for public policy development functions of the chamber, assessing and advising on current and emerging laws, rulings, and regulations affecting the chamber and business in North Carolina. Prior to joining the North Carolina Chamber team, Starling served as chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and principal agriculture advisor to the President of the United States. Starling grew up on a century farm in southeastern North Carolina and credits that experience as having more to do with his career path than any other influence or opportunity.

Be sure to check the Summit website for the most up-to-date information. You can also follow the hashtag #AAA23 for periodic updates about the event. For general questions about Summit, please contact summit@animalagalliance.org or call 703-562-5160.

Thank you to our 2023 Summit sponsors: Farm Journal, Meatingplace, National Pork Producers Council, Watt Global Media, Farm Credit, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Feed Industry Association, Progressive Dairy, Protect the Harvest, and Trans Ova Genetics.

The Alliance also thanks the

following members for their continued support of Summit and other Alliance programs: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Zoetis, Merck Animal Health, C.O.nxt, Diamond V, Genus PLC – PIC/ABS, Aviagen Group, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cargill, Dairy Farmers of America, Hendrix Genetics, Hy-Line North America, LLC, Iowa Soybean Association, JBS, Kanas Soybean Commission, Midwest Dairy, National Turkey Federation, Nutrien, Provimi North America, Inc., Seaboard Foods, and Tyson.

About the Animal Agriculture Alliance. The Alliance safeguards the future of ani1mal agriculture and its value to society by bridging the communication gap between the farm and food communities. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.

Our advertisers are “Champions” too. For expert A.I., superior genetics, the best in purebreds and outstanding farm supplies, check the Classifieds in this issue!

Mud Management for Livestock Operations

By CHRIS LeMASTER Clemson University

Mud is more than just a nuisance to the farmer. While it can turn simple chores into projects, there is a greater effect on your cattle’s health and nutrition than just inconvenience. Animals use more energy standing and moving across soft, muddy ground than hardened or dry surfaces. The increased difficulty of traveling through the mud for feed and water has a compounding effect by decreasing intake and increasing energy requirements, which can decrease animal performance by up to 25 percent. The Alberta Feedlot Management guide reports cattle standing in four to eight inches of mud can experience an 8-15 percent decrease in feed intake and a 14 percent decrease in daily gains. In hock deep mud of twelve to 24 inches, expect a reduction of 30 percent in feed intake and a 25 percent decrease in daily gains. Muddy conditions also reduce the animal’s ability to maintain critical body temperature. Mud caked coats reduce insulation and thereby increase energy demands to maintain core body temperatures, which have negative effects both in summer and winter. These

environmental stressors can decrease the animal’s immune response and predispose it to infections such as foot rot. Additionally, muddy conditions can lead to abscesses, poor udder hygiene, increased calf sickness, calving problems, and injury. Fortunately, there are several strategies to mitigate this.

Congregation and high traffic areas around gates, feeding, or watering areas are the most difficult areas to keep free of mud. These heavy use areas are often overgrazed, exposing bare ground that is further devastated by hoof traffic and feeding machinery. Furthermore, the standing pressure of cattle and horses, at 27 pounds per square inch (psi), is twice that of a human at 14 psi, whereas tractors place 175 psi on the soil. Many South Carolina soils can withstand pressures up to 28 psi when dry but will quickly weaken when wet. Simply adding loose gravel or sand can double the soil carrying capacity, and adding compacted gravel and sand can nearly triple it. Concrete is the premier hardened surface with a carrying capacity of 6,000 psi for a 6 inch reinforced slab. Although it is the most

expensive to install, the low maintenance requirements of concrete make it the more affordable long term option compared to the frequent maintenance of gravel. While the installation of a hardened surface is not always feasible during a wet season, take note of the problem areas, and develop a plan.

A healthy stand of grass is the best defense against mud. Avoid overgrazing! Deep root systems characteristic of healthy forage stands creates channels for water to soak into the soil more rapidly. Treading damage exposes bare soil, increases compaction, and reduces soil infiltration rates. Compaction in the soil further reduces plant and root growth, the water holding capacity of the soil, and infiltration rates compounding the poor drainage issues in the pasture. Bare soil also increases the risk of erosion and nutrient runoff. Research in New Zealand documented a 50-64 percent reduction in spring pasture productivity following wet winter treading damage. While it’s not feasible to remove cattle off all your pastures during a wet season, use a sacrifice lot or pasture to give

some paddocks rest when conditions are not suitable for grazing. Locate sacrifice lots or pastures on higher ground with naturally well drained or graded slopes (2-4 percent) away from bodies of water such as streams and ponds to prevent runoff pollution. Further prevention measures would include buffer zones of ungrazed vegetation or other plantings, such as evergreens, to help filter excess water shed. Limit trips in the pasture with equipment by locating bunks and hay feeders near the fence and road. Eden Shale Farm and the University of Kentucky have some excellent fenceline feeder designs that can help your cattle and pastures and even save you some time with chores.

Unfortunately, there is no “silver bullet” solution to managing mud; however, there is a systems approach requiring many small changes to your operation and feeding practices. Some of these recommendations can (and should be) implemented immediately. However, many require dry weather and time to get satisfactory results.

By JENNIE RUCKER Executive Secretary N.C. Simmental Association

Waynesville Bull Test Sale. The N.C. BCIP Waynesville Bull Test Sale was held on December 3 at the WNC Regional Livestock Center in Canton, North Carolina. Auctioneer was Bryan Blinson of N.C. Cattlemen’s Association. Eugene Shuffler of Union Grove, N.C., had the top indexing purebred Simmental bull with Lot 23, and this bull was also the top selling of the Continental breeds at $3,700. This bull was sired by Gibbs 7382E Broad Range. The top indexing SimAngus bull was consigned by Keziah Farms of Monroe, North Carolina. This bull sold for $2,600 and was a son of BCIV Black Magic 9049. Since only one purebred Simmental bull sold, they averaged $3,700, and the SimAngus bulls averaged $2,600.

Union County Bull Sale. The Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale was also held on December 3, this

time at the new location at the Simpson Events Center in Monroe, North Carolina. Bidders and buyers enjoyed a warm, beautiful Saturday with a delicious luncheon provided by Triple L Angus Farm. Five purebred Simmental bulls were sold for an average of $4,140. The top two selling purebred Simmental bulls, JBB Proven Bounty H27 and JBB Done Right H22, consigned by Dr. Jeffery Broadaway, sold for $6,000 each. Eight SimAngus bulls were sold for an average of $2,462.50. The top selling SimAngus bull, JBB All Around H20, consigned by Dr. Jeffery Broadaway, sold for $2,900.

The top two selling SimAngus registered open heifers, consigned by Gene Price of K&G Farms, sold for $1,850 each. All the registered open heifers averaged $1,450. Many thanks to everyone who made the 46th Annual Union County Performance Tested Bull Sale a great success!

Butner Bull Test Sale. The N.C. BCIP Butner Bull Test Sale was held on December 16 at the Granville County Livestock Arena in Oxford, North Carolina. The auctioneer was E. B. Harris, and it was another nice day where it was not actually raining! Preston and

NCSA Director Eugene Shuffler presents Preston and Erin Beth Pinkston of Silver Springs Angus a plaque for their top indexing Simmental and SimAngus bulls at Butner.

Neil Bowman takes bids at the Butner Bull Test Sale.

Deidre Harmon presents Eugene Shuffler with a plaque for his top indexing Simmental Bull at Waynesville.

Erin Beth Pinkston of Silver Springs

Angus received a plaque for their top indexing purebred Simmental and their SimAngus bulls. Their top indexing SimAngus sold for $2,400 and is sired by LMF Movin Forward. Their top indexing purebred Simmental sold for $1,750 and

is a son of HTP/SVF Duracell T52.

The top selling SimAngus bull was consigned by Keziah Farms of Monroe, North Carolina. This bull sold for $2,500 and is sired by Byergo Black Friday 7529. The 16 Simmental and SimAngus bulls sold that day averaged $2,084.

Phillip Ray Rucker, Sr. Passes

Phillip Ray Rucker, Sr., “Pops,” age 93, passed away peacefully on January 14 in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Phil was born on May 26, 1929. His parents are the late William Ralph Rucker, Sr. and Pearl Glascoe Rucker. Phil was preceded in death by his wife of almost 50 years, Carolyn Webb Rucker, his brother William Ralph “Tink” Rucker (Betty), Jr., and his sisters Mary Lillian Spangler (Ed) and Chris (Lewis) Rucker Wilson.

Phil was a 1947 graduate of Shelby High School. He attended Mars Hill College. He proudly served his country in The U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

After his military service, Phil returned to Shelby. In 1960 he founded

Cleveland Contractors, Inc., a successful grading and construction business. During his career, Phil and his company completed many local, regional, and state projects. The business continues to be family owned and operated.

After starting a family, Phil and Carolyn started a new endeavor of farming. He and Carolyn raised the boys on their farm and taught them responsibility and accountability, as well as passing on their love for the animals and taking care of the land. 6RC Farm was a prominent Charolais beef cattle operation for many years.

Once retired, Phil and Carolyn relocated to Port Charlotte, Fla., and Lake Lure, N.C., where they spent many

wonderful years.

During his lifetime, Phil served on many boards associated with farming, livestock, construction as well as his community. He is a member of the Cleveland County Cattlemen’s Hall of Fame and the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame. He served as a Cleveland County commissioner. He was an active supporter of Scouting. He joined Cub Scout Troop #5 in fourth grade and obtained the rank of Eagle. He is a lifelong member of the American Legion,

Order of Elks, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Phil was a lifelong member of Central United Methodist Church and a proud member of the Hoey Bible Class.

Phil is survived by his four sons; Will (Tina) Rucker of Shelby, Phil (Jennie) Rucker, Jr of Hamptonville, N.C., Jim (Hope) Rucker of Shelby, and Tim (Laura) Rucker of Shelby. He was a proud grandfather of twelve grandchildren; Nancy (Patrick) Greene, Anna Rucker and Morty Gaskill, Erin (Kyle) Richardson, Rae (Tanner) Vestal, Jacob Rucker, Christy Rucker and Jason Beaver, Patrick Rucker, McKenzie (Trevor) Mowery, Alex Hojnacki, and Hayden Hojnacki, Kendrick Rucker and Jessie Rucker. He was a proud great grandfather to Nelson Greene, Miller Greene, and Shelby Richardson. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

The family would like to recognize Phil’s special friend, Connie Siwak, along with the amazing and caring staff at UNC-Pardee Hospital of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to Central United Methodist Church - Window Fund, 200 East Marion Street, Shelby, N.C. 28150 or to the donor’s choice.

West End Precast

InternatIonal Brangus Breeders assocIatIon news

IBBA Staff Realignment! “I am pleased to announce that Callie DeLarm has been promoted to Director of Registry Services. Callie takes the reins from Jessie England, who has transitioned from her Registry Services role to Director of Marketing and Media,” stated Darrell Wilkes, Executive Vice President of IBBA.

Callie joined the IBBA staff a year ago and was assigned to assist with DNA services. At that time, the parent validation system was still mostly manual – validation of one animal at a time. It consumed many hours of staff time. With recent upgrades to the entire DNA data management process within Regstr, the system is now highly automated, which saves a significant amount of staff time.

“While learning the complexities of DNA data management, Callie bailed in and learned the other features of Regstr,” Wilkes added, “so this is a natural next step for Callie in her IBBA career path.”

Jessica England (Jessie) will continue to mentor Callie as needed with Registry Services but will transition to beefing up IBBA’s marketing and media activities.

“I want to publicly thank Jessie for stepping up and handling IBBA’s media enterprise the past six months while simultaneously managing the Registry Services function,” Wilkes said. “She assumed the role of Editor of the Brangus Journal and Frontline magazines last summer when Emily Lochner announced that she was moving up in her role with TSCRA. Jessie has an incredible work ethic, so she stepped up and took on two

jobs. But continuing to do two critical jobs simultaneously is not sustainable, even for someone with her grit.”

“While the Brangus publications are top notch, there are huge opportunities for us to beef up IBBA’s marketing activities in a comprehensive way. Every time Jessie and I meet on this topic we add to the list of things that we could be and should be doing to broadly market the Brangus breed. But there are only 24 hours in each day. So, if we are ever going to do more than talk about these things, we needed to free up Jessie’s time to focus on them. This staff realignment does just that,” Wilkes added.

Macee Prause, Director of Genomics and Research, will continue as the lead person on all issues DNA related, and Callie will continue to assist members with DNA issues as part of her role in Registry Services. The efficiencies of the current DNA data management process have freed up more of Macee’s time to work on international strategies. “Macee has been forced to squeeze in her duties as staff liaison to the International Committee while DNA issues monopolized her time. Now, she can spend more quality time enhancing our international marketing efforts,” Wilkes said.

“We will continue to look for every opportunity to improve efficiency, deliver world class customer service to our members, and spread the word about the benefits of Brangus genetics,” Wilkes concluded.

Update from the Field. News from

Kyle Caldwell, Director of Field Services & Strategic Projects. This first month as your new Director of Field Services has certainly been busy and chock full of new experiences, new faces, and new opportunities for the advancement of the Brangus breed. Through my short time with the IBBA so far, I have had the privilege of seeing some of the best the breed has to offer at sales across Texas and the southeast.

At the time of writing this article, I am returning from the OKC West Livestock Market buying steers for the second round of the Brangus Value Project raised by our cooperator Tyler Dean and crew at the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. I also had the opportunity to ride around with Tyler for the day and see some of the cows that produce steers for the Brangus Value Project. Tyler and his team run a top notch operation supported by meticulous data collection and management. Their Brangus steers were in high demand at OKC West sale, which is a true testament to the fact that with high quality genetics, and proper marketing and management, good cattle can come from anywhere and command a premium from those next in the line of production.

When talking with several feedlot buyers in attendance, I got a similar story from all of them: “It’s a quality market these days. I’m buying calves that have the best chance to grade Choice or better.” These same buyers were bidding on Brangus calves as much and as often as they were on other lots identified as Angus or Angus composite. This got me more excited than ever because it solidifies the merit of initiatives like Brangus Value and Brangus Vigor and tells me that if presented with proof gleaned from these projects, we can effect real change for the betterment of the breed and those that produce quality Brangus beef. The Brangus Value Project is one that I take a great deal of pride in. I look forward to the second round of results in the coming months to further build the value story of the Brangus breed.

About the International Brangus Breeders Association. The International Brangus Breeders Association, headquartered in San Antonio, Tex., strives to provide the commercial cattle industry, domestically and internationally, with the best genetics possible. Founded in 1949 as the American Brangus Breeders, the organization has since evolved into the IBBA. The IBBA’s purpose is to enable its members to produce quality beef for the commercial cattle industry and its consumers. For more information about IBBA, visit www. gobrangus.com

You shouldn’t have to have a gun held to your head to take advantage of the expert A.I., superior genetics, the best in purebreds and outstanding farm supplies featured in the Classifieds in this issue!

GELBVIEH NEWS

Underwood Joins American Gelbvieh Association. The American Gelbvieh Association is pleased to announce the addition of Megan Underwood to the AGA staff as the Communications Coordinator. In her role, Underwood will lead the communication efforts of the association, serve as editor and assist with advertising for the AGA’s monthly publications, and assist the marketing team in developing a national advertising campaign.

