Reduced U.S. cattle numbers and state beef council efforts to maximize effectiveness were among the topics Aug. 8 as the Federation of State Beef Councils (FSBC) conducted sessions at the 2013 Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver.

When Daryl Strohbehn retired as an Iowa State Extension beef specialist, there was one project he wasn’t ready to give up the reins to. Since 2003, he has tracked the profit values for sires of calves enrolled in the Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity (TCSCF).

More feedback on the decision by Tyson last week to withhold buying cattle that have finished on zilpaterol, better known as Zilmax. National Public Radio in this recent report, quotes an official who says the whole policy comes from Tyson wanting to cater to export markets. Zilpaterol and ractopamine (sold as Optaflexx) are the only beta agonists on the market. Fed as supplements into feedyard rations, beta agonists are fed toward the latter stages of a cattle's finishing period - typically the last 21 days. 

The Padlock Ranch, recipient of this year’s Leopold Conservation Award in Wyoming, has been named a regional finalist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) Environmental Stewardship Award (ESA).   

The RW Spin Off hay equipment from Worksaver Inc. offers an economical solution for the transportation and feeding of large, round bales. The models can rotate in both directions for easy feeding and allow the operator to unroll what the cattle will clean up in one hour, according to the company, eliminating wasted hay. Also, by changing the feeding location each day the operator can eliminate manure buildup.  

Feedyard owner Anne Burkholder discusses the use of beta agonists and their impact on animals in the feedyard. View the video from BeefFacts.

Some good news from this week's Livestock Publications Council awards. The Progressive Dairyman and its sister publication Progressive Cattleman took a 1-2 finish in the non-association publication awards, given at the Ag Media Summit in Buffalo, N.Y. this week.

Here's our story today on the decision by food processing giant Tyson Foods to suspend the purchase of cattle finished on the beta agonist Zilmax.

Starting Sept. 6 one of the country’s largest meatpacking companies will not buy cattle that has finished on the beta agonist zilpaterol, known by the brand name Zilmax.