Livestock

By Kyle Sharp

The agreement between Ohio agriculture and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has been the source of controversy, scrutiny and grumbling on both sides of the issue. Here are some perspectives from leaders in the sectors of agriculture that will be most affected.

Impact on pork
Chuck Wildman operates a 650-sow, farrow-to-finish hog operation near South Charleston. He was not thrilled when the agreement with HSUS was reached. But after considering the political strategy of how the agreement bought the OLCSB time to work and established the Board as the governing authority for livestock care standards, he said it now seems like it was the right thing to do.
When people say to him HSUS came out ahead in the agreement, Wildman has an interesting way of describing this thoughts.
“If you’re in a bar fight and one guy lays down his weapon and leaves the bar for a while, and the other guy is still standing there in the bar huffing and puffing, who won?”… Continue reading

By Kyle Sharp

Many in Ohio agriculture reacted with disbelief on June 30 when Ohio’s agricultural leadership announced an agreement had been reached with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) regarding farm animal welfare measures.
After passage of Issue 2 last year created the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (OLCSB) and the subsequent effort by HSUS to gather signatures for their own ballot initiative began, the battle lines appeared to be drawn.

“The initial response was surprise from people, because a lot of people, including many in leadership positions, were under the impression we were going to move forward and succeed as we did with Issue 2,” said Dick Isler, Ohio Pork Producers Council (OPPC) executive vice president.

But early poll numbers showed the HSUS ballot initiative passing by more than 60%.

“We realized we had to come up with another plan,” Isler said. “If the HSUS initiative passed, then in six years there could be no laying hen cages or gestation stalls, and that really would have hurt a lot of producers.”… Continue reading

By Dale Minyo

This year’s Grand Champion Steer at the Iowa State Fair is a clone of the 2008 Grand Champion Steer. Yes it is legal, or at least no rules were broken.

The 1,320 pound steer was produced by Bovance, a joint venture between Trans Ova and the cloning firm ViaGen. The exhibitor’s dad is the president of Trans Ova Genetics, a livestock reproduction company in Iowa. Bovance bought the cloned steer for a record-setting $45,000 bid at the auction to keep the animal out of the food chain.

For more on this visit:http://www.dtnprogressivefarmer.com/dtnag/common/link.do?symbolicName=/free/news/template1&product=/ag/news/topstories&vendorReference=0353b2fa-34a2-481b-912d-1cb46058ad3a&paneContentId=70109&paneParentId=70043 or http://brownfieldagnews.com/2010/08/25/iowa-grand-champion-steer-was-clone-of-2008-champ/… Continue reading

By Dale Minyo

This year’s Grand Champion Steer at the Iowa State Fair is a clone of the 2008 Grand Champion Steer. Yes it is legal, or at least no rules were broken.

The 1,320 pound steer was produced by Bovance, a joint venture between Trans Ova and the cloning firm ViaGen. The exhibitor’s dad is the president of Trans Ova Genetics, a livestock reproduction company in Iowa. Bovance bought the cloned steer for a record-setting $45,000 bid at the auction to keep the animal out of the food chain.

For more on this visit:http://www.dtnprogressivefarmer.com/dtnag/common/link.do?symbolicName=/free/news/template1&product=/ag/news/topstories&vendorReference=0353b2fa-34a2-481b-912d-1cb46058ad3a&paneContentId=70109&paneParentId=70043 or http://brownfieldagnews.com/2010/08/25/iowa-grand-champion-steer-was-clone-of-2008-champ/… Continue reading

Update from August 24th Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board Meeting; HSUS’s Wayne Pacelle attends, euthanasia and civil penalties discussed… Continue reading

