September 8, 2011
Reprinted from www.noaa.gov
La Niña, which contributed to extreme weather around the globe during the first half of 2011, has re-emerged in the tropical Pacific Ocean and is forecast to gradually strengthen and continue into winter. Today, forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center upgraded last month’s La Niña Watch to a La Niña Advisory.
NOAA will issue its official winter outlook in mid-October, but La Niña winters often see drier than normal conditions across the southern tier of the United States and wetter than normal conditions in the Pacific Northwest and Ohio Valley.
“This means drought is likely to continue in the drought-stricken states of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico,” said Mike Halpert, deputy director of the Climate Prediction Center. “La Niña also often brings colder winters to the Pacific Northwest and the northern Plains, and warmer temperatures to the southern states.”
Climate forecasts from NOAA’s National Weather Service give American communities advance notice of what to expect in the coming months so they can prepare for potential impacts. This service is helping the country to become a Weather Ready Nation at a time when extreme weather is on the rise.
Seasonal hurricane forecasters factored the potential return of La Niña into NOAA’s updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane season outlook, issued in August, which called for an active hurricane season. With the development of tropical storm Nate this week, the number of tropical cyclones entered the predicted range of 14-19 named storms.
The strong 2010-11 La Niña contributed to record Winter snowfall, Spring flooding and drought across the United States, as well as other extreme weather events throughout the world, such as heavy rain in Australia and an extremely dry equatorial eastern Africa.
La Niña is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon located over the tropical Pacific Ocean and results from interactions between the ocean surface and the atmosphere. During La Niña, cooler-than-average Pacific Ocean temperatures influence global weather patterns. La Niña typically occurs every three-to-five years, and back-to-back episodes occur about 50 percent of the time. Current conditions reflect a re-development of the June 2010-May 2011 La Niña episode.
NOAA’s National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. NOAA’s National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook.
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.
From Mama to Autonomy: Weaning ways
By Peggy Joseph-Potter RN, BSN, MHA
Weaning is more about the health of the cow than the calf. Lactation requires 50% more feed, 70% more energy, and twice as much protein as pregnancy alone. As Fall approaches and pastures decline, difficulties can arise as breeders attempt to maintain the cow in good body condition for Spring calving. It is therefore more prudent to wean mature calves rather than continue to supplement the pregnant cow. Calves are usually ready to wean at 5-7 months of age, however they can be weaned sooner if conditions necessitate the separation of calves and cows.
Spring calves means Fall weaning. Weaning is one of the most stressful times in your calf’s short life. While the mature calf no longer needs to supplements its nutritional needs with mama’s milk it depends on her for its emotional needs. Planning, preconditioning and optimizing your calf’s health make this a much less distressing transition. The old timers may have many stories and methods for completing this process; newer research provides opportunities to make this a much less traumatic experience for young calves.
In this article, I will discuss some of the new ways, some of the old ways and provide you with supporting data that may help you to make the best decision for your situation.
Pre-conditioning is essential for the maintenance of health and immunity in the newly weaned calf. Providing essential nutrients through the introduction of bunk and creep feeders allows calves to acclimate their eating habits to prevent weight loss during this stressful period. Preconditioning calves involves getting them used to eating and drinking out of a bunk feeder or trough. This should be done without the cows around, as cows tend to be more pushy and bossy around the feeders and may not let the calves in at all.
A creep feed or precondition ration for calves should include a mix of grain silage and legume-hay, with the addition of a concentrate supplement that includes protein. There are many good calf starter products available and your local feed store can help you develop a program to meet your needs. Make sure any supplement provided does not contain animal byproducts due to the danger of BSE. Try to keep feeders free from mold and dust as their presence may lead to the development of pneumonias.
The goal is to minimize the stress level of both mom and calf during the weaning process, therefore other stress-laden procedures such as vaccinations, castration and dehorning should precede any attempt to separate the pair. Calves should also have good parasite control products introduced either as a pour-on or through injection prior to weaning, as they are more susceptible to worms during this period. We also try to break our calves to tie and lead before weaning as this socializes them to the human presence and reduces that which is unfamiliar after they leave their moms.
Methods for Weaning: There are several methods for weaning, ranging from low stress natural to abrupt separation.
