The soggy winter is at least partially to blame for the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus problems that have been plaguing hog producers in eastern Indiana and western Ohio in recent months.
The cagy virus is tough to corner because it can change so quickly.
“PRRS is programmed to very rapidly mutate. That is one of the problems in trying to develop a good vaccine that can work against the virus,” said Dr. Bill Minton, of Minton Veterinary Service in Mercer County. “When that virus infects mature animals it can cause reproductive problems including failure to breed, or pregnancy losses. It can ultimately become serious enough that it causes death. In growing pigs it is primarily a respiratory disease. We’ll see mild signs of pneumonia to severe pneumonia followed by sudden death.”
Along with being a problem itself, PRRS can also worsen symptoms of other pathogens.… Continue reading
Last week, more than two dozen hogs were stolen in Mercer County and those thieves caught. Now, more than a dozen steers valued upwards of $10,000 have been stolen from an Allen County Farm.
“I had noticed that the first pen on the end of our cattle barn looked a little thin. I said something to my brother about it. We didn’t do anything about it until a few days later when we cleaned the pen out and we were able do a physical count. That’s when I knew it didn’t match up with number of steers we put in there a month prior, ” said Ray Bonifas who feeds out steers with his brother Larry west of Delphos.
Neither of the brothers live at the actual farm site. They asked a neighbor if he had seen or heard anything unusual. He had indeed heard noises and commotion late in the evening the night prior to Ray’s speculation that steers were missing.… Continue reading
Farmers constantly are evolving and improving their operations to adapt to market conditions. A generation ago, pork demand was sagging because the product didn’t meet consumer demands. Farmers changed their practices. Today’s pork is leaner and more nutritious than ever, and today’s farmer is committed to responsible production.
Farmers and animal care experts know that various types of housing systems can provide for the well-being of pigs. After an extensive review of scientific literature, the American Veterinary Medical Association determined that both individual sow housing and group housing can provide for the well-being of sows.
Perhaps most importantly, today’s announcement reflects the best process for meeting evolving consumer demands – through the market, not through government mandates.… Continue reading
Farmers constantly are evolving and improving their operations to adapt to market conditions. A generation ago, pork demand was sagging because the product didn’t meet consumer demands. Farmers changed their practices. Today’s pork is leaner and more nutritious than ever, and today’s farmer is committed to responsible production.
Farmers and animal care experts know that various types of housing systems can provide for the well-being of pigs. After an extensive review of scientific literature, the American Veterinary Medical Association determined that both individual sow housing and group housing can provide for the well-being of sows.
Perhaps most importantly, today’s announcement reflects the best process for meeting evolving consumer demands – through the market, not through government mandates.… Continue reading
Federation Initiative Fund Awards Grants for Beef Promotion in High Population Areas
The Federation of State Beef Councils executive committee has awarded $181,325 in grants from its Federation Initiative Fund for beef promotional events in high population areas of 10 states. The awards were announced Jan. 31, just prior to the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn.
The Initiative Fund is supported by voluntary contributions from state beef councils, particularly those states with large cattle numbers and high checkoff collections. Grants are awarded twice a year to support the Federation’s long-standing commitment to invest checkoff dollars “where the people live,” according to Federation Chair Craig Uden, a cow-calf operator and cattle feeder from Elwood, Neb.
Grant applications are judged on several criteria, including a fit with the industry’s long range plan and the project’s potential to help move the needle upward on beef demand, Uden added.… Continue reading
McDonald’s Corporation today announced that it will require its U.S. pork suppliers to outline their plans to phase out the use of sow gestation stalls, a move supported by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
“McDonald’s believes gestation stalls are not a sustainable production system for the future. There are alternatives that we think are better for the welfare of sows,” said Dan Gorsky, senior vice president of McDonald’s North America Supply Chain Management. “McDonald’s wants to see the end of sow confinement in gestation stalls in our supply chain. We are beginning an assessment with our U.S. suppliers to determine how to build on the work already underway to reach that goal. In May, after receiving our suppliers’ plans, we’ll share results from the assessment and our next steps.”
“The HSUS has been a long-time advocate for ending the use of gestation crates, and McDonald’s announcement is important and promising,” said Wayne Pacelle, The HSUS’ president and CEO.
SFP introduces More Than Manure® Nutrient Manager, referred to as MTM™, the first and only product to protect both phosphorus (P) from lock-up and nitrogen (N) from leaching, denitrification and volatilization in applied manure. MTM maximizes P and N in all manures and litters – both dry and liquid. Increasing availability of these valuable nutrients can lead to yield increases and better overall crop performance.