By “Doc” Donald E. Sanders, DMV, OSU Large Animal Field Service

The livestock farmers I’ve visited lately are mad as Hades. They are frustrated over our ag leadership and governor entering a “kiss your sister” kind of agreement regarding animal welfare in Ohio.
Jack Fisher, executive vice president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF), says the deal with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) makes good sense. And politically it may make good sense for Governor Strickland, too. He didn’t say so, but it
was clear he didn’t want a bunch of farmers going to the polls in November to vote on the HSUS initiative. That would have made it too convenient for them to also have given his re-election bid a thumbs down.
Wayne Pacelle, president of the HSUS, appears to be a happy camper. But is he really? The agreement delays full implementation of his animal rights agenda until 2025.… Continue reading

By “Doc” Donald E. Sanders, DMV, OSU Large Animal Field Service

The livestock farmers I’ve visited lately are mad as Hades. They are frustrated over our ag leadership and governor entering a “kiss your sister” kind of agreement regarding animal welfare in Ohio.
Jack Fisher, executive vice president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF), says the deal with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) makes good sense. And politically it may make good sense for Governor Strickland, too. He didn’t say so, but it
was clear he didn’t want a bunch of farmers going to the polls in November to vote on the HSUS initiative. That would have made it too convenient for them to also have given his re-election bid a thumbs down.
Wayne Pacelle, president of the HSUS, appears to be a happy camper. But is he really? The agreement delays full implementation of his animal rights agenda until 2025.… Continue reading

Junior Ayrshire Show

(36 exhibitors, 76 animals)

Junior Champion – Ashley Hawvermale, Wooster; Reserve Junior Champion – Rachel Duncan, Warsaw; Grand Champion – Tanner Topp, Wooster; Reserve Grand Champion – Lane Greiwe, Sidney

Junior Brown Swiss Show

(31 exhibitors, 65 animals)

Junior Champion – Alexandra Lammers, Botkins; Reserve Junior Champion – Bradley Moffett, Jeromesville; Grand Champion – Keaton Topp, Botkins; Reserve Grand Champion – Amber Baumer, Wapakonet

Junior Guernsey Show

(36 exhibitors, 89 animals)

Junior Champion – Amber Dietz, Southington; Reserve Junior Champion – Becky Cooley, Baltimore; Grand Champion – Ericq Showalter, New Concord; Reserve Grand Champion – David DiGiovanni, Wapakoneta

Junior Holstein Show

(73 exhibitors, 117 animals)

Junior Champion – Cole Cummings, Sidney; Reserve Junior Champion – Anna Miley, West Salem; Grand Champion – Cole Cummings, Sidney; Reserve Grand Champion – Keaton Topp, Botkins

Junior Jersey Show

(70 exhibitors, 181 animals)

Junior Champion – Keaton Topp, Botkins; Reserve Junior Champion – Megan Cornish, N.… Continue reading

The Ohio State Fair is pleased to announce the 2010 Junior Fair Scholarship winners. Applicants were judged on scholastic standing, citizenship, leadership, Ohio State Fair participation, county fair participation and financial need.

The following is a list of winners:

Rhodes Endowment — $1,500, Kelsey Brockman, Coldwater; Nationwide — $1,000, Paige Pottkotter, Ft. Recovery; Governor’s Scholarship — $1,000, Kara McCarthy, Sycamore; Market Beef Exhibitor — $1,000, Lacey Uhler, Wooster; Beef Breeding Exhibitor — $500, Hannah Winegardner, Lima; Barrow Exhibitor — $1,000, Joel Hamric, Coshocton; Swine Breeding Exhibitor — $500, Cody Dudte, Wooster; Market Lamb Exhibitor — $1,000, Linsey Howell, Danville; Sheep Breeding Exhibitor — $500, Emily Shellhouse, Delaware.