Natural weaning takes place without human intervention. The calves and cows are left together until the calf decides it no longer needs to nurse or the mother cow kicks it off prior to the arrival of her next calf. This technique provides the least amount of stress to the calf however; it takes its toll on the bred cow as their bodies try to prepare for the birth of yet another calf. They will usually lack the conditioning necessary to supplement their newborn’s needs leading to a lower birth weight calf.
Traditional corral weaning. This method can be traumatic for calves as they are abruptly removed from their mothers and separated at the same ranch or shipped to a new location. Weight loss is likely to continue to occur until the calf adapts to its new surroundings. Significant preconditioning is necessary to sustain the calves during the process and there may be permanently lower conditioning than a calf weaned in a less stressful manner. Some of these changes can be prevented by removing the cows and leaving the calves in an area with other cattle that are familiar to them.
Pasture Weaning. The combining of pasture weaning with fence-line weaning can be accomplished simply by placing them side by side and moving the cows to another location, this allows the calves to stay in an area familiar to them. Pasture weaning is ideal when drought conditions are not present as free-choice grazing allows the calves to eat as desired. Since we place our cow-calf pair on pasture after the first 15-30 days this transition has been easiest for us to accomplish. That does not mean we do not have some disruption for the first day or two however, we have found this method the most humane and least stressful for the pair.
Fence-Line Weaning. This method allows calves to maintain physical contact with the cows and in most cases prevents the calves from nursing. It works best if an electric wire is present and even better if a double fence is available to keep the mother and calf separated. We have had a few of the most determined calves get through what we thought was adequate fencing. Fence-line weaning allows the pair to see and smell each other but prevents the calves from nursing. They generally will stop trying after the first three to five days.
Spiked Nose ring weaning. Nose rings or flaps can be applied to the calf’s nose to prevent suckling. This method allows the cow and calf to stay together in the same pasture or paddock. The nose flaps are noxious to the cow as they contain uncomfortable spikes that prevent the cow from accepting the calf’s gestures to nurse. Calves will usually stop trying after the first three to five days. However it can take two or three weeks for the cow’s bag to dry up; therefore do not take the rings off too soon, or you will have to start all over.
The goal in any weaning process you chose is to minimize the stress level on both the cow and calf. For the calf, even a vaccinated animal can have reduced immunity leading to the development of disease especially those affecting the lungs such as pneumonias. The pregnant cow adapts more easily after the first 3-5 days, however it may take longer if she is a first time mother.
Highlights:
Wean calves during good weather to reduce stress and possible disease processes,
Separate cows and calves so that they can still see and smell each other,
Do stressful procedures such as breaking, vaccinating, castrating, and dehorning prior to weaning,
Feed calves in bunk or creep feeder to acclimate them to eating and drinking on their own,
Provide adequate nutrition through appropriate rations of grain, hay, and supplements,
Socialize your animals prior to weaning to decrease their fear of the unknown,
Wean animals in surroundings with familiar, compatible paddock mates.
Having healthy, happy calves takes planning and preparation. The transition for both cow and calf can be made low stress by taking a few extra steps to reduce the fear and provide a sense of security for your animals.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our friends and members in Texas and the East Coast who are indeed suffering the wrath of Mother Nature. Our thoughts and prayers are with each one of you as you struggle to meet your needs and those of your livestock.
Bibliography
(1997). Feeding and Handling Calves. In M. &. Ensminger, Beef Cattle Science (p. 727). Danville: Interstate Publishers, Inc.
Thomas, H. S. (1998). Storey’s Guide to Raising Beef Cattle. Storey Publishing.
Peggy and her husband, Bob Potter, own and operate PJ Ranch LLC in Winton, California. They are Miniature and Standard Hereford owners and active participants in the MHBA since 2002. She is employed as a critical care nurse for a local medical center.
Total recipe time: about 2-1/4 hours Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
2 large poblano peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch thick strips
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup soft bread crumbs
1 large egg
1 large chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Chihuahua cheese, Monterey Jack cheese or Mexican cheese blend
3 tablespoons adobo sauce
Instructions
Heat oven to 350°F. Combine ground beef, onion, bread crumbs, egg, chipotle pepper, salt and black pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.
Divide beef mixture in half. Shape each half into 8 x 4-inch loaf. Place 1 loaf on rack in broiler pan. Arrange half of the poblano pepper strips lengthwise over loaf, leaving 1/4-inch border around edge. Sprinkle cheese over peppers; top with remaining peppers. Place remaining loaf on top; press edges of loaves together to seal, reshaping loaf if necessary. Brush adobo sauce over top and sides of meatloaf.