“Megan is a very talented young professional and has a wide range of skills in the field of agricultural communications,” says Megan Slater, AGA executive director. “We are excited to have her joining the AGA team and helping us grow the Gelbvieh and Balancer message.”

Underwood was raised on her family’s Hereford seedstock operation in Campbellsville, Ken., and spent summers showing cattle at the state and national levels. She received her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and industry with a minor in mass communications and journalism and

a professional strategic selling certificate from Kansas State University. She served as a College of Agriculture Ambassador, was a member of the 2020 National Western and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Meat Judging teams, and was recognized as the 2018-2019 Block and Bridle Rookie of the Year. She graduated from Kansas State University on December 9 with her master’s degree in agricultural education and communication. Her research focused on the uses and gratifications of beef cattle breed association magazines for United States beef cattle producers. She brings experience from her internships with many industry leading beef organizations and breed associations.

“Having grown up in the beef industry, I knew I wanted a career that allowed me to focus on advancing the industry through communicating with innovative beef producers. I am excited to join the AGA and tell the Gelbvieh and Balancer story through print and digital communication platforms,” said Underwood. “I look forward to meeting AGA members and enhancing the AGA

communication efforts.”

Underwood began her role with the AGA on December 19 and can be reached at meganunderwood@gelbvieh.org or the AGA office at 303-465-2333.

Bradley Joins American Gelbvieh Association. The American Gelbvieh Association is pleased to announce the addition of Shianna Bradley to the AGA staff as the office services specialist. In her role, Shianna will assist AGA members and customers with submitting data to the online registry service, support general office functions, and work with the DNA department to organize the DNA sample storage library.

“We are excited to have Shianna as a part of the AGA team,” says Megan Slater, AGA executive director. “With her welcoming and energetic personality, members will enjoy visiting with her on the phone, and we are looking forward to the fresh ideas she’ll bring to our team as she finishes up her degree.”

Bradley grew up in South Whitley, Ind., where she was an active 4-H member and FFA officer. She is finishing up her last semester at Purdue University, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a concentration in animal agribusiness and a minor in farm management. During her time at Purdue, she was an active member of Block and

Bridle. She made the decision to complete her degree online to have hands-on experience within the industry.

“I am excited to be working at AGA to help members in such a supportive community,” said Bradley. “I didn’t have the opportunity to be raised with cattle, but my time in college has opened my eyes to what the beef industry has to offer. This opportunity to serve AGA members along with expanding my knowledge and experience within the cattle industry is truly amazing.”

Bradley began her role with the AGA on January 2 and can be reached at registry@gelbvieh.org or the AGA office at 303-465-2333.

Champions Awarded in Seventh Annual American Gelbvieh Foundation Scale and Rail Contest and Steer Challenge. The results are in, and champions have been awarded in the 2022 American Gelbvieh Foundation (AGF) Scale and Rail Contest and Steer Challenge. The contest harvested 90 head from 15 participants, awarding $3,625 total in cash prizes and 21 banners sponsored by the AGF.

The steers had an excellent overall performance with an average daily gain of 4.12 pounds per head per day and a dry matter feed conversion of 6.19:1. The AGF extends a special thank you to Kinsley Feeders of Kinsley, Kan., and Derek Martin,

for hosting and supporting the contest.

The steers were harvested at National Beef in Dodge City, Kansas, and sold on the USPB grid. Thank you to Stuart Jarvis for donating the USPB delivery rights. The steers had an average hot carcass weight of 973 pounds, with 92 percent having a yield grade of 1, 2, or 3, 79 percent grading USDA Prime or USDA Choice, and an overall average marbling score of 479.

The AGF continues to help advance the Gelbvieh breed through its support of research and development. For this reason, the AGF continues its Scale and Rail Contest and Steer Challenge. These two projects provide the information and funds necessary to generate data sets to advance Gelbvieh carcass merit. Together, these projects will solidify carcass merit within the Gelbvieh breed and place the cattle in a more competitive position in the beef industry by providing supplementary carcass data on Gelbvieh influenced genetics. In addition to the data collected and knowledge gained from these projects, money raised will help to further develop more accurate tools for ranchers when selecting Gelbvieh and Balancer genetics.

Scale & Rail Contest Results - The Scale and Rail Contest awarded $1,625 in cash prizes and 15 banners to outstanding participants in both the Gelbvieh and Balancer divisions.

Champion Average Daily Gain

Gelbvieh Steer

Tag - 218J1

Average Daily Gain - 4.78 lbs

Quality Grade - USDA Choice

Yield Grade - 2

Owned by Post Rock Cattle Co.

Sired by RNBG 32F9

Champion Average Daily Gain

Balancer Steer Tag - 718

Average Daily Gain - 5.04 lbs

Quality Grade - USDA Choice

Yield Grade - 3

Owned by Boehler Gelbvieh

Sired by SB Shootout 725

Champion Carcass Value Gelbvieh Steer Tag - J1K

Carcass Value - $2,402.37

Quality Grade - USDA Choice

Yield Grade - 3

Owned by Lucky Cross Ranch

Sired by VRT Lazy TV Sam U451

Champion Carcass Value Balancer Steer

Tag - 5353

Carcass Value - $2,582.74

Quality Grade - USDA Prime

Yield Grade - 3

Owned by Ed Lavarentz

Sired by SKF Dunn’s Escander 023E

Champion Pen of Gelbvieh Steers

Pen Value - $6,700.86

Pen Quality Grade - USDA Choice

Pen Yield Grade - 2

Owned by Post Rock Cattle Co.

Sired by RNBG 32F9

Champion Pen of Balancer Steers

Pen Value - $7,071.84

Pen Quality Grade - USDA Choice

Pen Yield Grade - 3

Owned by Post Rock Cattle Co.

Sired by RI Probity 254D28

Reserve Champion Pen of Balancer Steers

Pen Value - $6,980.41

Pen Quality Grade - USDA Choice

Pen Yield Grade - 3

Owned by Cedar Top Ranch

Sired by CCMF Mr. Payweight 19C ET

Steer Challenge ResultsParticipants of the 2022 Steer Challenge were awarded $2,000 in cash prizes and six banners. All five participants –Boehler Gelbvieh, Flying H Genetics, Grund Beef Genetics, Lucky Cross Ranch, and Wilkinson Gelbvieh – each donated $1,000 to the AGF.

Champion Average Daily Gain

Tag - 718

Average Daily Gain - 5.04 lbs

Quality Grade - USDA Choice

Yield Grade - 3

Owned by Boehler Gelbvieh

Sired by SB Shootout 725

Champion Carcass Value Tag - 718

Carcass Value - $2,429.06

Quality Grade - USDA Choice

Yield Grade - 3

Owned by Boehler Gelbvieh

Sired by SB Shootout 725

Congratulations to all the 2022 Scale and Rail Contest and Steer Challenge champions, and thank you to everyone who participated in the contest. To view complete results and learn more about the contests, visit https://gelbvieh.org/foundation/projects

About the American Gelbvieh Foundation. The AGF secures, grows, and responsibly distributes assets for research, member education, and youth development to sustain and grow Gelbvieh genetics.

About the American Gelbvieh Association. The AGA is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,100 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance oriented total herd reporting system.

Santa Gertrudis Breeders International News

H.C. Neel Named Santa Gertrudis Breeders International Executive Director. Santa Gertrudis Breeders International (SGBI) announced H.C. Neel as its executive director, effective January 3. As executive director, Neel will provide leadership for the association’s staff and members while leading one of the beef industry’s fastest growing purebred beef associations.

“We are excited to have H.C. at SGBI’s helm,” says SGBI President Gene Kubecka. “His experience raising, showing, and judging cattle, along with his breed association experience make him an excellent fit for SGBI. Most importantly, his vision for enhancing our breed’s relevance in the beef industry cannot be understated.”

Neel has deep roots in the cattle business and South Texas/Gulf Coast

ranching. He grew up on a large scale cow/ calf ranch north of Refugio, Tex., where he and his family have been actively involved in showing and raising cattle.

“My entire life has been dedicated to the cattle industry, specifically in South Texas. I have a strong passion for that way of life and perhaps an even stronger passion for Bos indicus cattle and the value they provide to the industry,” Neel says. “The opportunity to work with a breed and association with such rich history and prominence in an area I’ve always called home is one I am incredibly grateful for and do not take lightly.”

Before joining SGBI, Neel served as director of association services for the American Brahman Breeders Association, where he was intensely involved in research and breed improvement initiatives, performance programs, genetic

progress, and association management. He strives to utilize his passion and experience in the beef cattle and ranching industries to influence positive change that benefits cattle breeders at all levels of the production chain.

For Santa Gertrudis breeders, Neel says the future presents a world of opportunity, especially with the increasing popularity and demand of red hided cattle across the United States.

“Santa Gertrudis offers a way for cattle raisers to incorporate superior adaptability and heterosis with a hide color that becomes more desirable by the day,” he says. “SGBI has done tremendous work in marketing these facts and identifying partners to help capitalize on the value of red hided cattle. I think this opens tremendous opportunities for the breed to expand and increase our own piece of the market share across the United States.”

Neel’s involvement in the beef industry also includes serving as an officer and committee member with varying organizations, such as the Texas Purebred Cattle Alliance and the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. A member of nationally competitive livestock judging teams at Blinn College and Texas A&M University, Neel also serves as a professional livestock judge at local, state, and national levels.

The Neel family resides in Goliad, Tex., where they own and operate a small cow herd that focuses on the production

of show cattle for 4-H and FFA youth across the state.

“I look forward to the incredible opportunity to work with Santa Gertrudis producers and continue to promote and progress the breed as a leading force in the Bos indicus and beef cattle industries,” he says.

For more information about Santa Gertrudis Breeders International, please visit www.santagertrudis.com

About Santa Gertrudis Breeders International. SGBI provides progressive leadership, services, programs, and technology to promote and broaden the long term profitability of Santa Gertrudis influence within the beef industry by being member driven and consumer focused. For more information about Santa Gertrudis cattle and Santa Gertrudis Breeders International, visit www.santagertrudis.com

NOTICE

Letters to the editor are welcome and we appreciate your input. HOWEVER, letters that are not signed will not be considered for publication.

Sandy Batten Passes

Thurman “Sandy” Ross Batten Jr., age 65, passed away at his home in Selma, surrounded by his loving family, on December 17, 2022. He was born in Johnston County on May 21, 1957. He is preceded in death by his father, Thurman Ross Batten Sr.

Mr. Batten is survived by his mother, Janice Hales Batten; wife, Sherry Landes Batten of the home; son, Daniel Beasley and wife Mary of Youngsville; daughters, Michelle Batten McGinnis, and husband, Patrick of Selma, Nicole Starling and husband Chris of Kenly, Jerica Sittig and husband Brian of Four Oaks; brother, Jeff Batten of Selma; grandchildren, Kadence, Dalton, Jeremiah, Emma, Jake, Gracyn, Wyatt, Luke; niece, Hillary Batten Olive and husband Will; nephew, Dr. Lawson Batten; great nephew, Winston Olive.

Mr. Batten was a member of Kenly Missionary Baptist Church and loved anything that involved showing livestock or the 4-H Club.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Sonny and Sandy Batten Livestock Scholarship, 2736 N.C. 210 Hwy., Smithfield, N.C. 27577.

Alltech appoints Dr. Kyle McKinney and Dr. Rebecca Delles to lead new Innovation Department. To accelerate innovation and keep Alltech at the leading edge of smarter, more sustainable solutions for agriculture, the company has formed a new Innovation Department, appointing Dr. Kyle McKinney as vice president of innovation and Dr. Rebecca Delles as innovation and analytics manager. The team will be responsible for horizon scanning to meet the needs of tomorrow’s customers, rigorously challenging ideas before investment, and bringing new technologies to market.

“Our new Innovation Department will serve as an important hub of connection, collaborating with our global sales team and customers to identify opportunities, piloting new innovations with our operations and sales teams, and successfully launching new innovations into the market with the support of

teams throughout our organization,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “This is an exciting development in our effort to exploit more of Alltech’s capabilities and ultimately deliver on our ambitions for Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™.”

Since 2018, Dr. McKinney has served as the Global Director of Alltech’s Enzyme Management platform. Prior to that role, he spent three years in Costa Rica, focused on leveraging Alltech Crop Science technologies to control disease and reduce chemical applications. While there, he helped establish a fermentation lab to evaluate microbial solutions for disease control. He also worked in Alltech’s applications research program for more than a decade, playing an instrumental role in the design of Alltech True Check™, an in-vitro digestion system that evaluates diets and the impacts of feed technology in monogastric animals.

Dr. McKinney received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural biotechnology from the University of Kentucky, his master’s degree in brewing and distilling fermentation technology from HeriotWatt University, and his Ph.D. in agricultural biotechnology from Harper Adams University.

Dr. Delles has supported Alltech as a research scientist since 2013. Her focus has been on the impact of nutritional strategies on the oxidative stability of fresh meat products and the role of nutrition on inflammaging (the impact of inflammation on the aging process) in companion animals. She received her bachelor’s degree in medical technology at the State University of New York at Fredonia and her master’s, Ph.D., and MBA from the University of Kentucky.

For more information, visit alltech. com

About Alltech. Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech delivers smarter, more sustainable solutions for agriculture. Our diverse portfolio of products and services improves the health and performance of plants and animals, resulting in better nutrition for all and a

decreased environmental impact.

We are a global leader in the agriculture industry. Our team produces specialty ingredients, premix supplements, feed, and biologicals, backed by science and an unparalleled platform of services.

Strengthened by more than 40 years of scientific research, we carry forward a legacy of innovation and a unique culture that views challenges through an entrepreneurial lens. As a private, family owned company, we adapt quickly to our customers’ needs and focus on advanced innovation.

We believe agriculture has the greatest potential to shape the future of our planet. Our more than 5,000 talented team members worldwide share our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™. Together, we can provide nutrition for all, revitalize local economies , and replenish the planet’s natural resources.

Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Ken., Alltech serves customers in more than 120 countries, has five bioscience centers, and operates more than 80 manufacturing facilities across the globe. For more information, visit alltech.com

Contact these RAAC members to learn more about Red Angus genetics and how they can fit into your herd.

