TheBeefSite Newsletter - 16 September 2009
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Welcome to this week's newsletter
Editorial - Mixed Fortunes for Beef Industries This week has revealed once again the widely differing fortunes for the beef industries in different countries. While Tyson Foods in the US reported strong returns in its Beef division, ever more Russian meat farmers are deciding to sell their business due to huge losses suffered in the current financial conditions. Beef farmer representatives claim that income is plunging dangerously low, as current beef prices are 30 per cent less than a year ago. Also in the news is a new feed ingredient that appears to offer the potential to reduce feed costs for beef producers. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) studies have shown that 'wet distiller's grain with solubles (WDGS) may be an inexpensive alternative to traditional feed ingredients when fed to livestock. WDGS is a common ethanol by-product that could replace more costly traditional feed ingredients such as corn, soybean meal, urea and mineral supplements, according to the researchers. WDGS typically costs about 10 per cent less than corn when used as livestock feed. ARS scientists studied the effects of feeding WDGS to cattle: feedlot performance, energy utilisation efficiency, post-harvest meat characteristics and cattle manure emissions. Generally, the cattle fed up to 40 per cent WDGS performed as well as or better than the controls. The only disadvantage appeared to be that as the concentration of WDGS increased in the diet, greater concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur appeared in manure. This was attributed to excess crude protein. And finally, new research published last week suggests that the prion that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE; mad cow disease) can be spread in deer faeces. Jackie Linden
We have 4 new features this week: Early Weaning Management Weaning time is a stressful time for the cow, the calf and the rancher, writes TheCattleSite Junior Editor Charlotte Johnston. It is critical to business success deciding when and where to wean, particularly with last year calf prices plummeting between September and December. Research suggests that early weaning can in the long-run save time and money. Adapting Livestock Production Systems to Climate Change Greenhouse gases such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20) are both primarily increased through agricultural practices such as land clearing, soil degradation, fires and ruminants, Chris Stokes, a Systems Ecologist at the CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems Laboratory in Australia, told the 43rd Nottingham Feed Conference. Charlotte Johnston, TheCattleSite Junior Editor reports. Breeding Feed-Efficient Herds: a Near Future Possibility Feed constitutes approximately 60 per cent of production costs, and with current economic and environmental conditions pushing up feed prices many beef farmers are struggling to keep profit margins. University of Missouri researchers are determining why some cows need less food to achieve weight goals. Through this knowledge they hope to be able to aid farmers in breeding feed-efficient herds. World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates - September 2009 According to the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report from the World Agricultural Outlook Board, weak demand for cattle, hogs, turkeys and broilers continues to put prices under pressure. The milk production forecast is raised for 2009 and 2010 as milk per cow is forecast higher. ![]()
» In The Cattle Markets » NFU Fly-In Brings Farmers To Washington » CME: Accuracy of Reports Dependent on Weather » Bovine Tuberculosis in Minnesota » Montana Cattle and Bison Import Requirements Revised » CME: Weak Beef Imports Negatively Impact Demand » Tyson Foods' Beef, Pork, Prepared Foods Strong » Weekly US Cattle Outlook: Total Feed Number Down » US Beef Exports Remain Sluggish » CME: Large Number of Dairy Cows Come to Market » Weekly Outlook: Corn And Soybean Supply Prospects » Feeding Out Calves Gives True Carcase Value » Field Day To Address Beef Producer Issues » Preconditioning Considerations For Spring-Born Calves » FSIS Seek Comment on Use of `Natural' in Labeling Products » CME: Japan a Major Market for US Beef » CME: Corn, Soybean Crops Short on Maturity » WDGS To Provide Inexpensive Feed Alternative » Weekly Roberts Report » Cattle On Feed Report : US Cattle On Feed Down ![]()
» Union Calls For Slowdown Of Live Cattle Exports » Weekly Australian Cattle Summary » MLA Calls For Less Stress On Feedlot Cattle ![]()
» Mad Cow Disease Spread By Deer Manure
» Scottish Livestock Transport Under EU Threat Again » Institute for Animal Health to Focus on Virology » Falling Carcase Weights Reduce Impact of More Cattle » Tory Badger Cull to Cost Farmers » DAIRY EVENT - NFU Turn Up Pressure on TB » DAIRY EVENT - Anaerobic Digestion Association Launched » Beef Industry Mourns Loss Of NBA Vice-Chairman » Confidence High Among Livestock Farmers ![]()
» Meat and Wool New Zealand to Work With Levy Payers
» Cattle Slaughter Suspension Enrages Butchers
» South Africa Reports FMD Outbreak in Cattle ![]()
» Cattle Die of Mystery Disease In Karwar
» Russian Farming On Brink Of Collapse
» Government Takes Action to Improve Food Safety » Alberta Beef Producers to Benefit From Risk Management » More Toxic Fusarium Graminearum Chemotype
» European Agricultural Commissioner Steps Down
» Smith Calls For Action On Food Security, Climate Change That's all for this week! Ed. |
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