Bake in 350°F oven 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes, until instant-read thermometer inserted into center registers 160°F.
Let stand 10 minutes. Cut into slices.
Nutritional Information Per Serving
Nutrition information per serving: 322 calories; 2 g fat (8 g saturated fat; 9 g monounsaturated fat); 122 mg cholesterol; 2119 mg sodium; 1 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 26 g protein; 4.5 mg niacin; 0.4 mg vitamin B6; 2.3 mcg vitamin B12; 3.2 mg iron; 23.1 mcg selenium; 5.9 mg zinc.
This recipe is an excellent source of protein, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc; and a good source of iron.
The AHA will require all Hereford sires born after Jan. 1, 2011, to be DNA genotyped at the official AHA DNA laboratory before their progeny can be registered.
This policy has been adopted to improve the quality control of pedigrees. Numerous times during the year, AHA staff identifies pedigree mistakes, and the discovery comes at times when it is very difficult to make a determination of correct parentage of an animal. Genotyping walking herd sires will be very beneficial toward minimizing this issue in a cost-effective manner.
by: Heather Smith Thomas
Reprinted from www.CattleToday.com
Fall is a good time to run cattle through the chute for their semi annual vaccinations. Many ranchers try to accomplish as much as they can during this trip through the chute including pregnancy checking, applying substances to control parasites, vaccinating pregnant cows, and perhaps bangs vaccinating heifer calves while the veterinarian is there, if you live in a state that requires Brucellosis vaccination of heifers.
Pregnancy testing time is the best time to vaccinate and delouse cows, and there is no point in treating an open cow who will soon be sold. Vaccinations and Fall treatments can be given to each animal after the veterinarian determines whether or not she’s pregnant. At the same time, you should also consider the following management practices to keep your cow herd in tip top shape.
Cull open cows
Most ranchers sell cows who turn up open, since there is no profit in running a cow an extra year without producing a calf. If you are producing seedstock, trying to raise cattle who are fertile and efficient, you’ll want to cull any cows who are less fertile and efficient than the rest of the herd. Your customers who are buying seedstock from you want genetics that will improve their herds and increase their profitability. Culling open cows and late calvers can dramatically alter a rancher’s profit picture. A “freeloader” cow costs as much to maintain as a good, early calving cow, and it does not pay to keep her. The occasional exception may be a first calf two year old who raised a good calf, but didn’t breed back because she was putting so much energy into milk. This is a hard age, since the heifer is still growing and trying to produce milk; she may not cycle in time to breed back during a short breeding season (and most ranchers try to have a short season, so the calves are grouped in age and size). Some of these good young cows, with their whole life still ahead of them, may be profitable to keep, if a rancher has the feed to run them the extra year. But an older cow has no excuse for being open and it is wise to sell her.
Vaccinations
Ranchers in many regions must vaccinate at least twice a year for Redwater, to keep from losing cattle. The current 8 way clostridial vaccine protects against Blackleg, Malignant Edema, Sudden Death Syndrome, Redwater, Black’s Disease, and types B, C and D Enterotoxemia. Adult cattle do not need to be vaccinated against all of those, but since there is no other vaccine for Redwater and Black’s Disease, this is the only option for ranchers who must protect cattle from these health hazards.
Clostridial vaccines can cause tissue reaction and swelling and sometimes abscesses and scar tissue. No matter which clostridial vaccine you use, it should always be given subcutaneously, and preferable in the side of the neck. That way, any tissue damage that occurs can be easily trimmed out at slaughter without sacrificing good parts of the beef carcass.
Most veterinarians now recommend vaccinating all cows for Leptospirosis in the Fall as well as in the Spring. Leptospira can cause abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and the Lepto vaccination is effective for only six months. Lepto is one of the few truly cheap vaccines, so it makes sense to protect bred cows throughout pregnancy by means of semi annual Lepto vaccinations.
Some herd management specialists also advocate twice a year vaccination for IBR and BVD, in some herds. Since pregnant cows cannot be given modified live virus vaccinations for these diseases without risk of abortion, the standard procedure is to use modified live virus vaccine before the breeding season in the Spring, and a killed vaccine product during pregancy, in the Fall. This type of program is not necessary in all herds, but is very beneficial in some, especially for young cows (first and second calvers).
