Tyson Signals They Will Quit Buying Cattle Fed with Zilmax September 6 

The timing is unusual- but on the same day cattle industry leaders gathered for five and half hours to discuss beta-agonists, Tyson Foods sent a letter to feedlots they do business with- informing them they will stop buying cattle fed with one of two beta- agonists currently approved in the US. The product targeted is Zilmax, produced by Merck & Co. The ban begins September 6.

According to the letter, "There have been recent instances of cattle delivered for processing that have difficulty walking or are unable to move. We do not know the specific cause of these problems, but some animal health experts have suggested that the use of the feed supplement Zilmax, also known as zilpaterol is one possible cause. Our evaluation of these problems is ongoing but as an interim measure we plan to suspend our purchases of cattle that have been fed Zilmax.

"This is not a food safety issue. It is about animal well-being and ensuring the proper treatment of the livestock we depend on to operate."

At the cattle industry session, the audience heard from a variety of experts on the two products and the positive benefits of the products- as well as some of the concerns that included lameness by some animals fed with the product and sensitivity to hot weather. The most outspoken comments came from Dr. Temple Grandin, who flatly told the cattle leaders gathered that we cannot allow "bad to become the new normal- and this is bad." 

I spoke with Grandin after her presentation.  You can listen to our conversation by clicking here.  You will also find the full text of the letter from Tyson Foods.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association weighed in on the issue with a statement from CEO Forrest Roberts.

"Cattlemen and women believe in the right of farmers and ranchers to responsibly use FDA-approved technologies. We also believe in Tyson's right to make individual company decisions that they feel are in the best interest of their business. We do not have all the details regarding the animal welfare concerns cited by Tyson in the letter to their cattle suppliers. However, we take every report of animal welfare issues very seriously."

You can read more from Roberts by clicking here. 
 

Derrell Peel Weighs in on Beta Agonists and Market Impacts 

There have been market impacts internationally for feedlot cattle that are fed Ractopamine- and Extension Livestock Market Economist Dr. Derrell Peel says that the industry will have to weigh the value of the product and its ability to convert lean muscle from body fat in the final days of feeding for cattle being readied for market.

Several major importers of beef and pork have import bans of meat from animals fed with Ractopamine- marketed in the US by Elanco under the trade name Optaflexx.

Besides the bans in other countries- there is at least one market worry domestically with the feeding of beta- agonists- which includes both ractopamine as well as zilpaterol (marketed as Zilmax). That concern, according to Dr. Peel, is the unintended consequence of these products helping dry up the live cash cattle market- especially in the southern Great Plains.

Dr. Peel joins me on the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen in.

 

Traders Will be Watching Corn Production Numbers in Upcoming WASDE Report, Anderson Says

The World Agricultural Supply And Demand Estimate report will be released Monday. Ahead of that report OSU's Small Grains Marketing Specialist Kim Anderson previews trade expectations. He says there is not much going on in the wheat markets as most traders are awaiting Monday's report.

"If the market's watching anything, it's watching corn and in corn production and in the weather in the Corn Belt area.

"China is making news relative to the wheat. There's some speculation that China will be the big buyer for both wheat and corn this year. We're just going to have to wait a little longer to see if that comes to pass over the next couple of months."

Overall, Anderson says he expects Monday's WASDE report to show ending stocks are projected to be tighter in the U.S. and slightly tighter in the world.

Click here to listen to Kim Anderson's analysis of trade expectations for the WASDE report.

 

National Standards Foundation Certifies Beef Industry has Improved its Sustainability

The beef industry has improved its sustainability by 5 percent in just six years according to the results of the checkoff-funded Beef Industry Sustainability Assessment, released today during the 2013 Cattle Industry Summer Conference.

Improvements in crop yields, better irrigation, innovations in the packing sector, improvements in technology and better animal performance are examples of innovations that have all played a role in advancing industry sustainability, according to Kim Stackouse-Lawson, Ph.D., director of sustainability for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. 

