- Author: John M Harper
The following was posted on the several information sites but is worth including for those ranchers doing direct sales of boxed beef. It will help in pricing your cuts based on the wholesale and retail trades.
USDA has developed a new interactive Dashboard which allows users to view data for boxed beef markets in an easy-to-use, customizable way. The dashboard provides users with quick access to volume and price information in the form of customizable graphs and tables, which complement the existing data available through the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Market News site. With the addition of boxed beef, the AMS Livestock Dashboard now provides weekly data on boxed beef, cattle, hogs and sheep covered by Livestock Mandatory Reporting. Users can access the boxed beef dashboard at: http://mpr.datamart.ams.usda.gov/amsdashboard/boxed_beef/BoxedBeef_Dashboard_Option_1.html.
Adapted from National Meat Association's newsletter
- Author: John M Harper
A while back I encouraged you to watch and vote on the video Were Those the Days, My Friend produced by UC Davis Animal Scientist, Alison Van Eenennaam and her graduate student team. Thanks to all who voted, it won the American Society of Animal Science video competition. Below is the announcement reprinted from ASAS's Taking Stock.
UC Davis group wins ASAS Video Competition
Congratulations to a team from UC Davis, whose video “Were Those the Days, My Friend” received the most votes in the first-ever ASAS Video Competition. Their video on the impact of production efficiency and biotechnology will be shown at the awards ceremony at the ASAS Joint Annual Meeting in Phoenix this July. The team will also receive the first place prize of $1,250. This video was written and directed by UC Davis cooperative extension specialist Alison Van Eenennaam, with photos collected by UC Davis students Kristina Weber and Kevin Au. Vocals on a song cover were supplied by Ramona Swenson. Watch the video!
In second place was a group of students from New Mexico State University. Their video titled “How NMSU’s Animal & Range Science Department is Feeding the World” highlighted the animal agriculture programs and outreach at NMSU. They will receive $750. Watch the video!
In third place was a group from Purdue University. Their video titled “Animals and Food Security in Haiti” featured stories from students who traveled to Haiti to help with animal agriculture programs. They will receive $500. Watch the video!
Overall, the videos in the contest received 11,357 views during the one-month voting period. This was a great step toward the ASAS goal of sharing the importance of animal science with the public. Thank you to everyone who entered or took the time to vote. The videos are featured on the ASAS YouTube channel. Watch them now!
- Author: John M Harper
The Council of Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) recently released a commentary paper on the direct relationship between animal health and food safety outcomes. It is an informative read for livestock producers and consumers. The following is from the paper's introduction and objectives:
"Many groups in society, including politicians, activists, scientists, and stakeholders, are advocating significant changes to livestock production practices. These changes include modification of stocking densities, limitations on antimicrobial use, and requirements for outdoor "experiences." Such changes may affect animal health, productivity, and food quality. Simultaneously, many consumers are demanding virtually risk-free food at least cost, and they believe that food safety should be addressed on-farm as well as during processing. It is critical that decision makers understand the relationship between animal health and food safety, which is a complex association requiring careful evaluation of many variables.
The objectives of this paper are to (1) discuss the quantifiable impact animal health has on public health risk due to foodborne illness from meat, milk, eggs, and poultry; (2) identify the factors that impact animal health; and (3) highlight specific research needs. This paper will focus on direct and indirect impacts that animal health may have on public health."
The entire paper, in pdf format, is available for free at:
http://www.cast-science.org/publications/?the_direct_relationship_between_animal_health_and_food_safety_outcomes&show=product&productID=155971
Make sure you select Online/Dowloadable in the drop-down to the right of the page on the link above.
- Author: John M Harper
The UC Agriculture and Natural Resources - Rangeland Watershed Program has received the 2012 Western Extension Directors Association Award of Excellence for its outstanding work with water quality and grazing issues on California’s rangelands.
“The Rangeland Management Program has been a tremendous help in protecting the open space, habitat for plants and wildlife, and healthy watersheds that California’s rangelands provide,” said Tracy Schohr, director of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition “They educate land managers and provide the objective, accurate information we need.”
UC Cooperative Extension Specialist Melvin George with the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences started the program in the 1990s, collaborating with the range livestock industry, the Environmental Protection Agency, and several state and federal natural resources agencies and associations.
Rangeland Watershed Specialist Ken Tate with the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences and John Harper, livestock and natural resources advisor with Mendocino County UC Cooperative Extension, will accept the Award of Excellence on behalf for the program on July 12 during a ceremony in Park City, Utah.
- Author: John M Harper
For all cattle producers, it's especially important to pass this on to your friends, customers, and families not in the business. The following came via Dr. Jim Oltjen, UCD and from Janel Fisher, California Beef Council:
"In an update issued late yesterday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced additional findings in its ongoing epidemiological investigation into the case of BSE detected earlier this week in central California.
The animal in question was 10 years and 7 months old and came from a dairy farm in Tulare County, California. The animal was humanely euthanized after it developed lameness and became recumbent. The animal’s carcass will be destroyed. The cow was tested as part of targeted BSE surveillance at rendering facilities. The USDA is continuing its epidemiological investigation and will provide additional information as it is available. The California Beef Council (CBC) will provide updates to producers as we receive them from the USDA and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).
It is important to reiterate that this animal was never presented for slaughter for human consumption, did not enter food supply channels, and at no time presented any risk to human health."
In addition, the UCD School of Vet Med has provided the following links with the latest information and encourages you to use these references to answer questions. The Vet Med site will be updated regularly.
Vet Med: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whatsnew/article.cfm?id=2533
CDFA: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/animal_health/BSE_Info.html and
USDA: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2012/04/0132.xml&contentidonly=true
FDA statement on safety of milk: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm301850.htm
If you have questions about UC’s role in the BSE investigation, please contact Lynn Narlesky in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Office of the Dean, (530) 752-5257, lnarlesky@ucdavis.edu.