Archive for July, 2009
CATTLE TODAY/Ranchers.net Newsletter July 2009
CATTLE TODAY/Ranchers.net Newsletter
July 2009
Volume 11, Number 7
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Welcome to CattleToday.com / Ranchers.net FREE Newsletter!
Read on to find out the latest cattle news, useful tips, and
what’s happening on the ‘net.
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A GREAT WAY TO PROMOTE YOUR FALL SALE!!!!
Let CattleToday.com help you promote your upcoming fall sale!
We can put your sale information online with a link to a
listing on our calendar page for only $100/month.
Or you can add a banner ad on the front page of 40 cattle and
livestock sites that links back to your sale info. If you
already have a web site, we can link back to your sale info
for $200. It is a great way to spread the word and
get more catalogs in potential buyers hands. Call 800-548-5029
or e-mail us today at mailto:sales@cattletoday.com
Check out our Calendar Page at
www.cattletoday.com/calendar.shtml
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I N T E R E S T I N G S T U F F
PUREBRED CATTLE BUSINESS IS A JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION
A few years ago I wrote an article entitled “So You want to
be a Purebred Cattle Rancher. . .” I was amazed at the
follow up calls I received from this article and still get
calls and e-mails even to this day – generally 2-3 per week.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT2015.php
HEAT AND HEAT STRESS CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR PRODUCERS
Welcome to summer time! Every year, even before now, cattle
begin showing signs of stress related to high temperatures.
Many producers think of heat effects as isolated to the
southern states or the southwest. Unfortunately, that’s not
true.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT1995.shtml
IT’S THE PITTS — FAIR GAME
One of the funnest times of my life was when I took my “show
string” of four heifers to a junior show about seven hours
from home. I went with a buddy who showed two Holstein
heifers. Normally I would not lower myself to fraternize
with a dairyman but he had one good quality about him: his
father hauled us there and back.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT1999.shtml
MANY FACTORS AFFECT HOW RETAILERS ESTABLISH BEEF PRICES
When cattlemen put an asking price on a bull or a load of
calves, they set it as high as they can reasonably hope for
a sale. At an auction, the sale manager announces the target
price before calling for bids. Grocers take a similar tack,
but feedback is not as direct at the meat case.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT2000.shtml
HAVE HAY FOR SALE?
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. And it’s free!
DNA TESTS USED TO VERIFY PARENTAGE AND ANIMAL I.D.
Breed registries today rely on DNA testing to verify
parentage in an animal’s pedigree.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT2024.php
DO YOUR HOMEWORK WHEN LOOKING FOR A FEEDLOT PARTNER
As a cowherd operator, you can produce a quality calf. The
feedlot manager knows what it takes to finish that calf on
feed so it can earn carcass premiums.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT2005.php
BEYOND THE BARN
Luke Mobley’s Blog is a new addition to CattleToday. Keep
up with his latest travels and adventures! Check it out:
MANAGE BULLS FOR OPTIMUM FERTILITY
Proper care and management of bulls is crucial for optimum
fertility. Some bulls are naturally more fertile than
others, due to genetics, scrotal conformation, etc. but poor
management can reduce a bull’s fertility or his chances of
siring a high number of calves.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT2017.php
THE CATTLE CLUB
Have you joined the CattleClub yet? It’s like FaceBook,
except for cattle people. It’s a great place to meet and
learn more about cattle producers in your part of the
country. You can also upload photos into your Photo Album.
Give it a try. And did I mention it’s free?
RESEARCHER LOOKS AT THE GENETIC ASPECTS OF MARBLING
Marbling drives value-based beef marketing. How to infuse
enough of this quality-grade potential into herd genetics –
or even how much is enough – has remained something of a
mystery.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT1993.shtml
SLOW AND EASY
There’s a lot of truth in the old cowboy saying that the
fastest way to move cows is slowly. When moving cattle,
it helps to know how they will react to various things.