HARDROCK BEEF CATTLE

Ronnie & Donna Holman 4613 Hickory Nut Ridge Road • Granite Falls, NC 828-302-8659 ronnie@hardrockbeefcattle.com

JK RED ANGUS

Jeff Banfield & Madison Adams 331 Tee Jay Farm Road • Aberdeen, NC 910-315-3821 jkredangus@gmail.com

LANGDON RED ANGUS & SIMMENTAL John & Eileen Langdon 7728 Raleigh Road • Benson, NC 919-796-5010 johnlangdon5@gmail.com

ROGERS CATTLE COMPANY

Johnny & Sharon Rogers 945 Woodsdale Road • Roxboro, NC 336-504-7268 rccbeef@gmail.com

PRESNELL RED ANGUS

Jonathan & Jacob Presnell 368 Whitaker Road • Shelby, NC 704-473-2627 (Jonathan) • 704-616-8775 (Jacob)

BULL HILL RANCH

Jim & Alvina Meeks • Raymond Prescott, Manager 1986 Trinity Church Road • Gray Court, SC 864-682-3900 • 864-682-2828 bullhill2@mindspring.com

COUNTRY BOY FARMS

David Miller 316 Key Road • Edgefield, SC 706-840-3709

Terry Boyles, President - twinbfarm1@gmail.com

4B FARMS, LLC

Shelby, NC

Bryson, Wren, Beau, Belle, Bonnie & Bennet Westbrook 980-230-4868

brysonw@thewestbrookco.com

4K RANCH

Nelson, VA

Rick & Linda Kern 919-272-6124

4kranch@bellsouth.net

AWC CATTLE COMPANY

Winston-Salem, NC

Andie & Wes Carpenter 336-970-1655

jcarpenter@alphagraphics.com www.windmillacresfarms.com

BLINSON

POLLED HEREFORDS

Lenoir, NC

Keith & Peggy Blinson - 828-310-4526

Bryan & Beth Blinson - 919-422-9108

DOUBLE J FARM

Traphill, NC • Earlysville, VA John Wheeler 910-489-0024 doublejfarmllc@yahoo.com www.doublejfarmllc.com

FIVE J’S BEEF & CATTLE COMPANY

Clayton, NC Jody & Angela Standley

Kim Prestwood (Manager) 828-320-7317 - Kim jodystandley@gmail.com

GRASSY CREEK FARM

Bullock, NC Scott, Pam, Hailee, Lillee, & Elizabeth Bissett 919-482-1176 Bissettsp1@gmail.com

HEREFORD HILLS

Greensboro, NC

Bill Kirkman III 336-382-9635 ST Genetics Representative

SAVE THE DATE

55th Annual N.C. Hereford Classic Sale

***NEW DATES for 2023***

May 12 - NCHA Annual Banquet

May 13 - N.C. Hereford Classic Sale

***NEW LOCATION***

Shuffler Farm Sale Facility

444 Union Grove Road • Union Grove, NC

LOOKABILL FAMILY LIVESTOCK

Lexington, NC

Reggie, Patty, Tyler & Noah Lookabill 336-240-2142 rlookabill6015@gmail.com

McCOY CATTLE FARM Cove City, NC

Myron & Charlie McCoy 252-229-4602 mccoycattlefarms@gmail.com

MITCHEM’S FARM 3C Vale, NC Wayne, Crystal, Regan & Jordan Mitchem 704-472-4369 mitchemsfarm@bellsouth.net

NORTH PINO LAND & CATTLE COMPANY Mocksville, NC Kevin Robinson 336-940-2547 kevrob1@aol.com

P and J FARMS

Monroe, NC Andy Smith 704-400-3436 pandjfarmsherefords@gmail.com

QUAIL RIDGE FARM Rutherfordton, NC Mark Brewer 828-329-2074 markbrewer65@gmail.com

TAYLOR’S MILL FARM Zebulon, NC J. Brent Creech 919-801-7561 tmfherefords@icloud.com

TERRACE FARM Lexington, NC Jim, Linda & Chad Davis 336-247-1554 jgdavis101@yahoo.com

TRIPLETT POLLED HEREFORDS Statesville, NC James Triplett 704-902-2250 triplettmarble@bellsouth.net

W&A HEREFORD FARM Providence, NC George, Tammy, William, & Andy Ward 434-251-3637 waherefordfarm@comcast.net

S.C. Women in Ag Conference Provides Connections, Shares Knowledge

Sometimes, folks say, success depends not so much on what you know as it does on who you know.

With this in mind, the Clemson Cooperative Extension Service is using its resources to help South Carolina women working in agriculture enlarge their networks and increase their knowledge.

Clemson Extension recently held its first ever South Carolina Women in Agriculture Conference. More than 60 women registered for the two day Conference held at the T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton, South Carolina. Charlotte “Charley” Maxwell, conference organizer and Clemson Extension agribusiness agent, said the conference was held to connect women to resources available to help them in their agricultural endeavors.

“Agriculture tends to be a pretty isolating industry,” Maxwell said. “We’re holding this conference to help women connect with each other and build their networks. This conference also allows them to learn about resources available to them through Clemson University, as well as other organizations and professionals.”

The number of women in the agriculture industry has increased, and today more than 14 percent of the state’s total producers are women. Data from the 2017 Census of Agriculture for South Carolina indicates between 2012 and 2017 alone, South Carolina saw a 27.8 percent increase in female producers and a 56.9 percent increase in females as principal producers on farms.

Christina Mozeleski is interested in starting an agritourism farm. She and her mother moved to Bluffton, S.C., from New York. Although her agricultural experiences are limited, she is excited about the possibility of owning a farm dedicated to agritourism. She participated in the conference to learn about resources, as well as network and connect with other women in agriculture.

“My mother and I moved to South Carolina two years ago, during the pandemic, after she retired,” Mozeleski said. “I wanted to branch away from corporate life and do something I really enjoyed. So I moved to South Carolina with her to get out of the city, buy some land, and have a little space. I’m down in the Lowcountry where there are a lot of people; it’s a booming society and I would love to give people an opportunity to enjoy farm life. I am excited about this new venture and want to learn about resources and other opportunities. Events such as this are great for networking and learning from each other.”

Networking is key - Networking is an important part of agriculture. A panel of female producers – Katie Moore of Saluda Bend Farms, Kristin Dorr of Dorr

Farms, and Tracy Woodard of Covered in Cotton – encouraged participants to make “unique” connections.

“We’re in the people business,” Woodard said. “Become involved and serve in local organizations. Make unique connections with people who have similar interests. Join groups such as the South Carolina Farm Bureau’s Women’s Leadership Program or the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s ACRE program. Become active in Clemson Extension programs. Being involved in programs such as these can connect you with people who can help you in your farming operations and in your personal life as well.”

Social networking is another way to connect with people of similar interests.

“We offer monthly events on our farm to teach people about where food comes from,” Dorr said. “We post information on Facebook about these events, as well as information about fruits and vegetables we have available. We connect with a lot of people through our Facebook page.”

While working on a farm is fun, it also can be demanding. Moore said it is important women spend some time investing in themselves.

“Find a community of people who will support and challenge you,” she said. “Get involved in activities such as this Conference. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and learn new things. This is what will help you grow.”

‘Connecting the Dots’ - Lunch keynote speaker Marilyn Easter of Eastglen Farm, a dairy farm in Laurens, South Carolina, echoed the panel’s message. Easter’s talk centered on “connecting the dots” that exist in the lives of women in agriculture. Easter and her husband moved to South Carolina from Vermont in the late 1970s.

“We bought an old farm in South Carolina and my husband went back to our farm in Vermont to finalize things there,” Easter said. “I stayed behind to get the farm we had just bought in order.”

There were a lot of things to do, and Easter soon found out she was going to have to get to know the people in her community so that she could get the farm ready.

“I got involved in local organizations and serving in these community roles gave me a chance to meet people,” she said. “I learned who represented me at local, state, and national levels so I would know who to contact when I needed something.”

After some setbacks and a lot of hard work, Easter got the farm ready, and she and her husband, Glen, have been quite successful. One of their achievements was receiving the Outstanding Dairyman of the Year Award. Easter credits their success to being able “to connect the dots early” with

people who could help them advance.

“Connections are very important because sometimes in order to get things done, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” Easter said. “It’s important to make connections, embrace everybody, be open to new ideas, and look for opportunities.”

This was the first year for the S.C.

Women in Agriculture Conference. In addition to speakers, the conference also included tours of some of Clemson’s agricultural facilities, as well as a variety of educational sessions and presentations. Maxwell said plans are being made to make this Conference an annual event. For information, contact Maxwell at chmaxwe@clemson.edu

New NCCA Members for 2023

In 2007, members of the Membership Committee passed a resolution to recognize all NEW members of the NCCA in The Carolina Cattle Connection at the NCCA Annual Conference in Hickory. A new member is defined as someone who has never been a member or someone who has rejoined after a brief break in membership. The new members are identified in this new members section by name and county of residence.

Below is a list of NCCA’s new members for the last month:

Beaufort County

Bradford Hedgepeth

– 7 Acres Cattle Company

Buncombe County

Lily Aho

Coleman Amory-Pinkerton

Ellen Angelo

Michael Atkinson

Lucynda Ball

Cristina Baltenco

Eva Benne

Corie Bennett

Mila Blakeney

Emily Booth

Laney Branks

Kara Breedlove

Jamie Bryson

Kaia Chitwood-Rivers

Kennedy Cole

Brian Cortes-Arroyo

Kara Dodson

Christian Rangel Foxworth

Elijah Frisby

Mason Garey

Isaac Golden

Aiden Green

Ave Harmon

Ashton Hensley

Cassidy Hensley

Gabe Hensley

Makayla Nicole Hensley

Wyatt Hinker

Kaleigh Holdredge

Ethan Honeycutt

Ivy John

Addison Johnson

Emily Kuhl-Anderson

Dylan Lawson

Rebekah Lusk

Kursten McCoy

Rowan NcNabb-Friedmann

Bryson Mosemaw

Breon Newburn

Jack Nygaard

Kadence Penley

Amanda Powell

Alexis Ramsey

Luke Ramsey

Jaiden Reid

Ernesto Reyes

Ali Jo Rice

Peyton O. Rice

Kierra Ripley

Bianca

Sophia Rodriguez

Mike Rossi

Clay Shook

Ryan Silver

Makenzie Smith

Addison Sprinkle

Nick Stone

Naomi Taylor

Jacob Tompkins

Brianna Treadway

Miya Waldrup

Keira Ward

Kayden Williams

Natalie Wilton

Everette Worley

Burke County

Austin Wilson – Wilson Charolais Farm

Caldwell County

Scott Hatton – Bobcat of Lenoir

Chatham County

Amryn Murray

– J&M Livestock & Land Services

Cleveland County

Garrett Herndon – Herndon Family Farm

Jay Nivens

Davie County

Rick Karriker – Special K’s Farm

Duplin County

Donnell E. Kornegay, Jr. – Kornegay Farms

Paul Smith

Ben Whaley

Franklin County

Red Barn Ranch

Guilford County

Lance Sockwell – S&P Farm

Halifax County

Bishop Family Farms

Johnston County

Clay Byrd

Lincoln County

Randy Putnam – Lucky 7 Farm

Madison County

Shannon M. Roberts

– Roberts Cattle Service

Mitchell County

David Tolley

Nash County

Micah Boseman

Peyton Killibrew

Sam Moore

Northampton County

Luke Clements – Clements Family Farm

Janie Drewett – Jack Swamp Farms

Orange County

Doug & Greg Crabtree – Walnut Hill Farm

Perquimans County

Sam Adkins

Abbie Benoit

Gage Berryman

Alissa Black

Jalen Blanchard

Ashanti Boone

Graycee Carr

Hannah Cooper

Christopher Dail

Khyron Downing

David Cruz Gomez

Orlando Gomez

Cameron Goodrow

Marionn Holley

Yahmir Holmes

Lovely Hunter

Makhia Hunter

Syon Hunter

Zack Jarrett

Jonathan Jones

Jyini Jones

Rah’Siaya Jones

James Klein

Brylon Knapp

Kaylynn Long

Maddox Matthews

Ashlyn Overman

Phoebe Peters

Natalie Peterson

Caroline Russell

Madisyn Russell

Tate Russell

Brady Shepherd

Kaylee Smithson

Xavier Spellman

Jamion Sutton

Destiny Swinney

Connor Tripp

Douglas Weeks

Skylar Wiese

Kahlynn Williams

Uniqua Wilson

Polk County

Chauncey Barber – Ruff B Farm

Chauncey Barber II – Ruff B Farm

George Barber – Ruff B Farm

Randolph County

Steven King – Steven King Farms

Rockingham County

James Duggins – Lone Cedar Farms

Rowan County

Jake Smith – Smith Farms

Stokes County

Maxton Beam – Quaker Gap Cattle Company

Amanda Bennett

Victoria Blevins

Madisen Booth

Peggy Bryant

Isabella Butler

Michaela Conn

Levi Cousins

Jeremy Cox

Brianna Davis

Bella Greene

Chase Hall

Jacob Harris

Michelle Hartman

Breanna Johnson

Emily Jones

Justin Joyce

Ty Lawson

Izaiah Mabe

Andrew Maness

Samuel Mitchell

Aubrey Oldson

Grayson Parker

Caroline Phipps

Alley Robertson

Jackson Rumburg

Jacob Santana

Cheyenne Sizemore

Alanna Slate

Eleanor Smothers

Hunter Stovall

Melanie Taylor

Jesse Throckmorton

Elijah Tilley

Stephen Tilley

Anabelle Turner

Joshua Wall

Savannah Wilson

Surry County

Adam Lowe – Foothills Nature

Wake County

Felipe Silva

James West – Panther Branch Farms

Watauga County

Mitchell Gragg

Wayne County

Wes Waller – Carolina Bay Construction & Maintenance

Wilkes County

Finley James Case

Steven E. Foster

Randy McGuire – Wooten-McGuire Farm

Wilson County

Andres Anguiano-Ledesma

Kalen Rivers Aumen

Adynn Rae Batten

Kyle Hayden Bonini

Nancy Brance Boyette

Chloe Elizabeth Bynum

Crystal Cabello-Espinoza

Natalie Blair Capps

Alexandra Paola Chavez

Brayden Anthony Collins

Savannah J. Comstock

Mary Kate Conoley

Hunter Brock Corbett

Jordan Lee Corbett

Jacey R. Creech

Aryhonia Elaina Darby

Hailey Jaymes Denton

Emanuel Dimas-Villeda

Nelly Dimas-Villeda

Jazmin Duran Morales

Eva Jeraldine Espinoza Urbina

Shabiha Fairoz

Tamir L. Faison

Briggette Hayley Ferrell

Ryan Morrison Ferrell

Layla Danielle Gardner

Kamryn Faith Graybeal

Zahir Gutierrez Martinez

Josie Elizabeth Harrell

Serenity Nashea Henderson

Valerie Moncerrat Hernandez

Angela Hernandez-Ruiz

Landon Ray Humphrey

Ja’Quay Khalyl Jones

Ken’Morian Ty’Rell Jones

Alexis Joseph

Janaria Quanasia Joyner

Kajiehus Jayden Kenely

Alexander Lee Kirby

Mia Peal Leal

Melanie Ledezma-Torres

Matthew Tyler Lucas

Reginald Lucas

Tralion Jamel Lucas

Zantiria Iman McNeil

Elizabeth Rianne Minshew

Dominic Russell Pocoroba

Jacob Evan Powell

Scarleth Merecedes Quintanilla

Heaven Samone Ransome

Jaylin Sharron Richardson

Hayden Brooke Roberson

Marisol Rodriguez-Bautista

Amber Patrice Roulhac

Ken Benjamin Ruelas-Garcia

Hector Sanchez-Bautista

Jahniya Myesha Smith

Jolie Quinn Sogluizzo

Ryan Matthew Strickland

Shelby Anne Marie Taylor

Deziah Deidre Ward

Raven Zariah Wilkins

Clemson and S.C. State Collaborate to Bring AgrAbility to South Carolina

Aging and ailments limit some South Carolina farmers, but faculty and researchers at Clemson and South Carolina State universities are looking to help make agriculture accessible for people with disabilities.

South Carolina farmers are getting older, with the average age being 58.2 years old, and agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. To help improve the quality of life and cultivate independence for residents with disabilities, the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) recently awarded a grant to Clemson and South Carolina State University, in conjunction with other organizations, to start an AgrAbility program in South Carolina.

The program will be led by faculty in Clemson’s Department of Agricultural Sciences and Cooperative Extension Service agents and researchers at both universities.