Yearling heifers need two doses of Scour Guard before calving. This product will help prevent scours in newborn calves. Timing of the second dose is critical — it must be given at least two weeks before heifers start to calve. But the first dose can be given as much as a year before the second dose. Most ranchers wait until pregnancy testing time to give the first dose, simply because it doesn’t make economic sense to put nearly two dollars worth of scours vaccine into an open heifer. Giving it in the Fall is better than waiting until calving season is near and hoping you have enough time between doses for the shots to do any good.
Any cows which did not receive a Scour Guard injection last year need two doses before calving, in order to confer immunity to calves through colostrum. Yearling heifers and any cows you may have added to your herd during the past year should get an initial priming dose at preg checking time.
Check with your local veterinarian for advice on a vaccination program and schedule that will protect against common diseases in your area and specific situation. You won’t need to worry about venereal diseases if your cattle are in a controlled breeding situation — bred only to your own uninfected bulls. You won’t need to give clostridial vaccine to adult cattle unless you live in the mountain West. But you will need to vaccinate for Leptospirosis wherever you are, and sometimes IBR and BVD.
Parasites
Parasite control is also important in a Fall management program. The primary parasites to worry about are grubs, lice, worms and in some locations liver flukes. Many ranchers use a pour on product that is effective against both grubs and lice, and some use Ivermectin to control grubs, lice and worms. Ivomec (a brand of ivermectin) has the advantage of killing both external and internal parasites, but does not kill liver flukes or tapeworms. In order to control biting lice, Ivomec pour on must be used. Injectable Ivomec does a very good job on grubs and sucking lice, but not biting lice.
Lice are one of the most costly and underrated parasites of cattle, accounting for millions of dollars lost each year due to reduced feed conversion, weight loss, anemia and sometimes even death. During the last cold months of Winter and into early Spring, lice can be a constant cause of irritation putting additional stress on cattle and draining energy reserves.
Most veterinarians recommend Fall treatment of all cattle for lice control. You should also assume that any new animal brought into the herd is carrying lice. New animals should be isolated and treated, whatever time of year it’s brought in, before being put with the herd. Most products for lice have a two treatment protocol and the new animals should be kept isolated until they’ve had both treatments. Any animal in the herd suspected of having lice should be treated in early Fall before lice populations build up (to help keep lice from spreading to the rest of the herd) and all animals should be treated in late Fall before infestation becomes severe. Effective control of lice requires two treatments two weeks apart if using a product that kills only lice and not the eggs. The second treatment kills lice that hatch out in between.
If cattle are being put through a chute, a pour on is usually the simplest way to control lice. Oil based pour ons are formulated to travel through the hair coat so the chemical spreads over the whole body of the animal. Other pour ons are systemic and absorbed into the body to kill lice, grubs and other internal parasites at the same time. Some of these must be used before Winter to avoid toxic reactions due to grubs being killed while migrating through the esophagus or spinal nerve canal.
The dying grubs release substances that cause swelling and inflammation in the tissues (choking or bloat in the esophagus, or temporary paralysis if in the spinal canal), which could lead to death of the animal unless the reaction is reduced with prompt and proper treatment. Check with your veterinarian for advice on insecticides and which products might be best for your situation and climate. Cattle can be treated for grubs after heel fly season is over, no more risk of new eggs being laid, and about three months before the anticipated first appearance of grubs. Treatment for grubs in northern regions should be given before December, while treatments in warm southern states should be no later than mid October.
Check each cow closely
This is also a good time to check cows for problems that might affect future health or productivity. As they go through the chute, check cows’ eyes for injury or signs of early cancer lesions (these are primarily a problem in cows with non pigmented skin, but do occasionally occur in dark skinned cattle), which can often be successfully treated in early stages, before they become malignant. Check face and jaw lumps to see if they are soft tissue abscesses that should be drained or bony infections that must be treated with sodium iodide.
Check teeth on any older cow who seems to be losing weight (a cow who has lost teeth may not be able to chew feed properly and will be difficult to keep in proper body condition to feed her calf and breed back). This is the time to make culling decisions on cows with serious problems such as bad teeth, bony lump jaw, bad eyes, bad udders, etc. It’s also a good time to carefully assess body condition to see if cows came through summer in good flesh (if pastures were good) or thin (if pastures were dry or sparse towards Fall). This will help you decide whether to wean calves early to enable cows to regain needed weight before cold weather.