Poultry Exhibitor — $1,000, Elizabeth Bender, Prospect; Dairy Cattle Exhibitor — $1,000, Ashlee Dietz, Southington; Dairy Goat Exhibitor — $500, Alaina Schraufnagel, Granville; Rabbit Exhibitor — $500, Tyler Fields, Marion; Dog Exhibitor — $500, Rachel Olson, Canfield; Horse Exhibitor — $1,000, Amber Baumberger, Jacobsburg; Exhibits & Activities Exhibitor — $1,000, Katherine Lorson, Hilliard; Exhibits & Activities Exhibitor — $500, Connie Price, Grove City; Exhibits & Activities Exhibitor — $250, Katherine Wenner, Lewis Center, Megan Thobe, Celina.… Continue reading

Editor’s note: Due to death threats received by the Conklin family, a photo has not been included. Conklin was recently cleared by a Union County grand jury in an animal-abuse case involving his farm and a video released by Mercy For Animals.

OCJ: What is your family’s history in the dairy Industry?

Gary: The business started in 1919 marketing all types of livestock. Over time the business evolved into just Holstein heifers and cows. Up until 1990 a large part of our sales were from public auctions. Since that point it has been primarily private treaty sales.

OCJ: Will you please describe your dairy operation?

Gary: We broker close up and fresh Holstein heifers. We freshen out 1,000 to 1,200 first calf heifers per year. Many of our customers prefer to acquire fresh heifers. But, we do have some that prefer to buy springing heifers 30 to 60 days from calving.… Continue reading

Pork producers are more committed than ever to demonstrating how much they care about producing safe and nutritious food, the well-being of their animals and protecting the environment. Through some amazing efforts, they have reached another important milestone for the National Pork Board’s Operation Main Street (OMS) program. On Aug. 4, volunteer OMS speakers achieved the Pork Checkoff-funded program’s 4,000^th speech.  

“Thanks to our volunteers, OMS has grown into a significant asset for the pork industry and an important voice for the pork industry’s We Care initiative,” said Perry Aasness, vice president of industry relations for the Pork Checkoff. “OMS speakers are now showing key decision-makers and influencers such as county commissioners, dietitians, and small animal veterinarians, how pork producers are working hard every day to do the right thing.”

We Care is a pork industry initiative designed to help producers demonstrate they are committed to established ethical principals and animal well-being practices.… Continue reading

Photos of the Jr. Fair Hog Show

Light Crossbreds

Grand Champion: Haley Clinker
Reserve: Troy Elwer

Darke Crossbreds

Grand Champion: Alec Brenek
Reserve: Nathan Siefker

Yorkshire

Grand Champion: Mason Creager
Reserve: Samantha Darner

Duroc

Grand Champion: Kalie Bodey
Reserve: Christopher Nott

Poland China

Grand Champion: Jason Geer
Reserve: Samantha McAlister

Berkshire

Grand Champion: Kelsey Zircher
Reserve: Blair Kenney

Landrace

Grand Champion:    Nick Brautigam
Reserve: Allen Lenhart

Hamp

Grand Champion: Evan Argabright
Reserve: Blaine Neikirk

Hereford

Grand Champion: David Devore
Reserve: Victoria Devore

Chester White

Grand Champion: Alex McCullough
Reserve: Samantha Norman

Tamworth

Grand Champion: Victoria Devore
Reserve: Chelsea O’Diam

Spots

Grand Champion: David Devore
Reserve: Levi Stauffer

Gilt Show Results

Grand Champion Gilt: Grant Gehret
Reserve Champion Gilt: Riley Wendt
3rd Overall: Zach Anderson
4th Overall: Madelyn Ferron
5th Overall: Skyler Marker

Skillathon

Age 9 – Dakota Zurface, Clinton; Age 10 – Alexus Burkhart, Crawford; Age 11 – Josie Chaddock, Stark; Age 12 – Hunter Frobose, Wood; Age 13 – Samantha Norman, Fulton; Age 14 – Nicholas Fowler, Guernsey; Age 15 – Kyle Kisamore, Portage; Age 16 – Jordan Mullett, Coshocton; Age 17 – Tonya Fender, Highland; Age 18 – Kyle Kissick, Brown; Overall – Jordan Mullett, Coshocton

