CATTLE TODAY/Ranchers.net Newsletter for July 2010
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and what’s happening on the ‘net.
INTERESTING STUFF
Visit our Hay & Grain Market site. It is designed to bring buyers and sellers of hay, grain and feed together. It has interesting and helpful how to articles, classified ads and other information. You can search by ZIP Code to find hay close to you.
SEVERAL FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN RETAINING OWNERSHIP
In today’s beef industry the value of cattle is directly related to actual and perceived carcass characteristics. As such many breeders, in certain instances, have found retaining cattle, not destined for breeding, into the feedlot an important and valuable marketing niche.
I think it was Shakespeare who said, “Neither a borrower or a lender be.” Obviously my friends and family have never read the Bard of Avon. Actually, neither have I but I saw the quote on a plaque in my banker’s office. (Not a good sign!)
WEAN EARLY WITHOUT WORKING OVERTIME
Weaning calves at half the typical age calls for re-thinking your calendar, but it doesn’t obligate a management overhaul. With a few key tweaks, ranchers already weaning at home can reap the rewards of calves that gain faster, convert cheaper, perform better and reduce cow costs.
SO YOU WANT TO BE A PUREBRED CATTLE RANCHER?
Seldom does a week go by when I don’t get at least one call or e-mail from someone who is entertaining the idea of “getting into the cattle business.”
SELECT FOR OPTIMUM TRAIT LEVELS TO FIT HERD NEEDS
One of the challenges in beef cattle selection and culling involves finding optimum levels of individual traits for the herd.
HUNTIN’ DAYLIGHT – - WHEN FOXES GUARD THE HENHOUSE
No one should be surprised by the government’s latest assault on cattle markets, given the willingness of the Obama Administration and its federal agencies to usurp individual and state rights.
SELECT FOR OPTIMUM TRAIT LEVELS TO FIT HERD NEEDS
One of the challenges in beef cattle selection and culling involves finding optimum levels of individual traits for the herd.
DON’T OVERLOOK WATER AS AN ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT
It’s July and those sweltering summer temperatures continue to creep higher and higher. As the sweat beads trickle down and clothes stick to the body like glue, one of the first things a person wants to reach for – besides the air conditioner knob – is a tall glass of ice cold water. Water is essential to our survival, whether it’s helping us cool down or providing essential nutrients needed to sustain life.
FLY CONTROL CAN BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
The battle against flies is constant, but there are ways to reduce the numbers of these costly pests—without pesticides and toxic chemicals.
DON’T MISS SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS IN STOCK DOGS
A good dog can be as much or better help than another rider or two—bringing up stragglers, keeping the herd together, rounding up a herd-quitter, getting cattle out of the brush or in any other terrain that may be difficult to get through on a horse.
PLAN EARLY TO INSURE REPRODUCTIVE EFFICIENCY IN THE BREEDING HERD
It is never too early to be looking ahead; in fact it is a necessary management skill. For the cow/calf operation, calving season means looking ahead to the breeding season.
PUREBRED VS. COMMERCIAL NUTRITIONAL NEEDS MAY DIFFER
In the beef cattle industry there has been discussion in many shapes and forms concerning feeding and nutrition of purebred cattle. In many cases, the perception of purebred breeders is that purebred cattle have significantly different nutrient requirements than commercial cattle. This may be true in some respects but possible not for the reasons the producer suspects. This article will discuss some of these perceptions.
USE OF SEXED SEMEN IN BEEF CATTLE CAN BE BENEFICIAL
The first sex-selected calf conceived from frozen sexed semen was born in the early 1990′s, and in 2004 this technology became commercially available.
IT’S THE PITTS – TERMS OF ENDEARMENT
I hate it when people I don’t even know call me terms of endearment such as honey, darling, pet, precious, sugar or angel.
SUMMER IS NOT A TIME TO BACK OFF ON MANAGEMENT
Summer is typically a great time of the year. A time for baseball and watermelon, a time for home-made ice cream and fireworks. Many years it’s a great time for cattle producers as well. A time to relax a little and to get hay cut and baled or silage put up. This year is more challenging given the extremes in weather patterns – floods in the Midwest, drought in some areas of the south and other locations.
CATTLE TODAY NEWSPAPER
PUREBRED REFERENCE ISSUE 2010!
Our Annual Purebred Reference Issue is hot off the presses!
This Purebred Reference Issue is full of useful information and ideas that
will put your operation on the right track!
For a free copy of the 2010 Purebred Reference Issue, and more information on
a subscription to CATTLE TODAY, go to:
http://www.cattletoday.com/subscription.htm
UPCOMING BREED FEATURE!
September 4th — BRANGUS
If you are looking for a great way to promote your operation to over 15,000
cattle producers in the Southeast, try advertising in our upcoming Brangus
feature. This special issue will have features and spotlights on the Brangus
breed, the producers and cattle. Don’t miss this opportunity to market your
cattle to an area where Brangus cattle are very popular! E-mail us today for
more information:
sales@cattletoday.com” title=”mailto:sales@cattletoday.com\”>sales@cattletoday.com“>sales@cattletoday.com”>sales@cattletoday.com or editor@cattletoday.com” title=”mailto:editor@cattletoday.com\”>editor@cattletoday.com“>editor@cattletoday.com”>editor@cattletoday.com.
Note: The Brangus issue will be published September 4, 2010.
Ad Deadline — August 27, 2010.
SITE OF THE MONTH
Black Crest Farm has been raising quality registered Angus cattle in the midlands of South Carolina for over 50 years. Their focus is producing functional cattle in a “real world” environment with the commercial cattleman’s profitability in mind. The Black Crest website provides visitors with a good look into the operation. Herd Sires and donors used in the program are featured. It is especially nice to see the use of photos and “scenes around the farm.” Congratulation to Black Crest Farm on a job well done!
A U G U S T SALE DATES
Cattle Today will be at the following sale in August:
August 7 — Bama Breeze Beefmaster Herd Reduction Sale, Falkville AL
August 27 — Alabama BCIA Herd Builder Replacement Female Sale, Uniontown AL
August 28 — SEBBA Miss Beefmaster America Heifer Futurity & Convention Sale,
Carrollton GA
Be sure to look us up and say “Hello.”
WINDOWS TIP OF THE MONTH
How is my computer doing?
In Windows you can right click on the time display on the taskbar, select “Task Manager…”, click on the “Performance” tab and see how much of your CPU is being used and how much memory is available at a given point in time.
FUN SITE OF THE MONTH
College Football News
I’m a football nut… especially college football. And it’s almost kickoff time! College Football News has complete free coverage of your favorite team. They are just about finished with their previews and predictions for the upcoming season. Give them a look and see what they think about your team.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken. — James Dent
Send us your favorite quotes! We will pick one each month to be
included in our Newsletter. (Be sure to include where you are from
in your e-mail!) Send quotes to:
editor@cattletoday.com
SEND US TO A FRIEND 
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Just hit the forward button on your browser and email it to them.
Maybe they would like to subscribe!
Good Luck and see you next month.
Belinda Ary
Editor
Macon Gravlee
WebMaster
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
We hope you find this newsletter useful. If you have any
suggestions, tips, or comments, just drop me a note at webmaster@cattletoday.com