Body Condition Scores are rated 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese). Most stockmen try to keep cows at score 5 or 6 for best health and fertility. The ideal score will depend upon the genetics of the cattle; some cows need more flesh covering than others to cycle and breed successfully and produce milk for their calves. Know your cattle and try to keep enough flesh on them for optimum production.
When weaning calves and putting cows through Winter, remember that high producing cows may have body condition pulled down more than the cows who give less milk, and will go into Fall and Winter carrying less flesh. These high producing cows need a higher plane of Winter nutrition to get ready for the next calving and lactation. A good practice is to check body condition in Fall and sort out thin cows and young ones (yearlings, first calvers and sometimes second calvers) to feed separately. If cows will be on hay or any type of supplement during Fall and early Winter, this will ensure the young or thin ones get their share. It is not cost effective to feed the whole herd to meet the needs of young ones and thin ones; the majority of the cows don’t need the extra feed. It’s better to sort them in the Fall, or whenever they go from an adequate pasture to dry pastures or hay, so the ones who need the extra nutrients will be the ones who get it.
Cows should not be left on marginal Fall or Winter pastures while still nursing calves, or they’ll lose too much body condition. A research project at Kansas State University a few years ago showed that cows on unsupplemented pasture who continued nursing calves until December lost about 150 pounds and 1.5 points in body condition score by their next calving. If calves must be left on the cows this late, pasture must be supplemented. When the pastures get dry, it is often better to wean the calves. It is cheaper to supplement the weaned calves, rather than the whole herd.
Fall working is one of the rancher’s best opportunities to make management decisions that improve the herd health situation and also affect profit or loss. This is a good chance to have “hands on” every cow and to know what is happening.
Australia and New Zealand are separated by the Tasman Sea, affectionately known as “The Ditch” or “The Pond”, although the countries are just over 1400 kms (869 miles) apart at the closest points. Tasmania is a large island off the south-east corner of Australia and this is where Boomer Creek Farm is found. Boomer Creek takes its name from the common reference to a male kangaroo as a “boomer” owing to a booming noise heard as it bounds across land at speeds of up to 70 kmph (40 mph). Joy and Colin Walters felt this to be an appropriate name for their farm which comprises 400 hectares (988 acres) on the East Coast of Tasmania with beautiful views over Great Oyster Bay leading out into the Tasman Sea.
Since the early 1970s the Walters have had standard sized polled Herefords, then around 1994 their neighbour purchased some Lowline cattle of Angus derivation. Colin and Joy loved the idea of having smaller sized cattle but being “red and white” breeders did some research and discovered Miniature Herefords. Their first purchase was a recipient cow which produced Boomer Creek Atom and shortly afterwards they purchased a heifer, KT Real Roberta (imported from the USA). This was the start of their Miniature Hereford herd.
Having always had polled Herefords it wasn’t long before the Walters realised this would be a much better option than horned minis but it was a case of “do-it-yourself” as there were no polled minis outside of the States. Starting in 1999, they followed the American system of using small standard polled Hereford females with a miniature bull. After considerable searching they eventually found some with frame scores between 4 and 5 and later another one with a frame score of 2 – actually of Classic size. So began the “breeding down” programme to produce polled Miniature Herefords.
For the first five years it was a very slow process with having to keep the size down as well as eliminating horns and also keeping the breed line different. It meant using a horned mini bull across standard polls then using a different horned mini bull to establish another line then back across a standard poll to lose the horns. This could have taken many more years except that in 2004 another Australian breeder imported polled Miniature Hereford embryos from Straitside Ranch in the States from which two heifers and one bull – all homozygous polled – were born. Sired by SSR Micah and out of SSR Miss Misty the bull, Boomer Creek Felix, with a frame score of 1, really sped up the polled breeding programme. With now over 40 progeny, all polled and of frame score 1 or less, he has become the “foundation sire” of polled minis “Down Under.”
Normally the Walters run around 50 breeding cows of which 95% would now be Miniature Herefords, mostly polled. At least twenty of these are homozygous polled and most of them now have three , four and even five generations of Miniature Herefords on both sides of their parenthood. The demand for polled minis in Australia has really taken off as prospective owners/breeders see the big advantage in having no horns to deal with. Half of Colin and Joys’ herd was sold in the last financial year (including horned) with some animals going across Bass Strait to New South Wales and Victoria. They could have sold more but ran out of available stock!
A big part of promoting Boomer Creek cattle is through showing and the Walters have been very successful even against standard Herefords and other breeds. The animals are presented immaculately and well trained.
