News Update

News Update
June 4, 2008

Mild Bird Flu Identified in Tyson Chickens

Chickens at a Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN) facility in northwest Arkansas tested positive for a mild strain of avian influenza, according to Dow Jones Newswire.

The H7N3 strain detected in the birds differs from the highly pathogenic version.

While company spokesmen said the situation poses no risk to human health, the company’s shares dropped 7.9% by Tuesday afternoon, and some industry experts were predicting the finding would have an effect on chicken exports, Dow Jones reports.

The finding comes just one day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would renew the Avian Influenza Coordinated Agricultural Project (AICAP) with another $5 million for three years to the University of Maryland–College Park to study the prevention and control of the disease.

For more information visit www.csrees.usda.gov.

Scholarship Fundraiser

The Kansas Angus Auxiliary announces a new scholarship fundraiser featuring an embroidered western motif towel set. The towel gift set is just in time for Father’s Day, graduations and summer weddings, and would go well in any home.

The set includes an embroidered bath towel, hand towel and washcloth. The bath towel has a cowboy and horse on it, the hand towel has a fence post and barbed wire, and the washcloth has horseshoes. All the towels are tan with black embroidery and cost $35 per set plus $5 shipping, for a total of $40 per set.

For orders or to obtain more information, contact Mary McCurry, 11913 E. Illinois Ave., Burrton, KS 67020; fax: 620-463-3834; mccurryangus@pixius.net.

Checks should be payable to: Kansas Angus Auxiliary.

U.S. Beef Processors to Label Product by Cattle Age to Allay S. Korea Fears

As the South Korean government asks the United States to refrain from exporting beef from cattle 30 months of age and older, major U.S. beef processors have offered to label shipments to indicate the age of cattle at the time of slaughter in order to rebuild confidence in their product.

In a joint news release, Smithfield Beef Group, Tyson Foods Inc., Cargill Meat Solutions, JBS-Swift & Co. and National Beef Packing Co. said the special labels would indicate whether the cattle they slaughtered were younger or older than 30 months. The labels will be used for up to 120 days.

“With this label the customers can be assured they can choose, and purchase, the product they want,” the companies said.

Concerns over the safety of U.S. beef have reached a fever pitch in Seoul, prompting the Lee Myung-bak administration to backpedal on an agreement with the United States that calls for the import of U.S. beef from cattle of all ages, minus specified risk materials. South Korea has twice delayed what was slated to be the resumption of U.S. beef imports on May 15 amid massive street protests, and now seeks to ban imports of U.S. beef from cattle older than 30 months of age.

— Release adapted from Meatingplace.com

Scholarship Application Deadline Nears

Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) is inviting scholarship applications from post-secondary students who have been Agribition participants. The deadline for applications to be received at the CWA office is July 1.

Annually, Canadian Western Agribition provides a number of scholarships to students who are continuing into their second or subsequent year of a post-secondary program at a recognized institution in Canada or the United States. The $1,000 scholarships may be applied to studies in any discipline.

Applicants must have participated at Canadian Western Agribition as an exhibitor, which includes all livestock classes, 4-H classes, grain and forage classes or active trade exhibit/participation. New in 2008, participants of the Agribition Spring Steer and Heifer Show hosted this past March are also eligible to apply.

The Agribition scholarship program has awarded more than $135,000 since it was established in 1994. The fund receives contributions annually from private donations as well as from the sale of Grain and Forage Show Champions.

Application forms are available from the Canadian Western Agribition office by calling 306-565-0565, or from the CWA web site at www.agribition.com.

The Importance of Monitoring Livestock Water Quality

Rains in early 2008 have resulted in green pastures and full ponds for many cattle producers. This could ease your worries about water supplies for the summer, but will you have enough good quality water to get through the year? Early summer is the time to have your livestock water sources tested to be sure.

Water is the most important nutrient for livestock. Water is needed for all metabolic processes essential for life, growth and reproduction. The quantity of water that animals consume is affected by many factors including growth, pregnancy, lactation, activity, diet composition, feed intake and environmental temperature. The quality of water offered can also affect consumption and performance.

Many producers rely on wells and surface waters such as ponds and streams to provide water for livestock, but these sources can be contaminated by many pollutants within the watershed. Nitrates, bacteria, organic material and suspended solids are common sources of pollution. Additional factors that affect water quality and consumption are salinity, sulfates and mineral concentrations. If cattle are allowed to stand in water sources, fecal and urine contamination will decrease water quality and can spread diseases. In addition, allowing cattle unlimited access to ponds will usually result in suspension of sediments that can decrease water quality and consumption.

Fencing off ponds to provide limited access points or gravity-fed water troughs can decrease fecal contamination and prevent cattle from stirring up sediments. Wells should be protected from contaminants by sealing around the wellhead with a concrete pad and locating the well at least 150 to 300 feet from livestock working facilities, lagoons, septic tanks and manure stockpiles. In addition, pasture management can greatly affect water quality. Poor forage stands within a watershed can contribute to erosion and nutrient transport resulting in decreased water quality. Careful consideration should be taken when applying fertilizers, manure, herbicides and pesticides.

Testing your livestock water sources is the only way to know if they are acceptable for livestock use. All water sources should be tested annually at the beginning of the summer to identify potential problems and to assess the quality of each source. If a water source is tested and determined to be marginal, a management plan should be developed to utilize the forages associated with these sources before the water becomes health- and performance-threatening. In addition, you can be prepared for potential water quality problems that can easily arise throughout hot, dry periods due to evaporation and use. As always, the sooner problems are identified, the easier they are to manage, even if this means you have to provide a new water source.

Questionable water sources, including ponds that have decreased in size, sources that may have been contaminated and any that were marginal at the beginning of the summer, should be tested again as supplies become limited. Periods of hot, dry weather can concentrate dissolved contaminants through evaporation, leaving water that may be unacceptable for livestock use.

Livestock should be provided with free-choice access to clean, quality water at all times. Water quality is often overlooked, even though research is clear that growth and reproductive performance is decreased when certain components of water quality reach threshold levels. Poor water quality also affects consumption, which may limit feed intake and animal health. Contact a livestock consultant at the Noble Foundation or your local extension agent for additional information about livestock water testing.

— Release provided by The Noble Foundation

— compiled by Mathew Elliott and Crystal Albers, Angus Productions Inc.