Dale Layfield, Clemson associate professor of agricultural education, said the AgrAbility program helps eliminate obstacles people with disabilities face in production agriculture or agriculture related occupations.

Disabilities impact about 15-20 percent of the United States’ farming population.

“For some farmers, growing older makes handling everyday tasks more troublesome , and they are eager to find helpful solutions to overcome these barriers,” Layfield said. “In addition, disabled individuals interested in agriculture also face the same challenges and seek resources that may offer solutions. This program will help the South Carolina agricultural community develop barrier-free farming.”

Disabilities affecting the farming population include amputations, arthritis, back impairment, deafness/hearing impairment, developmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy or autism, disabling diseases such as cancer or heart disease, mental and behavioral issues, respiratory diseases, spinal cord injuries, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairments.

Members from participating agencies will identify the beginning and experienced farmers who have disabilities, including military veterans, minorities, underserved farmer groups, youth interested in farming, and women.

IRM Red Books Are Here

Due to increased printing costs, the price of the books have increased to $7.00/each this year.

We would like to thank Performance Livestock & Feed Company and Carolina Stockyards for again sponsoring this book.

The 2023 version is now available to help cattle producers effectively & efficiently record daily production efforts, which can help enhance profitablity and reduce stress levels. In addition to Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) best practices and proper injection technique information, it has more than 100 pages to record calving activity, herd health, pasture use, cattle inventory, body condition, cattle treatment, A.I. breeding records, and more. It also contains a calendar and notes section.

Simply return the order form below, along with $7.00 for each book to: N.C. Cattlemen’s Association

2228 N. Main Street

Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

You can now order them through our website at www.nccattle.com/resources/merchandise/red-book-order-form.

You can also call our office at 919-552-9111 or email us at kim@nccattle.com

The South Carolina AgrAbility team will hold workshops, resource development, activities for online education, networking, and site visits, as well as consultations and business planning. The team also will educate farmers, ranchers and laborers, and others about services and resources available to accommodate disabilities in the farming environment. In addition to Layfield, other Clemson team members are Lance Beecher, Hunter Massey, and Aaron Turner.

The team also will provide information on how to use new technologies, instruction for the proper application and use of agriculture tools, and information on functional design to aid in using the tools, as well as how to prevent injuries in the agricultural workplace.

For more information about this program, contact Layfield at dlayfie@clemson.edu

Additional collaboration - The South Carolina AgrAbility Program is just one example of how Clemson and South Carolina State are working together to serve the state. The universities also have received $70 million from the USDA to provide incentives to South Carolina farmers to implement climate-smart production practices. Both institutions have established strategic partnerships with 27 entities, and the project will focus on representative agricultural production sectors of South Carolina and the Southeast, including vegetables, peanuts, beef cattle, and forest products, and will ensure the meaningful involvement of small and underserved producers.

In another collaborative effort, Cooperative Extension Service agents

and researchers from both universities recently met for their first joint conference. They laid out plans for how they will collaborate to provide information to help improve the lives of people living in South Carolina.

“This collaboration between Clemson Extension and South Carolina State Extension will allow us to work together to provide even more valuable information and resources for South Carolina residents,” said Tom Dobbins, Clemson Extension director. “As we move forward, Clemson and South Carolina State will have a great working relationship without losing our identities.”

Edoe Agbodjan, associate Extension Administrator at South Carolina State, said, “Working in Extension is not just a job, it’s something we take pride in. We don’t keep track of time. We just work. That’s because we want to make a difference. We look forward to this partnership with Clemson Extension and what it will allow us to do for South Carolina residents.”

In addition to Extension Service agents and researchers, other organizations participating in the program to bring AgrAbility to the state include Able South Carolina (Able S.C.), S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Department, S.C. Department of Education (Office of Special Education), University of S.C. Assistive Technology Program, Farmer Veteran Coalition of South Carolina and the Upstate Warrior Solution. These organizations will conduct training workshops and team up with engineers to create innovative solutions for overcoming the barriers to farming.

S.C. CharolaiS NewS

By GEORGEANNE WEBB S.C. Charolais Association

I hope everyone survived the awful cold weather at Christmas. We had three water lines to the cows break, and we finally got all of them fixed by New Year’s. I called Brett DeBruycker in Montana and told him to call his weather back because it was 8ºF here. He laughed and said it was 31ºF in Montana. The week after the freeze, we had the frog gagging rain of four and a half inches. It has been a hard few weeks taking care of cattle, but luckily I had no calves born during the cold. My Zeus daughter waited until it got to 50ºF to calve. I thanked her for crossing her legs and waiting for warm weather.

The first week of 2023 has been a sad time as we lost a great cattleman in Pickens County, South Carolina. Johnnie

Newton, one of the founding members of Pickens County Cattlemen’s Association, died on January 2. He was a commercial cattleman and a great friend of ours, and we will miss him deeply.

Mike King of Nubbin Ridge Charolais is not doing well. I will not go into great detail but keep him in your prayers.

We are getting ready for the Charolais Sale on the last Saturday in April, so if you have cattle to consign, now is the time to get in touch with me or Dennis Adams. Cattle prices are going up, and we expect them to increase more, so get your paperwork together for the sale.

Stay safe, and maybe we will survive the winter and get some of this rain in the summer.

The N.C. Cattlemen’s Association would like to sincerely THANK Pasture Management Systems, Inc for sponsoring this one-of-a-kind membership incentive program! The winning county will be announced at the 71st Annual N.C. Cattlemen’s Association Annual Conference on February 24!

Weather the freeze: three tips to ensure cattle have winter water access. Strategies to keep your water sources open and clear to drink to optimize your cattle’s performance during winter. With the onset of winter temperatures around the country, cattle producers are busy ensuring their herds are well cared for. Keeping cattle fed with quality nutrition from supplementation to provide protein, energy, minerals, and vitamins is top of mind for many. But there is another essential nutrient you can’t afford to overlook: water.

“Water is the most essential nutrient for cattle production,” says Jon DeClerck, Ph.D., cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition. “It’s used for regulating body temperature, growth, reproduction, lactation, digestion and many other bodily functions. Water also drives intake for mineral, forage and supplements. And while we typically worry more about water intake in summer, it’s equally as

important in cold weather.”

For fall calving herds, water requirements go up drastically during lactation. Cows hit peak lactation right when water is at risk of freezing up. With spring calving herds, water access is key to avoid stress, and long term performance impacts to both the cow and unborn calf.

Here are three tips to keep cattle drinking water in winter:

1. Carefully consider water placement - During extreme cold, wind, or moisture, cattle typically stand in a shelter for extended periods to conserve body heat. The easier it is to access water in shelter areas and near feed sources, the less likely cattle will go off water or burn body heat walking long distances to get water.

“When using natural water sources, place feeding sites close to the water to encourage access and decrease the chance of water icing up, but far enough away to protect water quality,” says DeClerck.

Water sites should be well drained to avoid mud and ice build-up, which can become a slipping hazard.

2. Be proactive about ice management - The best way to manage ice is to prevent water sources from icing up in the first place.

“Automatic cattle waterers have several options to keep ice at bay, including insulated troughs and pipelines, electric and propane heaters, solar power, and heat tape or geothermic heat,” says DeClerck. “An added benefit of these types of heated waterers is improved water temperature, leading to more optimal water intake by the animal.”

Maintaining a continuous flow of water is another option for automatic cattle waterers to prevent ice build up. But be aware of overflow issues. Set up a drain to remove excess water and only run continuous flow in preparation for and during inclement weather.

“Managing ice with natural water sources is more of an art than a science,” says DeClerck. “Water can get muddy if you chop ice too close to the bank, discouraging cattle from drinking. But, if you chop too far out, you increase the risk of slipping, which could lead to broken legs or lost pregnancies. Look for a happy medium to keep cattle safe while maintaining water quality.”

3. Prepare for the unexpectedThose in the Midwest and North are often pros when it comes to extreme winter weather. But in the warmer areas of the country, such as the Southeast, you may not be as prepared for that once-every-

ten-years winter storm. But no matter where you live, the key is to have a plan.

“When a winter storm rolls in, don’t be left without supplies like water heaters and other essential items,” says DeClerck. “These sell out quickly when storms are looming. Make a checklist of must have items and stock up long before temperatures start dropping.”

Have a pre-storm plan in place and know how to implement it. Your plan could include tasks like performing regular maintenance, turning on water heaters, and starting continuous flow on automatic cattle waterers.

When building a new site, think ahead and consider laying pipes deeper and using insulated pipes to prevent freezing. It will save you a lot of hassle down the road.

Visit purinamills.com or contact your local Purina dealer for tips on optimizing cattle water intake during cold weather.

About Purina Animal Nutrition. Purina is a national organization serving producers, animal owners, and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers, and other large retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company is an industry leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients, and specialty technologies for the livestock and lifestyle animal markets. Purina Animal Nutrition is headquartered in Arden Hills, Minn., and a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc.

Reinke Recognizes Brock Equipment with Dealer Performance Awards

Reinke Manufacturing, a global leader in irrigation systems and precision irrigation technology, has recognized Brock Equipment with distinguished dealer performance awards.

Brock Equipment locations in Bailey and Calypso, N.C., earned

Reinke’s Diamond Pride award for their performance in the last year.

“Reinke is honored to work with Brock Equipment to help them serve the growers in their area,” said Chris Roth, Reinke president. “We’re proud to award their efforts and we appreciate their

dedication as we continue to develop and implement precision irrigation equipment and technology to help growers increase yields and profitability.”

Reinke dealerships from across the United States and Canada come together annually for the company’s sales convention to recognize select Reinke dealers for their hard work and commitment to serve growers. The Reinke Pride awards are determined as part of an incentive program that distinguishes superior achievement levels according to an evaluation based on a dealership’s exterior and interior housekeeping and maintenance, indoor and outdoor displays, safety, retail environment, merchandising, professionalism, promotions, event participation, and market share.

About Reinke Manufacturing. With hundreds of dealers in more than 40 countries, Reinke Manufacturing is the world’s largest privately held manufacturer of center pivot and lateral move irrigation systems. Family owned since 1954 and

headquartered in Deshler, Neb., Reinke develops products and technology designed to increase agriculture production while providing labor savings and environmental efficiencies. Reinke is a continued leader in industry advancements as the first to incorporate GPS, satellite based communications, and touchscreen panel capabilities into mechanized irrigation system management. For more information on Reinke or to locate a dealership, visit Reinke.com

Pictured from left to right, Chris Roth – Reinke President, Tyler Brock – Brock Equipment, Patrick Leslie – Brock Irrigation, and Jake Lull – Reinke Territory Manager.

Don’t get caught napping! Deadline is 5th of month prior to issue!

Federation oF State BeeF CounCilS update

Federation Through the Decades: 1960s. As the Federation of State Beef Councils celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, let’s step back in time and look at successful projects that have created a strong state and national partnership through the decades. This month, we travel to the groovy 1960s when bell bottoms and tie-dye were all the rage, and the Federation was born.

Before the Beginning - Before we enter the ‘60s, we need to go a little further back into history to understand how the Federation of State Beef Councils developed. In 1922, 14 organizations united to create the National Live Stock and Meat Board, whose goal was to promote all red meats, including beef, lamb, and pork. The Meat Board brought together all segments of the value chain to improve consumer perception of meat. Funded by a voluntary 5¢ per carload assessment on train cars of animals sent to

harvest, with an additional 5¢ requested from packers, it was agriculture’s first “checkoff” program.

Birth of the Federation - In the 1950s, states began organizing promotional campaigns and establishing groups dedicated to beef promotion.

California started this trend in 1954, instituting a voluntary checkoff of 10¢ per head, 2¢ of which was forwarded to the Meat Board. Other states, including Alabama, Montana, and Florida, also implemented state beef councils around the same time. The success of state programs spurred the development of the National Beef Council (NBC) in 1955 to solely promote beef at the national level.

The NBC relied on voluntary contributions of 8¢ per head marketed. While more than 15 state beef councils formed in support of the NBC, the lack of funds limited the organization’s success.

As meat packing decentralized and

producers focused on single species operations, the Meat Board created species oriented committees. In 1963, NBC merged with the National Live Stock and Meat Board, and the Beef Industry Council (BIC) was formed, serving as both the national promotion arm of the beef industry and the headquarters of the Federation of State Beef Councils.

Power of Partnerships - With a limited initial budget, partnerships were essential, and the BIC joined with the American Dairy Association for a “Buttered Barbecued Steak” promotion and with the American National CowBelles (precursor to American National CattleWomen) in promoting “Beef for Father’s Day.” Through the cooperation of state beef councils and state cattlemen’s groups, outdoor billboard and bumper sticker campaigns also encouraged consumers to “Enjoy Beef Every Day.”

As television sets were introduced into more homes, the BIC tested the power of television as a marketing medium. In 1964, the first television advertising campaign promoting beef occurred, with ten television commercials reaching more than 35 percent of all U.S. homes. The BIC also recognized early on Americans’ love of cookouts, and the first summer grilling campaign began. In 1966, BIC partnered with states to create and distribute 250,000 color brochures about grilling beef.

State Investments at Work - State beef councils recognized the importance of national programs and invested funds into the BIC. SBCs and BIC worked together to utilize each other’s expertise and leverage funding. By 1969, state beef councils raised nearly $2 million and were responsible for $800,000 of the Meat Board’s $1.4 million in revenue that year.

This investment structure was the beginning of the state-national partnership that still exists today. Sixty years later, the successful grassroots program continues, with the Federation relying on state beef councils for funding and input and states relying on the Federation for support, advice, and guidance on extending national programs locally.

For more information about the Federation of State Beef Councils, visit www.ncba.org/federation . Next month we’ll cruise into the ‘70s when beef was “Stayin’ Alive,” and disco was in full swing.

Beef Brings People Together for Tailgating. It’s no secret that the sound of beef sizzling on the grill and smoky smells wafting through the air draws people for tailgating fun. Tailgating is a feast for the senses, and beef is what

brings people together to celebrate.

No matter what the sport, fans drop their tailgates and roll out the grills for pre-event food and fun. Staff from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor of the Beef Checkoff, recently came together to create a tailgating atmosphere, complete with trucks, grills, and beef to capture the sights and sounds for state beef councils to use in their promotional efforts.

The NCBA office parking lot was transformed into tailgating headquarters. Cameras rolled while beef grilled, and frivolities ensued. The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand emblazoned across trucks, tables, and tents made it clear that beef was the protein of choice at this tailgate party. A variety of still photos and videos were captured for use in advertisements, social media, and other promotions throughout the year.

“We were able to develop high quality creative assets utilizing limited resources because we used our own talent and equipment,” said Don Waite, NCBA’s senior executive director of Federation State Services. “This type of innovative activity is what the state/national partnership is all about.”

This is one example of how the Federation of State Beef Council’s state/ national partnership helps to create assets that benefit all state beef councils. The images and video captured at the event can be used by states in their efforts to promote beef at the local level.

Have you forgotten something?

Make sure your cattlemen friends are members of your state association!

NCBA

PresideNt’s rePort

By DON SCHIEFELBEIN National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Looking to the Future While Staying Rooted in Tradition

The month of January often means setting New Year’s resolutions, planning, and looking forward to the changes ahead. I like the idea of a clean page at the beginning of the year — the endless possibilities, the goal setting, and the drive to achieve more. It provides a reason for each of us to think about the future and plan the next steps.