"The completion of the life cycle assessment (LCA) project provides the industry, for the first time, the science-based evidence necessary to lead conversations about the sustainability of beef," says Stackhouse-Lawson. "The Beef Checkoff and the Beef Promotion Operating Committee had the foresight three years ago to see the importance of this work and make it a priority for the industry. By completing the LCA, the checkoff positioned beef as a leader on the topic of sustainability."

Click here to read more or to listen to my interview with Dr. Stackhouse-Lawson.

 

Food Plots Can Increase Deer Harvest

Now is the time for deer enthusiasts in the state to gear up for hunting season.

Dwayne Elmore, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist, said planting a food plot is one tool to consider.

"A food plot is an agricultural planting that is done to attract wildlife," said Elmore.

Some of the misconceptions are that food plots will produce bigger antler size or better body condition. However, under only rare situations will this be the case.

"Because the food plots are not so effective in increasing body condition and animal health, except in certain circumstances, we don't really emphasize summer food plots as much as we do winter food plots," Elmore said. "If you're trying to harvest more does on your property, then winter food plots are really effective."

You can read more by clicking here.  

 

Populist Livestock Group Angered Over Litigation Against USDA for COOL Rule, Calls for Action Against NCBA

The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) called for the immediate dismissal of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) as a contractor for the Beef Checkoff Program.

In a letter released yesterday, OCM President Mike Callicrate called for the Cattlemen's Beef Board to terminate its contract with the NCBA.

"NCBA is now a plaintiff in a lawsuit to block the implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling that would allow producers to identify their products for consumers. Although a checkoff-funded study earlier this year showed consumers overwhelmingly want to know where their food is produced, NCBA has opposed the implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling.

"Though unfortunate, NCBA is certainly permitted to oppose a program that is strongly supported by both producers and consumers. It should not be permitted, however, to simultaneously take checkoff dollars for promotional programs that do not meet producer interests and consumer preferences. When an organization has a stake in both sides of a battle, its loyalty to one side or the other can never be assured. Only an organization that can demonstrate conflict-free loyalty to producers should be entrusted with checkoff contracts."

You can read more of Callicrate's letter by clicking here. You will also find more on the OCM's opposition to the lawsuit filed by the NCBA to block the implementation of USDA's Country of Origin Labeling rules by clicking here.

One additional note from Denver- I sat down and visited with Weldon Wynn, current Chairman of the Cattlemen's Beef Board'- the gentleman to whom the latter was addressed to. I offered him a chance to respond to the letter from Callicrate in an interview and he declined.  Wynn told me that while the letter has been made very public by the OCM- with copies sent all over the country- it was his opinion that he needed to ansswer the letter before he made any comment- and that he had not answered the letter as of yet. I got the impression that the Arkansas cattle producer had not yet made up his mind whether or not to answer the letter.

Another Round of Rain- and Memorial Service Information for Clay Birdwell 

August may be shaping up as another July- as the first full week of the month has been marked by several rain making events- and temperatures that are not that extreme for summertime in the southern plains.

In the last 24 hours- more than an inch of rain has been dumped in portions of both central, northwest and northeast Oklahoma. One of the larger amounts of rainfall reported at a specific Mesonet station came in the rain gauge in northwest Oklahoma CIty- measuring over three inches of rainfall in the wee hours of the morning.

When you look at the five day rainfall map- the significant rainfall totals all over the place in the northern 2/3 of Oklahoma does not make you feel like it's August. Click here to take a look at the latest rainfall amounts as of early this morning.

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Services have been announced for TSCRA President Clay Birdwell, who passed away Wednesday. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 11, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Resthaven Funeral Home, 5740 West 19th Street, Lubbock. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 12, at Broadway Church of Christ, 1924 Broadway, Lubbock. Graveside services will immediately follow at Resthaven Cemetery.

At a time when the cattle industry at the national level has gathered in Denver, the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers are mourning the death of Clay- but also celebrating his graduation to Heaven.  You can read the Obit for Clay Birdwell by clicking here- details are there if oyu have interest in giving a memorial in his name.