Joy Walters with Miniature Hereford bull, Boomer Creek Mack – Junior Champion, Grand Champion and Interbreed Champion bull in 2010. A grandson of Boomer Creek Felix.
Seven of these polled Miniature Hereford heifers are by Boomer Creek Felix.
Good breeding and presentation deserves to win. Some of B.C. Felix’ progeny.
It is thanks to the outlook and perseverance of such Miniature Hereford Studs in the States as Straitside Ranch (Betty and the late John Johnson) and Long Creek (Susan and Ron Himmelberg) and Boomer Creek (Colin and Joy Walters) in Australia that polled Miniature Herefords have become available for Hereford breed enthusiasts looking for smaller cattle without horns. For those of us following in their footsteps we can only build on the foundation they have laid – the hard work has already been done.
Charlotte Williams 6/15/2011
This is a question that an increasing number of rural areas are asking, particularly in the area of food animal care. Food animal practitioners now make up fewer than 10 percent of the veterinarians in the United States, according to a 2006 study by the Food Supply Veterinary Medicine Coalition. Their work includes a wide variety of skills, from prevention and disease control on production farms to USDA food safety and inspection to laboratory analysis of processed meat samples.
A number of programs are actively in place throughout the country to combat this growing problem, including state student loan repayment programs, rural veterinary internships, and others. For example, last year Dr. Joe Hillhouse participated in an initiative led by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) through the AVMA/AVMF Food Animal Veterinary Recruitment and Retention Program to provide student loan debt forgiveness for veterinarians who met the requirements.
His practice in the small Texas towns of Borger and Panhandle also actively recruits from schools as far away as Cornell University in New York to provide internships for students who are considering a life away from the big city.
He also assisted this year in hosting the annual Food Animal Production Tour for first and second year veterinary students from Texas A&M University. They traveled over a thousand miles to visit facilities in the Texas Panhandle and to taste the sweet life in small towns. The Tour is designed to showcase state-of-the-art operations in the dairy, feedlot, swine, and beef industries and to show potential food animal veterinarians the multitudes of opportunities in food supply veterinary medicine.
This year’s cow/calf tours included a visit to the 6666 Ranch – a working Angus cattle ranch that is part of the 275,000 acre Burnett Ranches – a visit to an organic dairy, and a final stop at the WW Ranch Miniature Herefords. Quite a variety of experiences!
Unlike the larger facilities, the WW Ranch allowed the students to interact directly with the animals and to see the positive, close relationship that can develop between a veterinarian and his clients. Dr. Joe is a regular visitor to the ranch for show papers, brucellosis vaccinations, and the occasional foot rot or “what is THAT??” treatment. It also gives his interns a small, gentle set of cattle to become comfortable with procedures before tackling the Big Guys.
The Tour concluded with a lunch sponsored by the owners of WW Ranch, Steve & Charlotte Williams, at a local brewery club, and a warm send-off for the final bus trip back to College Station, TX.
Hopefully the support of people and programs like these will continue to encourage young veterinarians to make the choice to provide care for our nation’s food animals. Whether you drink milk, wear a sweater, or eat the occasional BLT, your life is affected by the direction their lives take.
Hi, I am Jerry DuVal, and I am excited to be your new Region 8 Director! For those of you who do not know me, I’d like to introduce myself. Along with my wife, Cynthia, and daughter, Alyssa, we farm 200+ acres of fine fescue grass seed (used for turf), 20 acres of Christmas trees, and manage our herd of mainly polled Miniature Herefords on 100 acres of pasture ground. In 2004, we purchased our first miniatures from Straitside Ranch in Sequim, Washington—we quickly caught the Miniature Fever. Through our careful breeding program and selective purchases, we have increased our herd to a scope of 60 head of breeding and show stock cattle, with a smaller amount of commercial minis in order to supply our slaughter beef customers.
With the show season rapidly approaching, we are working on the 12th consecutive Miniature Hereford show at the Oregon State Fair, even adding two steer classes this year. Both of the show coordinators have been working diligently to ensure that the 2011 Pacific Northwest Regional Miniature Hereford show is a blast!
I aspire to keep everyone in Region 8 informed of the happenings of your Association and strive to assist anyone in their endeavors. Please contact me via email at duvalacj@msn.com…I am hoping to hear all of your comments, opinions, and suggestions to help me better serve you as your Region 8 Director.