Things I’m pondering in the new year are: What genetics best fit our operation and our customers’ needs? How can we make sure the beef eating experience is fantastic and consumer demand for our product remains strong? What new technology is on the horizon? How do

we continue to make the needs of the industry apparent to those in Congress?

Yet the reality is there are still circumstances that we all face in the industry that aren’t going to change. Our lives and businesses are often a balancing act between the legacy that means so much to us and the need to keep up with advancements that support efficiency and profitability.

Many people associate ranching with the show Yellowstone. We’ll have an opportunity to hear from the Yellowstone creator, Taylor Sheridan, in New Orleans at the Cattle Industry Convention, and I’m

looking forward to talking to him about his background in ranching and how he translates it to television. But we also know the show is a fictional portrayal of our industry. More and more Americans are becoming multiple generations removed from production agriculture. When asked where their food comes from, they simply say, “The grocery store.”

We talk about telling our story a lot but that’s because there’s still a need to share the heritage of our livelihood and our commitment to continued progress. The common theme in many of our stories is the things that are fundamental to our businesses. These fundamentals include our commitment to land and water conservation, our focus on animal welfare, and the importance of producing a consistent, quality product. As an industry, what we do on the cattle production side ultimately lands at the center of someone’s plate, and that’s not changing. Our focus here has led to strong consumer demand for our product.

The fundamentals of farming and ranching and transparency with how we operate are things that build trust. In fact, according to NCBA’s Checkoff funded Consumer Beef Tracker, more than ⅔ of consumers surveyed have positive

perceptions about beef, and 60 percent said farmers and ranchers are the most credible sources of information when it comes to production practices; it was veterinarians that nudged us out of the top spot. I think this is awesome news for us, and it tells me that we’re doing something right. But we never want to get too comfortable. We can always improve. The Consumer Beef Tracker also told us where we need to keep working. Of the consumers surveyed, only 27 percent said they are familiar with how beef cattle are raised, but more than half said they consider this aspect when choosing protein, and their chief concern is animal welfare.

In this new year, we need to have tools and data that help us make good decisions to keep those fundamentals moving forward. But we can’t lose sight of the fact that we’re still dealing with a public that doesn’t understand us. This is where I think NCBA provides incredible value; we don’t have the time to shout our stories from the rooftops, but we have an entire organization behind us, making that their priority.

Some things change, and some things stay the same. But regardless of what this year brings, I’m glad we’re in this together.

Beef CheCkoff News

Beefing Up Relationships with Healthcare Professionals. Today, more than ever, consumers are bombarded with information about the abundance of choices for what to wear, what to buy, and what to eat. Whether through social media, television, radio, or streaming services, grocery shoppers are constantly looking for information to help them make the best decisions for their families. And when it comes to nutrition information, there is one group that is turned to the most.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are the most frequently consulted health professionals for nutrition and healthy eating information, and 77 percent of global consumers declare that their advice impacts which foods they buy. 1,2 Healthcare professionals, like RDNs, are a critical audience that the Beef Checkoff reaches with beef’s positive nutrition message, arming them with science based information they can share with their patients and clients.

As NCBA, a contractor of the Beef Checkoff kicks off fiscal year 2023 nutrition programming, they continue to find value in health professional education and outreach as this critical audience plays a key role in consumer health and nutrition. NCBA builds relationships with healthcare professionals through engagement at conferences and events, and these relationships and the information learned to help direct future content development.

In October 2022, the NCBA Nutrition

Team partnered with Produce for Better Health to host a #BetterTogether reception during the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) in Orlando, Florida. The networking event attracted more than 80 health professional attendees who gathered to collaborate on ways to pair beef and produce to optimize health and nutrition. As a result, new connections with nutrition influencers and thought leaders developed.

To continue the momentum gained at FNCE, the NCBA Nutrition Team hosted a three day Nutrition Influencer “Meat Up” in Denver to build relationships with 15 leading Registered Dietitian influencers and provide beef nutrition education sessions. Through a Beef Nutrition 101 presentation, a hands on Culinary Education workshop, Social Media Masterclass, and Beef Sustainably and Industry panel, attendees experienced multiple aspects of the beef industry and nutrition.

Attendees’ specialties ranged from pediatric nutrition and diabetes management to sports performance, and together they had a collective social media reach of more than 1.2 million. This well connected, well established, and influential group reaches consumers through media outlets such as Eat This, Not That!, CNBC, Yahoo! News, and MSN.

“We were excited to see that this experience encouraged nutrition influencers to share their newfound knowledge with their audiences, and we

are looking forward to deepening and expanding these relationships throughout 2023,” said Shalene McNeill, Ph.D., RDN, NCBA’s executive director of Nutrition Science, Health & Wellness.

In addition to providing information about beef’s role in a healthy lifestyle to health professionals across the country, the Checkoff funded Nutrition Seminar Program provides an opportunity to collaborate with state beef councils to place credentialed, expert speakers at statewide meetings for healthcare professionals. Currently, 22 credentialed experts are scheduled to speak at health professional education conferences in 2023. Many of these speakers were found through the #BetterTogether reception during FNCE.

The start of a new year is the perfect time to elevate the nutritional value of beef. February recognizes National Heart Health Month, and March highlights National Nutrition Month and National RD Day (March 15), providing perfect opportunities for nutrition influencer collaborations, health professional partnerships, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. produced content, recipe promotions, and the launch of a new beef nutrition experts and advocates virtual

community. For Heart Health Month, NCBA is also exploring partnerships with four nutrition influencers, all of which attended the FNCE #BetterTogether reception or the “Meat Up.”

As the new year begins, NCBA is well positioned to continue providing science based information and resources to health professionals, so they are ready to share beef’s positive health message with consumers across the country.

References

1 International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation’s 2022 Food and Health Survey

2Eat Well Global, The Consumer Voice Report: Global Insights on Food, Trust, Nutrition and Influencer, November 2020 About the Beef Checkoff. The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill. The Checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products. States may retain up to 50¢ of the dollar and forward the other 50¢ per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.

A MessAge froM the Ceo

By COLIN WOODALL National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Optimism

One of the best parts of my job is the opportunity to participate in meetings and conventions put on by our state partners. NCBA is most effective when we have our ear to the ground listening to members, volunteer leaders, and Checkoff investors. As I participate in these meetings, I have been amazed at the amount of optimism expressed by the attendees. Simply getting back to having meetings with preCOVID-19 attendance numbers or higher speaks volumes about this optimism. I believe there is plenty to support continued optimism as we start the new year.

The plague of drought remains over many portions of the United States, and its effect on the size of our domestic herd harkens back to our experience in the last big drought. Wait! Was I not just talking about optimism? Well, meteorologists are getting bolder in their forecasts that we will see a shift from a La Niña weather pattern to an El Niño one around the middle of the year. I realize it will not come soon enough for some of you, but to know that hope, and rain, is on the horizon helps with our optimism. We are already seeing snowpacks in many of the

western mountain ranges that are at, or above, their normal percentages.

Many of the challenges we face are accompanied by a silver lining. Drought induced herd liquidation means that the supply of cattle is dramatically different from a few years ago. Demand for beef, however, remains high. The consumer is with us and wants to eat beef, as illustrated by our experience in restaurants and retail grocery stores this past year. Beef prices went up, but the consumer kept buying. They kept buying because the high quality of our beef delivered an eating experience they wanted to enjoy time and again. Much of that demand is thanks to the work of the Beef Checkoff. Back in October, we utilized our role as a contractor to the Checkoff by working with Uber Eats and Sonic on a six day cheeseburger promotion. Our work increased cheeseburger sales by 218 percent! When it comes to pure eating pleasure, we know we are the protein of choice, and our Checkoff funded work keeps moving beef.

That demand is key because it is resulting in higher prices being paid for cattle. Economists and market analysts are telling us that the outlook is good for cattle prices in 2023. We need it, but the prices we are paying for fuel and production supplies are taking the shine off these increased prices. Once again, here is a place for optimism, as there are signals that inflation could start to wane this year. That will help us get more out of improved cattle prices while giving the consumer even more money in their pocket for beef.

There is also reason to be optimistic in Washington, D.C. A Congress that has split control is one we can take advantage

of. We expect that a Republican House of Representatives and a Democrat Senate will result in a log jam on Capitol Hill. A log jam means that only legislation with support from both parties has a chance to get through. That protects us against bad legislative ideas. NCBA has friends in both parties, so that we will press forward with our policy priorities, especially in the upcoming Farm Bill. Programs such as funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine bank, and USDA risk management tools have bi-partisan support. While it might be a big lift to get the Farm Bill done before it expires in September, our priorities will see a lot of support.

Optimism for the year will be on full display in just a few short weeks as we gather for the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans. It is not too late to register. In fact, unlike the price of everything else these days, the registration cost to attend the convention did not go up. It has been the same price for five years. This is the premiere event for cattle producers, where we get the chance to have some fun, learn a little, set the policy for the association, and enjoy the cattle industry’s largest indoor trade show.

Each new year brings a time for optimism and fresh starts. The outlook for 2023 will only help bolster our optimism. We are fortunate to be a part of such a great and noble profession. To care for our families, our cattle, and the natural resources we steward is something we all take pride in. What we do matters. Thank you for your fortitude, persistence, and commitment to producing the best tasting beef in the world.

Beef Promotion and Research Program

PRIVATE TREATY SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM

Information is required by (7 CRF 1260.201). Failure to report can result in a fine. Information is held confidential (7 CRF 1260.203).

Today’s Date: ________________

Seller’s Name: ____________________________

Buyer’s Name: ____________________________

Address: Address:

City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: ______

Seller’s Signature: _________________________

Buyer’s Signature: _________________________

Both the seller & the buyer are responsible for making sure that the $1.50 per head assessment is collected and remitted to the Beef Promotion & Research Board.

Total Number of Cattle Sold: ___________________ x $1.50 Per Head = $

Date of Sale: __________________ Person remitting assessment form: Seller o Buyer o

* State of Origin of Cattle:

* If the cattle purch ased came from another state within the last 30 days, indicate from which state the cattle were purchased.

Send Report and Remittance to:

SOUTH CAROLINA BEEF COUNCIL

P.O. Box 11280

Columbia, SC 29211

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0093. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1.8 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disbility, sexual orientation, marital or family status, political beliefs, parental status, or protected genetic information. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14 th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Cattlemen’S BeeF Board update

By MARK SUSTAIRE

Beef and Dairy Industries Must Cooperate for Greater Success

I’ve been in the dairy business all my life. My parents, Pat and Peggy, launched Sustaire Dairy here in Winnsboro, Tex., back in 1966, and while I was growing up, they expected me to pitch in wherever and whenever I could. In 1990, I bought 17 heifers of my own to add to our 100 head operation. Today, my son Garrett and daughter Jordan represent the third generation of Sustaire Dairy.

Throughout my nearly 33 years in the dairy business, a lot has changed. There are much larger operations, fewer small family owned dairies, computerized milking technology, and evolving consumer preferences, just to name a few.

Another major difference is that dairy cattle have become a regular part of the mix in today’s beef marketing chain. Most consumers don’t realize that the dairy and beef industries have been working together for years, with dairy steers fed for beef production. In fact, since 2002, the percentage of dairy beef contributing to the total U.S. beef supply has ranged from 18-24 percent. To help the dairy industry benefit from the Beef Checkoff’s promotion, research, and education abilities, dairy producers – myself included – serve on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB), currently holding 12 percent of the seats.

As the dairy climate continues to evolve, the practice of crossbreeding dairy cows with beef genetics is becoming increasingly common. As a result, it’s estimated between 2.5 million and 5 million beef-on-dairy cross calves were born in 2022, and those numbers will likely continue at the same level in 2023. In addition to dairy and beef crossbreds, dairy finished steers, cull cows, and finished heifers all produce beef for the total supply.

Some beef producers are concerned that beef-on-dairy crossbreeding has the potential to take market share away from “traditional beef.” As a dairy producer on the CBB, I understand that concern. However, the U.S. dairy herd remains consistent at around 9.3 million head, and dairy producers need a high number of replacement heifers on a regular basis to keep their operations up and running. For those reasons, it’s unlikely that the number of beef-on-dairy cattle will grow to the point that they would impact traditional beef’s dominant position in the marketplace.

While the crossbreeding trend is not significantly changing the number of calves and feeders in the feedyard, what is changing is the quality of the beef these cattle provide. Dairy producers are getting higher market value for those calves, and consumers both here in the U.S. and abroad benefit by having more Choice and Prime graded beef available for purchase.

Furthermore, beef-on-dairy crossbreeding can benefit the entire beef industry while also reducing beef production’s environmental impact. Researchers from Cargill and Nestle have recorded these findings:

• Beef-on-dairy calves provide high quality beef without impacting milk

production efficiencies.

• Feedyard operators enjoy greater access to value based marketing opportunities because they have more higher grade beef carcasses available.

• Beef-on-dairy calves also demonstrate greater feed efficiency than purebred dairy calves, decreasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

I personally believe crossbreeding can be a win for both dairy and beef producers. These crossbred cattle can help the beef industry provide a more consistent supply with even better carcass quality. And with drought and other factors continuing to decrease beef cattle numbers across the country, we need these beef-on-dairy crosses to help answer growing consumer beef demand. Furthermore, the producers I know who have launched their own beef-on-dairy crossbreeding programs tell me it is a positive influence on their cash flow with an animal that is more marketable than the traditional all dairy breeds.

Dairy producers like me who sell cattle and calves end up paying two checkoffs – the Dairy Checkoff and the Beef Checkoff. Our contributions help further both dairy and beef promotion, research, education, and information, driving demand for our products. Ensuring the dairy perspective is represented on the CBB is important because dairy cattle are a significant part of the beef industry.

Dairy farmers and beef producers are neighbors, and we share the same values, challenges, and many of the same opportunities. By working together on the CBB, beef and dairy producers can continue to uncover greater efficiencies that will benefit both industries while providing consumers with more of the high quality products they want and need.

NCBA News

NCBA Congratulates Alexis Taylor on Confirmation as USDA Under Secretary for Trade. Recently, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane released a statement following the confirmation of Alexis Taylor as Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

“NCBA congratulates Alexis Taylor on her confirmation as USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. We have worked closely with Ms. Taylor in her previous roles at USDA and on Capitol Hill, and she is a proven advocate for farmers and ranchers. We look forward to partnering with Ms. Taylor to open new markets to American beef and help U.S. cattle producers see even more benefit from trade.”

NCBA Congratulates Key Agricultural Nominees on Senate Confirmation. Recently, NCBA congratulated two key agricultural nominees on their Senate confirmation to senior positions at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“NCBA extends our congratulations to Doug McKalip on his confirmation as Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

NCBA is pleased that the Senate confirmed such a qualified nominee who can now get to work promoting new trade opportunities that benefit American cattle producers,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “We look forward to working closely with Mr. McKalip in his new role.”

The Senate also confirmed Dr. Jose Emilio Esteban to an Under Secretary position at USDA.

“NCBA congratulates Dr. Jose Emilio Esteban on his confirmation as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety. Dr. Esteban’s role is critical for ensuring consumer confidence in the beef industry. Dr. Esteban has an extensive background in food safety through his work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USDA, and we are pleased that the Senate confirmed such a highly qualified nominee. NCBA has worked closely with Dr. Esteban in his position as Chairman of the Codex Committee for Food Hygiene and we look forward to future collaboration in his new role,” said Lane.

