Operating them safely ensures owners, employees and cattle benefit from their use

A couple of years ago, a good friend of mine, who happens to be one of the county commissioners, asked me to write up a little roast/tribute to the retiring county sheriff.

On the front page of our local weekly newspaper, there was a photo of a cute little 4-H girl showing what was obviously a goat at a livestock show. The caption under the photo read, “Here is so and so and her sheep.”

Sometimes, when we go to our livestock meetings and see all the technology, we forget about the cowboy and the horse.

Drought, record-high feed costs, changing consumer preferences and a growing global demand for protein have driven significant changes in the U.S. beef industry. With these trends in mind, the American Hereford Association (AHA) is planning a Hereford Genetic Summit September 4 to 5 in Springfield, Missouri, where Hereford enthusiasts can gather and engage in meaningful discussions about the industry, the inherent strengths and weaknesses of the Hereford breed and the actions necessary to position the breed for continued growth.

Zoetis has entered into a multiyear service and development agreement with Eureka Genomics to gain unique access to Eureka Genomics’ proprietary Next Generation Genotyping (NGG) technology for its genetics business in cattle and sheep.

Even before VaxLiant was formed in 2013, its leaders had been working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a breakthrough foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine.

Summer officially started this past weekend and cattle markets so far have shown little of the seasonal pressure that has been expected. Fed cattle prices have strengthened counter-seasonally the past three weeks and cattle slaughter has continued down year over year. Feedlot marketings are expected to increase in June but the sharp spike in feedlot supplies that was implied by earlier placements may not materialize that way.

Progressive Cattleman has hired Cassidy Woolsey as a summer intern for reporting and editorial contributions to the magazine and its website.

Extension officials with the University of Idaho share insight on how to properly monitor rangeland through the use of digital cameras and routine inspections.