President’s Prospective—
Hello MHBA Members, Regional Directors & Executive Board Members.
Although this position was not contested, I am deeply honored and excited to begin as President of the MHBA. I want to thank each of you that took time out of your busy lives to vote in this election.
It has taken me a little time to get acclimated with the google group/discussion forum, as computers are not my forte. I have asked Fran & Charlotte to help get my ideas listed and out to you. I thank all of you for your assistance, patience and understanding while I do my best to get on track.
Many of you may have read my campaign information, but let me re-introduce myself.
I own and operate J bar W Cattle Company in Elizabeth, Colorado. I was born and raised on a family farm, raising cattle & hogs, near Fort Dodge, Iowa. I started my herd in 1997 with the purchase of 2 bred cows and a bull. Through selective breeding and purchase of out-cross bulls, I have developed the herd of 80 head I have today. I also own & have operated a successful security/alarm business for 20 years.
I am a member of the MHBA and have been an active member of this association since its beginning in 1999. I believe my experience as Vice-President, Show Committee Chairman, Co-Superintendent & Sale Manager for the National Western and Co-Superintendent for the Kansas City Royal provides the background and understanding for being President. I have been actively involved with Miniature Hereford shows across the nation to include showing all 12 years at the National Western; assisted to obtain shows at the Iowa State Fair, Kansas City Royal and happy to announce the 1st Annual Miniature Hereford Show at the Colorado State Fair in 2011. I have also shown cattle each year at the Houston Livestock Show & the Star of Texas Show in Austin, Texas.
I have had the pleasure of witnessing the growth of this association and firmly believe in the positive forward direction we have taken. I want to personally thank the membership, our current and past members of the Executive Board and Regional Directors for their time, sacrifice & dedication to this cause. I hope you see, as I do, how your efforts have made tremendous strides in the popularity and respect of the Miniature Hereford in the cattle industry.
There were some recent issues that arose that needed to be addressed quickly. These involved the Iowa State Fair Show. After personally speaking with the livestock office for this show, it remains their decision that the 2011 Miniature Hereford Show will be listed and sanctioned by the NAMHA. They remain firm that they will not be involved in the middle of the two associations, however they will allow MHBA members to participate in this show without being a member of the NAMHA. As a result, no MHBA funding will support this show. We will remain in contact with the personnel in the livestock office and make every attempt to return this show as a MHBA sanctioned show.
The other project we are currently working on is the formation of the MHBA Junior Program. Currently, there has been discussion, but no plan has been developed for the selection of this committee. Please feel free to submit any ideas or suggestions you may have, during the next couple of weeks, so that a plan can be implemented. The MHBA Junior Program funding will be part of the MHBA account and maintained by the MHBA treasurer. Also, the committee members will work with and through the Show Superintendents as to any aspects of the junior show.
Other goals and ideas are as follows:
1) Continue the positive trends & ideas that the MHBA has taken for all members
2) Encourage greater member participation in shows
3) Inspire members to express their suggestions & concerns
4) Develop programs for greater marketing strategies for the large or small breeding
program
5) Gain optimum benefit of well-produced cattle shows with due consideration to
MHBA funds
6) Increase public awareness and education
7) Promote Miniature Herefords as a superior beef product and other benefits
The expansion & growth of the Scholarship Foundation
As always, I THANK all of you for your consideration and support! My plan is to keep all members of the MHBA apprised of all issues and decisions through the Miniature Hereford News & the MHBA website.
Please feel free to contact me for any information, questions, your suggestions or concerns. I will work as diligently as possible to guide the Miniature Hereford Breeders Association and the Miniature Hereford Breed in a positive & forward direction.
Best Wishes & I hope everyone is having a successful calving season!
Justin Grady
President
Miniature Hereford Breeder’s Association
MHBA has dramatically increased the number of shows sponsor ed. While a relatively small number of members take on the expense and time involved to show their animals, shows remain the #1 place to attract potential new breeders and members – and customers for all members, those who show and whose who don’t. Thus Shows are
our major expense – and to increase the number of shows available to our members, Sponsorships become really vital. Help us grow and introduce the Miniature Herefords to more and more new breeders.
Please make checks out to MHBA and send to:
MHBA Treasurer 60885 Salt Creek RD Collbran, CO 81624
OR, save yourself time and trouble! Make a PayPal donation from this site today!
Contributions to the MHBA are deductible as a Business Expense.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE MHBA!