NCBA Statement On New WOTUS Rule. Recently, NCBA issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s finalized Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. “For too long, farmers and ranchers have dealt with the whiplash of shifting WOTUS

definitions. The Biden administration sought to finalize a WOTUS definition that will protect both our nation’s water supply and cattle producers across the nation,” said NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart. “While the rule retains longstanding, bipartisan WOTUS exclusions for certain agricultural features, it creates new uncertainty for farmers, ranchers, and landowners across the nation.”

NCBA previously called for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to retain agricultural exclusions for small, isolated, and temporary water features that commonly appear on farms and ranches. These exclusions have broad support and were included in WOTUS rules under both Republican and Democratic administrations. The rule fails to clearly exempt isolated and ephemeral features from federal jurisdiction and relies on “case-by-case” determinations to assess whether a feature is federally regulated. The rule is a far cry from the regulatory certainty provided by the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, creating a significant and costly burden for agricultural producers.

“The timing of this rule could not be worse,” added Hart. “The Supreme Court is currently considering Sackett v. EPA, which will provide much needed clarity related to the WOTUS definition. The final rule seeks to directly preempt ongoing Supreme Court litigation, leaving farmers and ranchers with more questions than answers.”

NCBA Statement on USDA

Proposed Traceability Rule. NCBA

President-Elect Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer and chairman of the NCBA traceability working

group, released the following statement regarding the USDA’s proposed rule on electronic identification for cattle moving interstate:

“As USDA has worked toward a nationally significant animal disease traceability program, NCBA has remained engaged in the conversation with industry stakeholders and USDA to ensure the interests of cattle producers are represented and protected. It is critical that any program ultimately adopted by USDA allows for maximum flexibility and privacy. At the same time, USDA must also minimize the costs for producers and any business disruptions to the industry.

“Foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks across the globe continue to result in disruptions to commerce and depopulated livestock. The need for bold action is immediate and evident. However, NCBA is committed to working with USDA to ensure workable solutions are identified and ultimately implemented. Cattle producers can be confident that any finished product will protect our national livestock herd. We will ensure it provides maximum producer privacy and flexibility with minimal costs, exactly what our stakeholders have told us they expect from USDA.”

NCBA is reviewing the proposed rule in its entirety to determine whether it meets the criteria that NCBA’s policy has outlined below.

Background - NCBA grassroots policy, which is brought forward and voted on by individual cattle producers, states that NCBA believes an effective animal disease traceability program should:

• Be compatible with private sector animal ID and verification programs backed by the USDA.

• Be compatible with the general traceability principles of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

• Recognize existing USDA programs for beef exports.

• Be built using infrastructure that supports other potential uses of ID.

• Utilize low cost electronic official tagging devices paid for by federal and/or state funds when possible.

• Require that cattle ID information for disease traceability be kept confidential and strongly protected from disclosure.

• Protect ownership information from disclosure to future owners.

• Protect producers from liability for acts of others after the cattle have left the producer’s control.

• Operate at the speed of commerce.

• Not replace or impede existing state

brand inspection activities.

• Work within a framework to accommodate all classes of cattle.

NCBA

Announces Lawsuit Against

Biden Administration

WOTUS

Rule. Recently, NCBA filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenging the Biden administration’s final “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule.

“The Biden administration’s WOTUS definition is an attack on farmers and ranchers and NCBA will be fighting back in court,” said NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart. “The rule removes longstanding, bipartisan exclusions for small and isolated water features on farms and ranches and adds to the regulatory burden cattle producers are facing under this administration. We look forward to challenging this rule in court and ensuring that cattle producers are treated fairly

under the law.”

NCBA previously filed technical comments on this rule, highlighting the importance of maintaining agricultural exclusions for small, isolated, and temporary water features, like ephemeral streams that only flow during limited periods of rainfall but remain dry the majority of the year. Regulating these features at the federal level under the Clean Water Act disrupts normal agricultural operations and interferes with cattle producers’ abilities to make improvements to their land.

“Farmers are stewards of the land and understand the importance of clean water. Unfortunately, this rule lacks common sense and makes our lives more complicated,” said NCBA Policy Vice Chair Gene Copenhaver, a Virginia cattle producer. “My cattle operation in southwest Virginia has a creek that only

carries water after large storms. Under this WOTUS rule, we could be subject to complex federal regulation. I’m proud of NCBA’s work fighting back against this rule and I hope the uncertainty created by WOTUS will soon be a thing of the past.”

Last year, over 1,700 individual cattle producers sent messages to the EPA opposing the administration’s overly broad definition of WOTUS. Producers once again shared their views with the EPA at an agency roundtable last June, and even the EPA’s own Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee urged the EPA to consider a more limited rule. Unfortunately, EPA failed to incorporate the cattle industry’s recommendations, and NCBA will be suing to stop this rule from harming cattle producers.

“NCBA is also concerned that the EPA charges headfirst on a controversial

rulemaking while this very issue is currently before the Supreme Court. We look forward to a decision in Sackett v. EPA,” said Hart.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Sackett case on October 3, 2022, and is expected to release a decision in early 2023.

About National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. NCBA has represented America’s cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy. As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org

Too Much of a Good Thing — Ionophore Toxicity Discovered the Hard Way

In mid-May, 3,000 yearlings were placed on grass. Only one month later, cattle started dying, reaching a total death loss of 70 head by mid-July. Additionally, at the end of the grazing season, the herd had only gained an average of ½ pound, and when processed, many of the carcasses were condemned.

What could have possibly caused this cattle phenomenon?

Scott Fritz, a board certified veterinary toxicologist and assistant professor at Kansas State University (KSU) College of Veterinary Medicine, and Brad White, DVM, director of the KSU Beef Cattle Institute (BCI), discuss this toxicology case in a recent Bovine Science with BCI “Tox Talk” podcast and share what led to the death loss, low gain and condemned carcass results.

Dropping Like Flies - Based on the initial information for the case, White says bovine respiratory disease or pneumonia comes to mind first. Especially when dealing with a group of 3,000 calves and assuming they were comingled when put on grass, the likelihood of a respiratory outbreak is possible.

However, since the pattern of death was not directly aligned with what is normally seen in a respiratory type case, Fritz adds, from a toxicology standpoint, water access and some “off the wall questions” may need to be

addressed.

“At the peak of the death loss, when losing 10-12 head per day, and the cattle are separated across multiple, big pastures, we have to wonder if there is something else going on,” Fritz notes. “When they are starting to see that many head turn up, that’s just too many on a yearling calf operation. We just don’t see that with many infectious diseases.”

When this event occurred, the producer quickly reached out to local veterinarians for guidance. The veterinarians performed necropsies — finding enlarged livers and hearts, along with fluid built up in the thoracic and abdominal cavities. While these results fit the bill for high altitude disease in cattle, these cattle were not located in a high altitude area.

Cattle Feeding SituationConsidering the known facts up to this point, Fritz begins looking at the cattle feeding situation. On grass, the cattle were not receiving any kind of supplemental feed or mixed ration, as the grass availability in early summer was sufficient. The only added nutrition was free choice access to a mineral supplement.

Fritz explains taking a look at the mineral supplement was the first step — asking what is in the mineral, if there had been any changes to the mineral, if there was a recent delivery, etc. The investigation continued through further lab examination of the necropsy tissues submitted, as well as mineral sample testing.

Diagnosing the Cattle - After review

of the mineral and fixed heart tissue histopathology — the study of diseased cells and tissues using a microscope — the cattle deaths were found to be caused by an ionophore. Specifically, microscopic lesions in the heart were the tell tale sign of ionophore toxicity.

After further analyzing the mineral feeding situation, the issue became very clear. The mineral was labeled to be fed at a rate of three ounces per head per day, yet it was being fed on a free choice basis. Fritz explains it’s likely that a number of cattle overate the mineral, which resulted in death.

Producers Beware - Feeding mineral supplements according to label directions proves to be extremely important. White explains free choice mineral supplements or feed, such as a creep feed ration, usually contain a limiter. Limiters, such as salt or ionophores, keep the cattle from eating too much. In this case, the mineral was likely meant to be limit fed or possibly added in a total mixed ration (TMR) to ensure animals were given the correct amount.

When it comes to ionophores in cattle, there is a relatively narrow margin of safety, Fritz says. However, feeding ionophores provides benefits that far outweigh any negatives. Considering the number of beef cattle on feed that is fed an ionophore, these cases are very few, and far between, he adds, and when fed properly, ionophores are safe and effective.

In this situation, the producer did the two best things possible — contacted

local veterinarians and removed the remaining mineral. While a number of the cattle had already been exposed to lethal amounts of the mineral, pulling the supplement likely saved many in the remaining herd.

In the event of unexplained cattle deaths or anomalies on an operation, producers should contact their veterinarian for post mortem examination and help submit the correct samples to the diagnostic lab for investigation. Fritz adds ocular fluid from the eye can be a great tool in helping identify or rule out other causes of acute death in cattle.

Y’all have stumbled on the best place to advertise expert A.I., superior genetics, the best in purebreds and outstanding farm supplies. Check the Classifieds in this issue!

BioZyme Launches New Brand for Fermentation Products. BioZyme, Inc. is proud to launch its newest brand, AO-Biotics. AO-Biotics is a line of fermentation products derived from BioZyme’s innovative fermentation of Aspergillus oryzae (AO) that promote resilience. As global experts in AO fermentation, BioZyme is excited to bring to market AO fermentation products that are “anything but ordinary.”

The first product addition to the AOBiotics is Amaferm. For the last 50 plus years, Amaferm has been the hallmark ingredient in BioZyme’s premier line of animal nutritional supplements and health products. It is a prebiotic research proven to enhance digestibility.

While research continues to expand on Amaferm, BioZyme is also on track to develop new products under the AOBiotics brand. These will include both prebiotics and postbiotics.

“We are very passionate about utilizing our expertise in AO fermentation to develop new products that address common challenges in animal agriculture globally,” said Lisa Norton, President and CEO.

BioZyme, a member of the International Science Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), has long manufactured and marketed prebiotics. However, inaugural sales of postbiotics are scheduled for the first quarter of 2023. Postbiotics are defined by ISAPP as “a preparation of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components that confers a health benefit on the host.” These may include inactivated microbial cells, cell components, or metabolites. AO’s capacity to produce unique cell components and metabolites makes it ideal for generating innovative postbiotics.

“We are using AO as a bio-factory to create biotics that promote an animal’s resilience to overcome specific challenges, whatever those may be,” shared Lynsey Whitacre, Ph.D., Senior Manager of New Product Development. “It’s an innovative approach that we have proven works, but we are only beginning to scratch the surface of what is possible.”

To learn more about AO-Biotics, visit aobiotics.com

of the backside of his blade.

In other words, your animal needs to fill up, which means they need to eat and/ or drink. When livestock get to a show, they tend to get stressed. Why not make sure they keep eating and drinking to fill up properly for show day?

Help your animals #PreptoWin with proper nutrition from Sure Champ and Vita Charge as part of their daily routine. Being proactive in your supplements will keep them accustomed to what you are putting in their feed and water, no matter the surroundings, and should help keep them eating and drinking. The AO-Biotics Amaferm in the Sure Champ and Vita Charge products increase digestibility and keep animals eating and drinking.

Vita Charge Liquid Boost is a liquid for all livestock designed to provide immediate support to the animal’s digestive and immune systems. This convenient product with palatable flavoring helps create consistency in taste of any water source and can be administered via a medicator, mixed with water, and used as a drench or top dressed on feed. Liquid Boost contains Amaferm and MOS to help normalize the gut microflora and support the immune system. Amaferm is a prebiotic research proven to support digestibility.

Although some administer Liquid Boost to their animals daily, you can also start adding it to your animals’ feed or water 5-7 days prior to traveling to a show and through the duration of the show to promote eating and drinking. Being proactive in your supplements will keep them accustomed to what you put in their feed and water, no matter the surroundings, and should help keep them eating and drinking.

Sure Champ Spark is a pelleted, daily supplement for show livestock designed to support digestive health and restore appetite. With Amaferm included, Spark can be top dressed or mixed in the ration to drive appetite to higher levels and improve digestive health. This multispecies product also contains MOS to help normalize the gut microflora and support the immune system and biotin and zinc to promote healthy skin, hair, and hooves.

zinc, copper, and manganese, and the maximum allowable level of selenium. It also has vitamins A, D, and E, along with niacin and B-12, for added growth, bloom, and health.

Make sure your show animals stay on track and keep eating and drinking with one or more of the above products from BioZyme Inc., powered by Amaferm. #PreptoWin every day, and at your next show, you are more likely to hear positive comments from the judge on how he or she appreciates the shape of rib and bloom your heifer exhibits or how that barrow pushes with a tremendous shape behind his blade.

To learn more about these and other products or to find a dealer near you, visit surechamp.com

About BioZyme Inc. BioZyme

Inc., founded in 1951, develops and manufactures natural, proprietary products focused on animal nutrition, health, and microbiology. With a continued commitment to research, BioZyme offers a complete line of feed additives and high density, highly available vitamin, mineral, trace mineral, and protein supplements for a variety of animals, including cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. BioZyme brands include AO-Biotics®, VitaFerm®, Gain Smart®, Vita Charge®, Sure Champ®, Vitalize ® , DuraFerm ® , and Backyard Boost®. With headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri, the company reaches a global market of customers that stretches into countries across five continents. For more information about BioZyme, visit www. biozymeinc.com

S.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of DECEMBER 2022

Cattle

6,632 • Previous Month: 9,223

Feeder supply - 34% steers • 45% heifers • 20% bulls

SLAUGHTER

Give the Judge

Something to

Talk About: Keep your Livestock Show Ring Ready. Have you ever heard the judge say your heifer needs more rib shape? Perhaps you’ve heard a judge comment that your barrow is too flat out

Sure Champ Cattle is a pelleted daily supplement with protein, vitamins, and minerals for show cattle designed to support performance. It can be topdressed or mixed in a ration. Sure Champ Cattle contains Amaferm, organic

John Deere packs more hay into every bale with the new L341R High Density Large Square Baler. Deere & Company is adding to its lineup of balers with the introduction of the new L341R High Density Large Square Baler. The new baler creates 3x4 high density bales. For straw bales, farmers can expect bale weight increases of up to 30 percent when using the new baler.

“There are fewer bales to pick up and move which leads to less infield compaction,” said Chase Milem, marketing manager at John Deere. “Since fewer bales need to be removed from the field, farmers save time, labor, and fuel. In addition, the heavy bales help ensure trucks are loaded with the most amount of hay possible for enhanced efficiency.”

High density balers are commonly used in crops having more elastic characteristics, such as straw. The L341R features increased plunger force, tension panel pressure, and an 18 inch longer bale chamber than previous models to provide extra pressure to the bales. Added pressure is applied to the crop as it is moved through the baler, packed, and then formed into a bale.

For example, the L341R can form up to 1,200 pound, densely packed 3x4 straw bales. Previously, the same sized bale weighed up to 925 pounds. Across a 160 acre field, with straw yielding 2 tons per acre, a farmer could get by with four fewer trailers to transport the bales. In this scenario, hauling bales 200 miles at $4.80 per mile can save $3,840, or $960 per trailer load. “The time farmers will need to retrieve the bales from the field will be less. Since there are fewer bales to pick

up and move and less traffic in the field, potential crop regrowth can increase,” Milem said.