Record Books

Age 9 – Christina Norman, Fulton; Age 10 – Jason Cook, Union; Age 11 – Caleb Horn, Fairfield; Age 12 – Ellie Chaddock, Stark; Age 13 – Samantha Norman, Fulton; Age 14 – Cole Riddle, Union; Age 15 – Leanna Bachman, Fairfield; Age 16 – Emily Herring, Fulton; Age 17 – Amanda Coe, Greene; Age 18 – Joel Hamric, Coshocton

Barrow Showmanship

Champion Senior: Tonya Fender, Highland; Champion Intermediate: Gus Mitchem, Fayette; Champion Junior: Tyla Voight, Miami; Overall Champion: Tonya Fender, Highland… Continue reading

Dale Minyo visits with the poultry judge, Dr. Keith Bramwell of the University of Arkansas on this years show.

Market Turkey Show Results

Grand Champion:Zachary Johnson

Reserve Champion:Alexandra Lang

3rd Overall:Sarah Johnson

4th Overall: Taylor Hoepf

5th Overall: Jake Ellis

Poultry show photo gallery… Continue reading

By Matt Reese

After the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) announced their plan to put an issue on the November ballot to implement restrictive measures on animal agriculture, Ohio agriculture united to thwart the efforts. The efforts from both sides of this contentious issue, however, ended in late June when HSUS announced that they would not pursue a ballot measure after an agreement was struck with Ohio agricultural leaders and Governor Ted Strickland.

This agreement is a list of recommendations that the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board (put into place last fall with the passage of Issue 2) will consider as they formulate the animal care rules for the state. HSUS, in turn, agreed to acknowledge the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Boards as the authority on animal care in Ohio. Both sides say they can live with the agreement, but it still does not necessarily sit well with some in the livestock industry who were ready to fight HSUS.… Continue reading

In late July, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) responded to calls to extend the comment period for the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration’s (GIPSA) proposed rule on livestock marketing.

Concerns expressed by Congress, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and other leading agriculture organizations led to the 90-day extension of the comment period for the proposed rule that suggests major changes to the way producers can market their livestock.

During a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing on livestock on July 20, 2010, both Democrats and Republicans expressed to USDA that the scope of GIPSA goes well beyond what Congress intended under the 2008 Farm Bill. Industry groups echoed the concern.

“Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle were very clear about the critical need to extend the comment period to allow stakeholders to thoroughly analyze the potential impacts of the rule,” said Colin Woodall, NCBA vice president of government affairs.… Continue reading

Photo gallery from goat show… Continue reading

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.1 million head on
July 1, 2010. The inventory was 3 percent above July 1, 2009. The inventory
included 6.25 million steers and steer calves, up 4 percent from the previous
year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and
heifer calves accounted for 3.77 million head, up 1 percent from 2009.

Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.63 million, 17 percent above
2009. Net placements were 1.57 million head. During June, placements of
cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 440,000, 600-699 pounds
were 300,000, 700-799 pounds were 408,000, and 800 pounds and greater were
480,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 2.00 million, slightly above
2009.

Other disappearance totaled 55,000 during June, 4 percent below 2009.

U.S. All Cattle on Feed Up 3 Percent

Cattle on feed July 1, 2010, from all feedlots in the United States, totaled
12.0 million, up 3 percent from the 11.6 million on July 1, 2009.… Continue reading

By Kyle Sharp

In 1966, at the age of 14, Frank Phelps moved with his family from their farm in Van Wert County to the current farm they operate in Logan County. The previous year, they had become joint owners of a herd of registered Limousin cattle with the O’Connor family, which owns the Logan County property.

“It was quite a change back then from the flatland of Van Wert to some hills down here,” Phelps said.

While the O’Connor family owns the land, co-owns the cattle and assists with broad management decisions, Frank and his dad, Don, oversee the daily operation.

“It’s been a good partnership,” Phelps said. “Every Saturday morning we have a meeting with them. It makes it nice that they’re interested and willing to spend some money to maintain and improve the farm.”

The O’Connor-Phelps farm milked cows for a while, had a farrow-to-finish hog operation, and most recently also had feeder pigs.… Continue reading