“Improving yield potential and grower return on investment is always our ultimate goal,” says Larry Sanders, Ph.D., SFP president and CEO. “MTM overcomes nutrient management challenges for growers using any manure as fertilizer – optimizing phosphorus and nitrogen use.”
Of the 15.8 million U.S. cropland acres fertilized with manure, varied percentage of N and P is lost during handling and storage as well as after application, leaving both nutrients unavailable for crops.
MTM has proven to successfully increase P and N availability when added to confinement lagoons or pits, or in transportation and application equipment (liquid), or when sprayed over-the-top of dry-applied litter or manure.… Continue reading
It appears everyone is cashing in on higher hog prices, even thieves.
Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey said his office had received several reports in the last few weeks indicating the theft of hogs from a farm on the Ohio-Indiana state line near Fort Recovery.
An investigation determined that the two men were removing hogs from a farm in Mercer County and taking them to a site near Bryant, Indiana in Jay County. Two women were arrested at a nearby livestock company attempting to sell the stolen hogs.
The men took more than two dozen, 130-pound animals from a barn after dark over the course of ten weeks. They apparently loaded them into the back of a Chevy S10 pickup truck equipped with a camper top and then drove them to Indiana.
On Wednesday, both Ricky Crouch and Chad Crouch were arraigned on charges of breaking and entering and theft. Their bonds were set each at $50,000 in cash.… Continue reading
Ohio pork enthusiasts gathered in Columbus on Feb. 8 for the 2012 Ohio Pork Congress. During an awards luncheon, the following presentations were made:
Growing up on the family farm in the 1950s and ‘60s, Randy Brown can remember moving hogs from dirt lots on the west side of U.S. Route 23 to the main farm on the east. They walked the pigs across the highway between the two locations, which were about a mile apart.
“Dad would wave his handkerchief to stop traffic,” Brown said. “It was only two lanes then, and the hogs did pretty good. They pretty much stayed on the road and didn’t go off into the fields.”
If the family tried that these days across the fast-moving, four-lane route, not only would it cause a media frenzy, they’d likely introduce a new food product — the pork pancake. It’s a healthy indication of how things have changed within the pork industry.
“The biggest change we made was about 20 years ago when we got the sow herd and everything moved inside,” Brown said.… Continue reading
Pork enthusiasts from around Ohio will have a chance to learn about all aspects of the pork industry at the 2012 Youth Pork Leadership Institute, a three-day seminar to be held in Columbus in June.
Young men and women will be selected to participate in the event, which is sponsored by the Ohio Pork Producers Council, the Pork Check-off, and the Ohio Soybean Council. Last year, six individuals participated in the event. As an alumnus of the institute, participants will have the opportunity to be youth ambassadors for Ohio’s pork industry.
One goal of the institute is to introduce young people to the many facets of the pork industry; including packing, retail, food service, research and communications. In addition, the institute will teach leadership and communication skills that will assist participants in their future careers.
At last year’s event, the participants benefited from such unique experiences as touring a packing plant, learning about commercial hog farms, taste testing in Bob Evans test kitchen, and meeting with a legislative aide.… Continue reading
Heather Hetterick spoke with Ohio Cattleman’s Association President Sam Sutherly who one of almost 100 Ohio cattle producers in Nashville for the National Cattleman’s Convention.
A recording-breaking crowd of nearly 7,000 cattlemen and women from across the country jockeyed for a seat at the second general session of the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn. NCBA President-Elect J.D. Alexander painted a picture of regulatory chaos in Washington, D.C., but pointed to grassroots advocacy as the primary reason the cattle industry was able to “weather the storm.”
“Because of the partnership between our state affiliates and your national organization, we managed to prevent ourselves from being the main course at the big government café,” said Alexander, who is also a cattleman from Nebraska. “This partnership – this grassroots policy process – is the shining star of this industry. You have a voice and it is being heard loud and clear.”… Continue reading
By Stan Smith, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County
“My cows are eating all they want, and they are full . . . but it appears they keep getting thinner.”
“I’ve got some cows that act like they are open.”
“My fall born calves seem unthrifty, and some are week. I’ve lost a few.”
“I had a cow that could hardly get back up after she calved . . . just seemed weak.”
“I just got this forage analysis back . . . it’s not very good, is it?”