John Deere is also making new Bale Documentation technology available on its large square balers to support greater agronomic and resource management. Using Bale Doc, farmers can track bale weight and moisture and flow that data into the John Deere Operations Center for analysis and permanent record keeping.

“Gathering bale yield data may offer farmers insights into irrigation frequencies and water volume applied. It also can improve nutrient application plans and provide an estimate on the volume of residue removed from a field,” Milem said. “The L341R helps our customers leverage John Deere equipment and technology they may already use, while maintaining the valuable parts and service support they are accustomed to receiving from their local dealer.”

For more information about the L341R, High Density Large Square Baler, visit JohnDeere.com or your local John Deere dealer.

John Deere Debuts New Planting Technology & Electric Excavator

During CES 2023 Keynote. During John Deere’s CES 2023 keynote address, the company revealed two new technologies, ExactShot™ and an electric excavator, that will help Deere’s customers be more productive, profitable, and sustainable.

“Everything we do at John Deere is focused on real purpose and real impact,” said Jahmy Hindman, CTO at John Deere. “This means we’re developing technology that enables our customers to provide the food, fuel, fiber, and infrastructure that

our growing global population needs.”

ExactShot allows farmers to reduce the amount of starter fertilizer needed during planting by more than 60 percent. The technology uses sensors and robotics to place starter fertilizer precisely onto seeds as they are planted in the soil rather than applying a continuous flow of fertilizer to the entire row of seeds.

The electric excavator, powered by a Kreisel battery, will provide construction workers and road builders with lower daily operating costs, reduced jobsite noise, enhanced machine reliability, and zero emissions without sacrificing the power and performance they need in a machine.

ExactShot Details:

• ExactShot will help farmers be economically and environmentally sustainable as they work tirelessly to grow the food, fuel, and fiber that we all rely on. With the global population expected to grow from 8 billion to nearly 10 billion by 2050, farmers need to increase production by 60-70 percent on today’s arable land.

• ExactShot uses a sensor to register when each individual seed is in the process of going into the soil. As this occurs, it will spray only the amount of fertilizer needed, about 0.2 ML, directly onto the seed at the exact moment as it goes into the ground.

• Across the U.S. corn crop, ExactShot could save over 93 million gallons of starter fertilizer annually and prevent wasted fertilizer from encouraging weed growth or increasing the risk of running off the field into a waterway.

Electric Excavator Details:

• Deere’s new electric excavator, powered by a Kreisel battery, will improve reliability, performance, and safety in construction. Its use on construction sites will result in fewer moving parts, less noise pollution, and fewer emissions.

• Deere acquired a majority stake

2022 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts

in Kreisel Electric, which created stateof-the-art battery technology for a wide range of mobile and stationary applications. Kreisel’s patented immersion cooling architecture provides unsurpassed lifetime, enhanced safety, and improved performance for battery powered equipment.

• Kreisel’s charging technology results in faster and lower-cost connections to the electrical grid.

Learn More:

• Deere’s full keynote address can be viewed on John Deere’s CES microsite at www.JohnDeere.com/CES

John Deere Announces its 2023 Startup Collaborators. Deere & Company has released the names of eight companies chosen for its 2023 Startup Collaborator program. The Startup Collaborator was launched in 2019 and helps John Deere enhance precision technology in its agriculture and construction equipment.

“This year’s group shows the importance of connecting with the startup community across a broad range of applications and technologies,” said Julian Sanchez, director of emerging technology at John Deere. These connections help John Deere better understand opportunities to advance precision technology in agriculture and construction.”

The eight companies participating in the 2023 Startup Collaborator include:

• Albedo, a startup company developing low flying satellites that will collect visible and thermal imagery at ultra high resolution.

• ANELLO Photonics, a company that is disrupting the navigation industry with their Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope, a low noise and low drift optical gyroscope smart sensor for autonomous applications.

• GrAI Matter Labs is in the business of Life Ready AI – artificial intelligence that feels alive, delivering brain inspired chips that behave like humans do and

make devices assisting humans act and react in real time.

• Impossible Sensing, an aerospace company developing and applying space technology to the agriculture industry to help the world become carbon neutral.

• IntelliCulture, a company providing farm equipment management software that helps drive sustainable farming practices through actionable insights, efficiency improvements, and risk mitigation.

• Precision AI, a startup that’s creating the world’s first artificial intelligence powered agricultural drones for plant level herbicide applications at broad acre scale.

• RodRadar, a company transforming excavation. Its Live Dig Radar™ technology provides real time, on-site, automatic alerts to prevent damage to underground utility infrastructure during excavation.

• Vega is the window that certifies agribusiness sustainability to the world. Supporting sustainable production, Vega impacts the entire agri-food chain through traceability, risk analysis, and monitoring of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.

“The Startup Collaborator is an exciting way for big ideas to grow into something larger,” said Michele Kaiser, business development manager for the John Deere Intelligent Solutions Group. “As John Deere continues searching for new and interesting ideas, we can add value to our customers – even if we’re not sure exactly how that might look. We are trying to help farmers solve big challenges in efficient ways. To do this, we need access to a lot of great ideas, so it’s exciting to welcome these companies into the 2023 Startup Collaborator cohort and to see what we can learn from each other by working together.”

The Startup Collaborator, now in its fifth year and includes notable alumni such as Bear Flag Robotics and Hello Tractor. In 2021, Bear Flag Robotics was acquired by John Deere to support the company’s autonomous tractor solutions. In 2022, John Deere also invested in Hello Tractor, a company that connects tractor owners with smallholder farmers through a farm equipment sharing app.

John Deere introduces Operations Center PRO for ag retailers. John Deere recently released Operations Center PRO, an all new level of the John Deere Operations Center™ built specifically for ag service providers requiring specialized fleet and logistics management capabilities beyond what is currently provided with Operations Center.

Operations Center PRO Dispatch, the first specialized tool within Operations

Center PRO, integrates features from AgLogic™, John Deere’s previous dispatching solution, into the Operations Center suite of fleet and data management tools. Operators receive and manage work orders from the PRO dispatch system on a mobile app that works for all equipment brands, providing a complete fleet solution for ag retailers.

Operations Center PRO Dispatch integrates with most leading retailer back office systems providing a seamless flow of work orders and prescriptions between the equipment and the back office system for billing. Fleet managers can also view equipment and tender location and status in real time, analyze machine productivity, and easily manage agronomic data for customers.

New to Operations Center PRO Dispatch is the ability to also send work orders directly to Generation 4 displays paired with JDLink™ modems without operator input. “This automatic flow of data reduces operator setup time and data entry mistakes,” said Ryan Stien, marketing manager for John Deere.

“Operations Center PRO helps ag retailers efficiently manage equipment fleets and agronomic data on the same platform many of their farmer-customers currently use,” said Stien. “This allows retailers to more effectively serve their customers while still giving farmers control of their data through secure permissions management.”

The core John Deere Operations Center will remain free of charge to farmers and ranchers. To learn more, visit johndeere.com/OperationsCenterPRO

John Deere and Nutrien Ag Solutions Announce Release of Advanced Digital Connectivity. Nutrien Ag Solutions Inc., a subsidiary of Nutrien Ltd., and John Deere jointly announced recently the release of advanced digital connectivity between the John Deere Operations Center and Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Digital Hub. This connectivity enables both companies to better serve growers by optimizing logistics and enabling variable rate agronomic recommendations to be seamlessly transferred to their equipment for execution. In addition, the two companies announced a multi-year commitment to deepen the integration and jointly develop streamlined solutions so that growers can more easily benefit from precision ag technology.

This combination of optimized logistics and enablement of variable rate technology allows growers to realize improved agronomic outcomes. Growers control the access level to the data in their John Deere Operations Center account and can share access with Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Digital Hub, where Nutrien

Crop Consultants can create customized recommendations. Integration with Operations Center PRO’s logistics tools improves equipment dispatch efficiency and wireless work order transmission to the cab. This results in the right products, the right rate, at the right place, and at the right time on grower fields.

“Nutrien Ag Solutions is committed to being the most grower focused agronomic solutions provider, and this collaboration enhances that service by further transforming the way we support and digitally engage with our growers,” said David Elser, Senior Vice President of North America for Nutrien Ag Solutions. “The expertise John Deere brings in equipment, connectivity, and fleet management solutions allows our crop consultants to have improved access to data, and to provide better services to our growers via Nutrien Ag Solutions Digital Hub.”

Deanna Kovar, John Deere’s Vice President of Production Systems, adds, “John Deere Operations Center is the leading digital ag platform for growers globally with over 200 connected software companies that provide seamless connections to trusted advisors. We recently launched our professional tier of Operations Center to provide ag service providers with dispatching and logistics solutions for their complete fleets, regardless of the equipment manufacturer. We are pleased to have Nutrien Ag Solutions adopt Operations Center PRO for their operations management solution in North America and look

forward to working closely with them to jointly create an even better integrated experience in the future that will benefit growers.”

John Deere’s Operations Center PRO Dispatch is a complete dispatching and work order management solution integrated with most leading retailer back office systems. It allows fleet managers to view equipment and tender location and status in real time, analyze machine productivity, and provide data management services to growers. To learn more, visit johndeere.com/

OperationsCenterPRO

Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Digital Hub allows growers to digitally collaborate with their Nutrien Crop Consultant, view agronomic plans, as well as make easier purchases and payments of crop inputs online. To learn more or find a local Nutrien Ag Solutions representative near you, visit https://nutrienagsolutions.com

About John Deere. Deere & Company is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, turf, construction, and forestry equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries of what’s possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable to help life leap forward. Our technology enabled products, including John Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor, See & Spray™, and E-Power Backhoe, are just some of the ways we help meet the world’s increasing need for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also provides financial services through John Deere Financial.

Industry News

Is Your Herd Hitting Calving Season Benchmarks?

Cows that calve on time are the number one indicator that cattle within that operation fit the managerial program. This happens simply from timely reproduction. Reproductive performance of an operation is important to the overall success and bottom line of that operation. Benchmarking may be beneficial as it can help focus limited management time on critical areas of an individual's beef cow business. This year may provide opportunity to define an operations bottom line through outlining the calving season.

Mature Cow Herd - Calving distribution is one way producers can evaluate their herd's reproductive performance from the previous year. The North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association Cow Herd Appraisal Performance Software program (CHAPS) put out production benchmark data for calving distributions. According to CHAPS, 63 percent of the mature cow herd should calve within the first 21 days, 87 percent by 42 days, and 96 percent by 63 days of the calving season. If cows calving in the first 21 days is less than 60 percent and cows calving in the second 21 days of the calving season is greater than 25 percent, re-evaluation of the herd needs to occur.

First Calf Heifers - Heifers are traditionally bred to calve prior to the cowherd. Benchmarks related to first calf heifers include 42 percent of heifers calving prior to their scheduled calving date, 76 percent of heifers by 21 days, and 88 percent of heifers by 42 days. The one group failing to meet these benchmarks is three-year-old females. While every other age group has the largest percentage calving in the first 21 days, three-yearolds have a larger percentage calving in the second 21 day period.

Breeding back first calf heifers and three-year-old females can be a challenge and can disrupt the bottom line if those females are open following the breeding season or calve late in the calving season. Correct management of heifers is imperative to maintaining herd longevity. Proper reproductive management of young females may include breeding 2-3 weeks prior to the mature herd to ensure adequate recovery time following calving. Others may challenge their heifers by allowing only a short (30 day) breeding period to push selection pressure on reproduction. Ultimately, young

females are still growing and have higher nutrient requirements than mature cows following their first calving. Therefore, it is important to ensure they are receiving adequate nutrition to meet their nutrient requirements to maintain reproductive success. Remember to separate young females from the mature herd during this time as nutrient requirement of cows is lower and overfeeding the mature herd can become costly.

Importance of Calving Distribution

- If a large majority of the herd fails to calve in the first 21 days of the calving season, those cows fall behind, missing the opportunity to rebreed, and subsequently, will fail to maintain a 365 day calving interval. Females that fall out of the desired calving window allow opportunity to consider managerial strategies to re-establish the desired calving distribution. It's important to remain business minded when making decisions regarding the cow herd to ensure success.

So how can calving distribution affect the bottom line? Calf crops more uniform in size and age have market advantages and exceed returns over calves that lack uniformity in both age and weight. Therefore, more calves born earlier in the calving season wean more pounds of calf compared to calves born later in the calving season. At weaning, one day age difference can translate into 2.4 lbs of weaning weight lost. If more than 25 percent of the herd is calving in the second or third calving window, this leaves a large amount of pounds unpaid. Furthermore, research shows that females who calve in the first 21 days of the calving season remain in the herd longer.

Reaching Management GoalsReproduction is the number one indicator of success in any operation. So how can some of these management goals be reached?

First, remain business minded. While we all have that favorite cow in the herd who may receive two or three breeding chances, it may be time to consider the financial implications she brings.

Second, set your goals. How do you want to see your herd perform? What benchmarks do you want to follow or set? How can you reach these goals, and who can help you get there?

Third, make a plan. Decide which cows do not meet your production goals and disperse them. Determine if the remaining females are in the calving

benchmarks you desire. If those cows need to move up a cycle, consider using estrus synchronization to move those females back to the desired breeding season. If an estrus synchronization program is implemented, consult your local extension specialist or veterinarian to help set you up with an appropriate protocol and supplies.

Fourth, follow through with the plan. Ensure you have enough labor and resources to accomplish the job. Choose a breeding or bull let out day. If using a bull, ensure the amount of time the bull is out with the cows, as well as bull/cow ratio, is part of your management strategy and goals.

Fifth, confirm pregnancies in the herd. Once the cows are bred, have your veterinarian come, and pregnancy check all the females to get an idea of the distribution you may have. Any females that are open allows that female to be sold as well as starts putting reproductive pressure on the herd.

Sixth, enjoy a shorter, more defined calving season.

Understanding the Three Stages of Parturition. Parturition, or the birthing process, has three stages. Understanding the stages is critical in order to know when/if we need to provide assistance during calving season to increase the likelihood a live calf is born alive and off to a good start.

Stage 1: Dilation of the CervixThis may take hours or days to complete and can easily go unnoticed. Uterine muscular activity is quiet during this stage as the cervix softens and the pelvic ligaments relax. During this stage, you may notice switching of the tail and a thick clear mucus string hanging from the vagina. Cow's appetite may decrease, and they may separate themselves off from the herd. Increased uterine contractions at the end of this stage push uterine contents against the cervix, causing further dilation.

Stage 2: Delivery of the CalfThis stage officially begins with the appearance of the water bag at the vulva. This is the time to start your clock. Recent research has found that healthy heifers with normal calf presentation will calve unassisted within one hour of the onset of stage two. Healthy cows with normal calf presentation will calve within 22 minutes of the start of stage two. This suggests that normal stage two of parturition

should be defined as approximately 60 minutes for heifers and 30 minutes for adult cows. In heifers, not only is the pelvic opening smaller but the soft tissue has never been expanded prior to that first birth. Older cows have had deliveries before, and birth often proceeds quite rapidly unless there is some abnormality, such as a very large calf, backward calf, or twin birth.