This story might teach you something new about handling
cattle.
cattletoday.com/archive/2000/July/Cattle_Today101.shtml
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS ADD VALUE TO END PRODUCT
Creative agreements by people with a common goal are gaining
ground. Sure there are the old standbys that have had
members for generations. Like the local co-op all farmers
belong to and the rural electric co-op is another
longstanding group effort. Today, especially back east,
community farms are popping up in different areas.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT2022.php
THE WORLD ACCORDING HOOTER MCCORMICK — BREAKING POINT
There’s no telling what spooks a steer, heifer, cow or bull,
draped with a halter and drug from the pasture to the
unnatural confines of a show barn and arena.
cattletoday.com/archive/2009/July/CT2019.php
CATTLEMEN’S GUIDE TO FEEDYARD TERMINOLOGY
Cattle feeders have a language of their own that to many
cow/calf producers is like speaking Greek. Let’s examine some
of this terminology that is unfamiliar to many.
cattletoday.com/archive/2003/July/CT279.shtml
“BALANCED SCORECARD” TO IMPROVE RANCH MANAGEMENT
Before you read this article, grab a pencil and a notepad,
and find a comfortable place to sit down.
cattletoday.com/archive/2007/July/CT1084.shtml
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C A T T L E T O D A Y N E W S P A P E R
PUREBRED REFERENCE ISSUE 2009!
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 2009 Purebred Reference Issue, and
more information on a subscription to CATTLE TODAY, go to:
www.cattletoday.com/subscription.htm
UPCOMING BREED FEATURE!
September 5th — 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:
mail to: sales@cattletoday.com or editor@cattletoday.com.
Note: The Brangus issue will be published September 5, 2009.
Ad Deadline — August 28, 2009.
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S I T E O F T H E M O N T H
BEYOND THE BARN…OUR OWN BLOG!
Our fieldman Luke Mobley now has his own blog. Check it out
periodically to keep up with Luke as he travels around the
Southeast to sales and events this fall. You can even
subscribe to be notified by email when he makes an entry. It
is a great way to keep up with Luke, as well as sales and
happenings in our area! You can leave comments for Luke as
well. Check it out!
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A U G U S T S A L E D A T E S
Cattle Today will be at the following sales in August:
August 15 — Lemmon Angus Red Angus Division Complete Dispersal,
Cullman AL
August 15 — Southern Showcase Simmental Sale, Calhoun GA
August 28 — Alabama BCIA Herdbuilder Replacement Female Sale,
Uniontown AL
Be sure to look us up and say “Hello.”
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W I N D O W S T I P O F T H E M O N T H
FIREFOX 3.5
As most of you know I am a longtime user of the FireFox
browser. And this new release is even faster than before.
It also has “Private Browsing” that keeps your boss/family
from seeing which sites you viewed. If you already use
FireFox upgrade now. And if you have never used FireFox
give it a try. You will be surprised at the difference.
And it will automatically copy your favorites. I use
Internet Explorer and Google’s Chrome. But FireFox is
clearly the best.
www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.5/releasenotes/
OR
It’s summertime and that means thunderstorms. Protect your
computer from lightning and power surges with a Surge
Protector. A good one costs $20 or $30. Don’t waste your
money on the $8 ones even though they are labeled “surge
arrestors” or “protectors”. Those glorified extension cords
are next to worthless for surge protection. Still a direct
lightning strike will blast through a surge protect or “off”
switch almost as if it wasn’t there at all. Physically
unplugging the PC and the phone line from your modem (Dialup
or DSL) or your coax cable from your Cable Modem is the only
100% sure method to protect against the worst thunderstorms.
But a good surge protector will help against most lightning
and routine power problems. You can find hundreds of online
vendors here:
froogle.google.com/froogle?q=surge+protectors
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F U N S I T E O F T H E M O N T H
THE CATTLE CLUB
Have you visited the CattleClub yet? It’s like FaceBook,
except for cattle people. It’s a great place to meet and
learn more about cattle producers in your part of the
country. You can also upload photos into your own Photo
Album. Or join or create a group for your breed. Have a live
chat with your friends. Give it a try. And did I mention
it’s free?
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Q U O T E O F T H E M O N T H
“An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not the invasion
of ideas.” – Victor Hugo
Submitted by: Frances Ruth Harris, Kew Gardens, New York
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
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INCREASE YOUR WEBSITE TRAFFIC FOR FREE!!
We have 18 different WebRings you can join. Why not get
your share of the extra traffic they generate? It’s easy to
install and it’s FREE! For more information go to:
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S E N D U S T O A F R I E N D 
If you find this newsletter interesting, send it to a
friend. 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