No, it most cases it’s not. Yet, those quotes are representative of the recurring statements I’m still hearing and receiving. While I know many are tired of hearing it, it’s apparent the poor quality hay that was harvested and ‘stored’ over much of Ohio in 2011 is now coming back to haunt some of us. In most cases, cows and calves are weak because momma isn’t getting enough energy.… Continue reading
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the Beef Checkoff Program partnered with Merck Animal Health to launch Better Beef Sales, a new web-based retail training program to help boost knowledge about today’s beef and how it’s produced.
These organizations recognized the need for more training of meat-counter employees after Merck Animal Health conducted a series of consumer panels. The panels found that consumers identify the staff behind the counter as experts. Carrie Thomas, account manager for food chain affairs for Merck Animal Health, said the need for training was quickly confirmed during retailer discussions.
“We conducted four panels in two cities. One of the key take away messages from those meetings was consumers still identify the person in the “white coat” behind the meat counter — the ‘butcher’ — as the beef expert,” said Thomas. “And, we want them to be beef experts. To do that, we need to arm them with information about today’s beef supply and how it’s produced.”… Continue reading
Don Van Nostran, from Athens County, was recognized with a Wool Achievement Award at the American Sheep Industry Association Convention held in late January in Scottsdale, Ariz. In 1989, Van Nostran became the general manager of the Mid-States Wool Growers cooperativeand served in the position for almost 20 years.
Van Nostran has also been the long time voice of the sheep shows at the Ohio State Fair, but in recent years he has been gaining a reputation as a top-notch producer of fresh, local, farm-labeled lamb that is sold on the shelves of the Kroger store in Athens. While at Mid-States, rather than give up the farm and move the family, Van Nostran chose to make the daily drive from Athens County to the cooperative’s Columbus-area warehouse — a 1.5-hour trip each way.
Other Ohio highlights from the ASI convention include the ASI Environmental Steward Award presented to Rick and Marcie Moore of Cottage Hill Farm in Harrison County, recognitions from the
National Lamb Feeder Association for the industry leadership of Henry Zerby (OSU) and Roger High (Ohio Sheep Improvement Association), and two fourth place finishes from Ohio contestants in the Make It With Wool Contest.… Continue reading
On Tuesday, January 31, 2012, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) released an undercover video taken at Oklahoma pig breeding facilities owned by two leading U.S. pork producers. HSUS is also encouraging consumers to take action to ban the use of gestation crates.
Video is one of the most powerful tools used by animal rights groups. Combined with the credibility that a national news outlet holds, this story is likely to evoke strong emotions and response by viewers. Also, consumer print outlets are likely to do follow up stories, bringing the issue front and center to millions of consumers across the U.S.
The Ohio Livestock Coalition points out that it is important that the animal agriculture community talks openly and honestly about animal well-being and many programs used to ensure livestock is raised in a humane way. The Center for Food Integrity encourages producers and leaders in the food system to pro-actively engage in values based discussions about modern production methods.… Continue reading
Although beef supplies will be very short for several more years, the USDA’s Cattle report indicates that the very early stages of beef cattle expansion have begun as beef heifer retention has increased a modest 1%, said Chris Hurt, a Purdue University Extension economist.
“However, the big picture is that beef cow numbers dropped 3% last year, and this will mean a smaller calf crop in 2012 that will keep cattle slaughter small for 2013 and 2014. If producers follow through with more heifer retention in 2012 and 2013, slaughter supplies will decline over the next two years and increase finished cattle prices even more,” he said.
There have been two dominant drivers of cow numbers in recent years. The first was the dramatic increases in feed prices after calendar year 2007. The beef industry couldn’t pass higher feed costs on to consumers in 2008 and 2009 but instead had to suffer negative margins.… Continue reading
The incredible/regrettable egg bill — which is it? That depends on who you ask. American consumers overwhelmingly support the national legislation regarding egg production that was introduced last week in Congress, according to a new survey.
Consumers said they would support federal legislation that would transition egg production from the existing conventional cages used for egg-laying hens to enriched cages by a margin of 4-to-1. Furthermore, consumers said that federal legislation was preferable to state legislation by a margin of 2-to-1.
The study was conducted by an independent research company, The Bantam Group, and commissioned by United Egg Producers which represents the majority of egg farmers in the U.S. and which supports the federal legislation. However, the survey’s sponsorship was anonymous so as to not bias any of the 2,000 respondents, all of whom were registered voters.
Consumers support the transition to enriched cages for egg production by a margin of 12-to-1.… Continue reading
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