When Should We Assist? Offering assistance is a matter of judgement, and good judgement is the result of experience. If you have a cow or heifer laboring and don't know when stage two began, you will need to do a vaginal exam. If possible, have the cow up on her feet, restrained in a well lit area that is safe for both you and the cow. It is much easier when both you and the cow are standing. Start by cleaning the cow's vulva, rectum, and surrounding area, as well as your hands and arms, with soap and water. Cleanliness is important. Wear protective sleeves. Gentleness and lubrication are important. Feel for the cervix. If not dilated, it will feel as if your hand passes through or along a firm, tubular or circular structure. Once fully dilated, you should no longer feel the cervical ridge. Can you feel the calf? A normal anterior presentation will permit you to feel the calf's feet and nose, with the spine of the calf resting just under the cow's spine. If the presentation is normal and the water bag is still intact around the calf, you can allow up to an hour to permit the cow to calf unassisted. If the water bag has broken and the cervix is fully dilated, the calf needs to be delivered sooner. If you detect an abnormal presentation, encounter something that doesn't feel right, or a situation you can't manage, you will need to contact a veterinarian for assistance.

Stage 3: Delivery of the Placenta - The placenta should be shed within 8–12 hours after delivery of the calf. If retained, do not forcibly remove it. Administering antibiotics may be necessary if the cow acts sick. The placenta will slough out in 4–7 days.

The Importance of Adequate Colostrum. Being ready and prepared before the start of calving season can make life much easier for cow/calf producers and potentially save a calf. By the time calving season starts, you need everything on hand that might be necessary and all equipment and facilities in working order. Operators should have several doses of colostrum or colostrum replacer on inventory before the start of calving season.

Adequate colostrum intake is extremely crucial for newborn calves in

order to gain passive immunity. Calves born after a prolonged delivery through the pelvic canal can suffer from severe respiratory acidosis. Such calves are less efficient at absorbing colostral immunoglobulins or antibodies even if artificially fed colostrum. The only disease protection baby calves will receive is from the passive transfer of antibodies from the colostrum they ingest. Colostrum also contains transferrin and lactoferrin, which bind iron and restrict bacterial growth. These factors, together with immunoglobulins, help limit growth of bacteria in the gut.

Colostrum or colostrum replacer will need to be administered by bottle suckling or tube feeding within a few hours of birth for maximal absorption of immunoglobulins. The general rule of thumb is the sooner colostrum is ingested, the better, and calves will typically stand, walk and nurse within one hour after birth. Bottomline: if there is any question of if a calf has received adequate colostrum, then colostrum should be administered immediately to the newborn. Calves that miss getting timely colostrum ingestion are much more likely to suffer from calf scours, which can have lifelong effects on general hardiness and disease resistance.

Previously obtained colostrum must be kept frozen to protect the integrity of the large protein molecules that make up the various immunoglobulins. Fresh colostrum can be stored in one quart doses by putting that much in a gallon size Ziploc bag. Lay the bags flat to freeze in the freezer. When the time comes to thaw the colostrum and feed it to the newborn calf, the "best practice" is to thaw in a warm water bath at 122ºF

for one hour. Avoid thawing at room temperature or in a microwave oven.

The amount of immunoglobulin ingested is a major factor in final blood immunoglobulin concentration and disease protection. A practical rule of thumb is to feed 5-6 percent of the calf's body weight within the first six hours and repeat the feeding when the calf is about 12 hours old. For an 80 pound calf, this will equate to about 2 quarts of colostrum per feeding.

Commercial colostrum replacers contain more than 100 grams of immunoglobulin per dose. Always read the label before purchasing. It is important not to confuse supplements and replacers. Supplements are used to boost antibody protection a calf gets from nursing and contain 40 to 60 grams of immunoglobulins, which is not enough to provide protection in a calf that has not nursed.

Background and Research

Supporting Caffeine for High Risk Calves. By now, you have probably heard about the idea of using caffeine to stimulate at risk calves that are the result of dystocia (difficult birth), hypothermia from being born in the cold, or being run down from a stressful event such as disease or transport. While this seems to make sense because many of us rely on the benefits of caffeine (coffee, tea, soda) to get going every day, you may be asking, “Where did this idea come from, and what is the science behind it?”

More than 40 years ago, it was discovered that caffeine could be used to minimize the negative effects and risk of death due to apnea of prematurity (AOP) in human infants. Apnea is defined by

cessation of breathing for more than 20 seconds, bradycardia (reduced heart rate), and cyanosis (turning blue). The positive benefits of caffeine in infants with AOP include reducing frequency of apnea, the need for positive pressure or mechanical ventilation, and earlier, more successful extubation (removal of a breathing tube). All of this ultimately results in reduced rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), which is the failure of the lungs' alveoli, the tiny air sacs responsible for oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, to develop.

Healthy lungs are obviously critical in the neonate as it switches from maternal oxygenated blood supply to breathing on their own, and certainly, can be important in calves that experience high rates of pneumonia. Current research on caffeine administration in infants experiencing AOP has demonstrated immediate treatment is more beneficial than later as defined by >48 hours after birth. Another long term study showed that infants receiving caffeine had fewer cases of cerebral palsy and cognitive delay at 18-21 months of age and improvement of gross motor skills at ages 5 and 11 years compared to controls that received no caffeine treatment. This suggests that caffeine may have an overall neuroprotective effect.

One question often posed is: “How much should I give to my calf?”

In neonatal therapy, it is standard to administer a loading dose. This is a higher initial or first dose that is often used in medicines that are cleared from the body slowly because they have a long half life. Then a maintenance dose is given, which can be 25-50 percent of the original dose for weeks to months. Research has been done on increasing both doses in premature infants. While no harmful effects were seen, no additional benefits were observed either.

Extrapolating the common loading dose of caffeine used in the NICU to a 70 pound calf would be near the recommended maximum daily consumption for an adult human. Keep in mind that the lethal dose of caffeine in humans is about 20 times the recommended daily dose. Although additional studies may be necessary to determine the optimal dose, considering other possible treatment options, caffeine administration is actually quite safe in the neonate. Commercial formulations specific to calves have taken this into account and provide the appropriate levels compared to a “gas station supplement.”

Caffeine citrate administration in human infants has proven safe and effective. Therefore, it is one of the top

five treatments given to newborns. Here are the established benefits that we see in human infants that would also be expected to be seen in high risk calves given caffeine.

Brain

• Increased respiratory neural output by blocking the effects of adenosine – a neurotransmitter that causes generalized depression

• Neuroprotective anti-inflammatory effects

• Healthy formation of nerve fibers

• Reduces cell death

Lungs

• Improves diaphragmatic contractility

• Reduces pulmonary inflammation

• Induces surfactant production to protect airways

• Diuretic effect can remove excess fluid and facilitate breathing

Heart

• Increased pumping ability by contraction and volume

• Increased blood pressure

The above changes are quickly seen, as another benefit to caffeine administration is that it takes effect rapidly (typically less than 30 minutes). While caffeine citrate has proven so effective in humans, we are not able to feed this synthetically produced compound to animals due to AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials) regulations. I often heard of veterinarians telling a farmer to brew up a pot of coffee to warm and stimulate a calf after a hard pull in cold winter conditions. This would work; however, it may take that whole pot of coffee to be effective, and consider the room it would occupy in the calf’s stomach that also needs four quarts of colostrum ASAP! Concentrated green tea extract meets the requirements of being all natural and effective and is a Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) feed ingredient by AAFCO.

Calves that are born early as the result of being twins, have low birth weights, experience dystocia, or are born in the cold will be at high risk. These calves are often depressed, hypoxic (low oxygen), and facing inflammation. Successful use of caffeine in infants experiencing apnea of prematurity has demonstrated benefits to lung development and neural development and has saved lives. It is logical to extrapolate these same benefits when caffeine therapy is used early in high risk calves. Considering the value that calves represent to the future of the farm, it would be advised to have a convenient, properly formulated source of caffeine readily available to support these high risk calves.

I got a great buy in the Classifieds in The Carolina Cattle Connection!

Check out the expert A.I, superior genetics, fine purebreds and terrific farm supplies offered!

FOR SALE

BBU Registered Beefmaster Bulls and Females WHITEHALL BEEFMASTERS

Joe and Ann Logan 214 Cowhead Creek Road Greenwood, SC 29646 Telephone: 864-538-3004

Black Crest Farm

W.R. “Billy” McLeod

1320 Old Manning Rd., Sumter, SC 29150 803-481-2011 williammcleod@ftc-i.net • www.blackcrestfarm.com

BLACK GROVE

Breeding Registered Angus since 1962

Walter D. Shealy III and Family 20977

Autryville, NC 28318 www.howardbrosfarms.com

Darryl Howard Cell: 910-990-2791

Jonathan Massey 336-260-2565 • jonathan.massey2@gmail.com

Johnny Massey 336-214-4144 • johnnymassey.1@gmail.com

NDEX OF DVERTISERS

ANGUS

Feb. 4 — 47th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, Clemson, S.C.

Feb. 9 — 30th Annual UGA Focus on Genetically Enhanced EPDs Sale, Athens, Ga.

Feb. 11 — Black Crest Farm 25th Annual Production Sale, Sumber, S.C.

Feb. 18 — Yon Family Farms Spring Sale, Ridge Spring, S.C.

Feb. 25 — Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association 31st Annual Replacement

Heifer Sale, Saluda, S.C.

Mar. 4 — Barnett Angus Ranches Spring Production Sale, Washington, Ga.

Mar. 18 — 50th Annual Carolina Angus Futurity, Clemson, S.C.

Mar. 18 — March Madness Cattle Sale of the Carolinas, Monroe, N.C.

Mar. 25 — G&E Virginia Premium

Assured Heifer Sale

Apr. 1 — Green Hills Gelbvieh & Hope Cattle Services Spring Turn Out Sale, Oxford. N.C.

Apr. 8 — Knoll Crest Farm’s Spring Bull & Female, Red House, Va.

Apr. 30 — Barnett Angus Ranches

Georgia Angus Female Sale, Washington, Ga.

Sep. 30 — Biltmore Angus Field Day & Fall Sale, Asheville, N.C.

Nov. 4 — Barnett Angus Ranches

4th Annual Bull Sale, Washington, Ga.

Nov. 4 — SimAngus Solution

15th Annual Sale, Burlington, N.C.

VENTS

Dec. 1 — Knoll Crest Farm Total Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.

2024

Jan. 6 — 15th Annual EBS Select Bull & Female Sale, Monroe, N.C.

BRANGUS

Feb. 25 — Hunt’s H+ Brangus Bull & Female Sale, Calhoun, Ga.

Charolais

Apr. 1 — Green Hills Gelbvieh & Hope Cattle Services Spring Turn Out Sale, Oxford. N.C.

GELBVIEH

Feb. 4 — 47th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, Clemson, S.C.

Feb. 18 — Locust Hill Cattle Company

2nd Annual Production Sale, Pelham, N.C.

Feb. 18 — Yon Family Farms Spring Sale, Ridge Spring, S.C.

Feb. 25 — Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association 31st Annual Replacement

Heifer Sale, Saluda, S.C.

Mar. 18 — C-Cross Cattle Company

Spring 2023 Bull & Female Sale, Snow Camp, N.C.

Apr. 1 — Green Hills Gelbvieh & Hope

Cattle Services Spring Turn Out Sale, Oxford. N.C.

Apr. 8 — Knoll Crest Farm’s Spring Bull & Female, Red House, Va.

Dec. 1 — Knoll Crest Farm Total Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.

HE IDE

At Duke University, there were four sophomores taking Organic Chemistry. They were doing so well on all the quizzes, midterms and labs, etc., that each had an “A” so far for the semester.

These four friends were so confident that the weekend before finals, they decided to go up to the University of Virginia and party with some friends there. They had a great time, but after all the hearty partying, they slept all day Sunday and didn’t make it back to Duke until early Monday morning.

Rather than taking the final then, they decided to find their professor after the final and explain to him why they missed it. They explained that they had gone to UVA for the weekend with the plan to come back in time to study, but, unfortunately, they had a flat tire on

the way back, didn’t have a spare, and couldn’t get help for a long time. As a result, they missed the final.

The professor thought it over and then agreed they could make up the final the following day. The guys were elated and relieved. They studied that night and went in the next day at the time the professor had told them. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet, and told them to begin.

They looked at the first problem, worth five points. It was something simple about free radical formation. “Cool,” they thought at the same time, each one in his separate room, “this is going to be easy.” Each finished the problem and then turned the page.

On the second page was written: (For 95 points): Which tire?

HEREFORD

Feb. 4 — 47th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, Clemson, S.C.

Feb. 9 — 30th Annual UGA Focus on Genetically Enhanced EPDs Sale, Athens, Ga.

Feb. 17 — White Hawk Ranch Beefmaker Bull Sale, Buchanon, Ga.

Feb. 25 — Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association 31st Annual Replacement

Heifer Sale, Saluda, S.C.

Mar. 18 — March Madness Cattle Sale of the Carolinas, Monroe, N.C.

Apr. 8 — Knoll Crest Farm’s Spring Bull & Female, Red House, Va.

May 12 — N.C. Hereford Association

Annual Banquet, Statesville, N.C.

May 13 — 55th Annual N.C. Hereford Classic Sale, Union Grove, N.C.

May 29 — White Hawk Ranch Beefmaker Female Sale, Buchanon, Ga.

Dec. 1 — Knoll Crest Farm Total

Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.

limousin

Apr. 1 — Green Hills Gelbvieh & Hope Cattle Services Spring Turn Out Sale, Oxford. N.C.

RED ANGUS

Mar. 18 — March Madness Cattle Sale of the Carolinas, Monroe, N.C.

Apr. 1 — Green Hills Gelbvieh & Hope Cattle Services Spring Turn Out Sale, Oxford. N.C.

santa Gertrudis

Mar. 18 — March Madness Cattle Sale of the Carolinas, Monroe, N.C.

SIMMENTAL

Feb. 4 — 47th Annual Clemson Bull Sale, Clemson, S.C.

Feb. 9 — 30th Annual UGA Focus on Genetically Enhanced EPDs Sale, Athens, Ga.

Feb. 25 — Saluda County Cattlemen’s Association 31st Annual Replacement Heifer Sale, Saluda, S.C.

Mar. 18 — March Madness Cattle Sale of the Carolinas, Monroe, N.C.

Apr. 1 — Green Hills Gelbvieh & Hope

Cattle Services Spring Turn Out Sale, Oxford. N.C.

Oct. 21 — Fred Smith Company Ranch

Extra Effort Fall Sale, Clayton, N.C.

Livestock market sales

Feb. 1 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Feb. 1 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Feb. 6 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Feb. 7 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Feb. 8 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Feb. 8 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Feb. 13 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Feb. 15 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Feb. 15 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Feb. 20 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Feb. 21 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales

Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Feb. 22 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Feb. 22 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Feb. 27 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Mar. 1 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Mar. 1 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Mar. 6 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Mar. 7 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales Video

Auction, via macsvideo.com

Mar. 8 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Mar. 8 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Mar. 13 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Mar. 15 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Mar. 15 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Mar. 20 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Mar. 21 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales

Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Mar. 22 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Mar. 22 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Mar. 27 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Mar. 29 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Mar. 29 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

OTHER EVENTS

Feb. 1-3 — NCBA Convention & Trade Show, New Orleans, La.

Feb. 1-3 — Southern Farm Show, Raleigh, N.C.

Feb. 3 — 2023 S.C. Cattlemen’s Association Annual Meeting, Pendleton, S.C.

Feb. 24-25 — N.C. Cattlemen’s Association

Annual Conference, Hickory, N.C.

Mar. 16 — Feeder Calf Producer Meeting, Albemarle, N.C.

Mar. 18 — North Carolina Beef Fiel Day, Bahama, N.C.