🌎 Record Low

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NEWS

🌎 Record Low

🌎 Record Low - The EPA's latest report reveals a nearly 2% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from American agriculture, the largest drop among economic sectors. Representing just under 10% of total U.S. emissions, agriculture's commitment to voluntary conservation and market-based incentives has led to a significant reduction, with emissions reaching their lowest levels since 2012. AFBF President Zippy Duvall applauds farmers' dedication to sustainability and calls for continued legislative support to build on this progress.

↗️ Maximizing Repro Potential - University of Missouri Extension Specialist Patrick Davis advises cattle producers to focus on heifer retention for herd rebuilding, stressing the importance of a pre-breeding exam 30-60 days before breeding. This exam evaluates reproductive tract maturity and pelvic area, and he emphasizes proper vaccinations, body condition score, and structural soundness evaluation during this period to ensure herd longevity, reproductive efficiency, and profitability. 

🥩 Beef Quality Surge - With the introduction of grid pricing, an uptick in beef quality ensued, evidenced by increased percentages of Choice and Prime grades. The correlation between grid pricing and enhanced beef quality is unmistakable, with significant economic impacts estimated at $9.64 billion from 2008 to 2023. These incentives for quality enhancement benefit both producers and consumers, fostering a win-win scenario.

🌂 Chartering Challenged Post-Drought - Drought conditions impact both cow and calf health, with lower body condition in cows leading to reduced colostrum quality and increased susceptibility to diseases like scours and respiratory infections in calves. Dr. Jess Hinrichs suggests management practices such as rotational calving and providing clean, sheltered areas for calves to minimize disease risks, as well as emphasizing colostrum management and vaccination, especially intranasal vaccines and timely boosters, is crucial for bolstering calf immunity. Ensuring adequate cow nutrition and maintaining robust vaccination programs during gestation are essential to mitigate fetal health risks during drought conditions.

🌽 Conventional v. Natural - The ongoing debate between conventional and natural beef production systems has gained traction among cattle producers due to consumer demand. A study published in Applied Animal Science compared the performance of weaned beef steers under both systems, revealing trade-offs. Conventionally managed steers showed higher growth rates and feed efficiency, while naturally managed ones yielded meat with superior quality grades but had a higher prevalence of liver abscesses. These findings highlight the need for producers to weigh the pros and cons of each system based on their specific goals and market demands.

🐗 Hogzilla - Wild pigs pose a greater threat to humans than sharks, with an average of 19.7 fatal attacks annually compared to sharks' 5.8 between 2014-2023. Lead researcher John J. Mayer's study documents 1,532 wild pig attacks on humans from 2000 to 2019, resulting in 172 deaths across 29 countries. Despite their lethal potential, wild pig attacks remain largely unnoticed, with most occurring in non-hunting situations. Mayer urges increased awareness and caution around wild pigs, whose attack rate is rising globally.

💰 Max Markets - High cattle prices bring opportunities but also risks. Eric Meusch from the University of Missouri Extension advises producers to maintain good management practices despite the high prices. He emphasizes consistent calving, culling less productive cows, and preparing calves for sale. Meusch cautions against overspending on inputs and suggests wise investments in infrastructure, fertility, and genetics. Planning for leaner times ahead is crucial even during prosperous periods in the cattle business.

RANCHING KNOW-HOW

USDA NASS Report Discontinuation

The USDA has stopped publishing key agricultural reports like the Mid Year Cattle report and the Cotton Objective Yield Report due to funding shortages, prompting criticism from cattle organizations. This decision comes at a crucial time as this year's cattle herd is one of the smallest since the 1950s. The absence of these reports raises concerns about transparency and market information availability, leaving stakeholders scrambling for alternative sources of data. Mike Pearson discusses it on the Farm Progress America podcast.

Controlling Fly Populations

Champion Animal Health's JustiFLY® offers a groundbreaking solution to cattle industry fly control, addressing stress and economic losses. President Andre Rocha highlights its seamless integration into feeding routines, minimizing handling and ensuring safety. With its dung beetle-friendly formula and absence of withdrawal periods, JustiFLY® sets a new standard in ecological sustainability and operational efficiency, catering to diverse ranching needs.

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