Citrus Feed for Cattle to Reduce E. coli in Meat Produce
As technology and science have advanced throughout the years, we have discovered the causes to many disease and illnesses and have traced several of them back to E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus, which can be found in the meats that we eat. Scott Cotton from the University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension Office discusses how the research done by the National Cattle Breeders Association could lead to a drastic reduction in the amounts of E. coli found in our foods. “Feeding different things to cattle that are good foods and natural that livestock will pass less of these diseases into our food stream, because when they slaughter them if there is less E. coli in their body, there will be less E. coli in their meat.”
http://www.chadrad.com/newsstory.cfm?story=23320
The National Cattle Breeders Association have tried feeding orange peel and lemon peel to cattle, which they have found reduces the amount of E. coli in the cattle’s body by 10 times the amount they originally had.
The USDA has also conducted different food additive experiments on cattle over the last three years to attempt to lower the amount of disease producing bacteria found in our meat produce. “After further research and development, the USDA will most likely come out with best management practices or recommendations on what they can do,” said Scott Cotton. Big feed manufactures will eventually buy the peels, grind them up and put them in the cattle’s lick tube supplement product so ranchers will not have to deal with dump trucks of orange or lemon peels.
The start of this experiment began with the findings that in a test tube citrus acid kills E. coli so researches wanted to determine if this works in the body as well. The USDA and National Cattle Breeders Association attempted to find products that were an inexpensive byproduct of another agricultural industry, which orange peels and lemon peels were a byproduct that usually wasted and turned into compost or landfill. With further research and development Nebraska may be the home of fruit fed beef instead of corn fed beef.
http://www.chadrad.com/newsstory.cfm?story=23320
Video: Bill On Beef | Meat Market Tips
Branding Oregon Beef
From marbling to marketing, research helps brand Oregon beef.
Jared Kerr gets up before sunrise and puts on his boots, jeans, and chaps. He saddles his horse. A well-worn cowboy hat shields his already-tanned face from the early spring sun. Then, sitting high, one gloved hand tucked into the pocket of his vest for warmth, Kerr and two neighbors ride out to the pasture land of Harvey Ranch. Three hundred head of cattle slowly raise their eyes, their bovine expressions wary. Something is up.
The 1,200-acre Harvey Ranch in southeastern Oregon was donated to Oregon State University in 1987 by Glenn and Mildred Harvey. The original homestead provided pasture for sheep, and since 1917 the ranch has been producing beef cattle. For the last quarter century, OSU's Harvey Ranch managers have kept the ranch profitable, even during volatile times for the industry. Kerr, a graduate of OSU's Department of Animal Sciences, took over management of the ranch in early 2011.
"H'up, h'up, cows," Kerr calls as he gathers the herd for the slow drive up the valley toward the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Moving cattle from low-elevation private lands to high-elevation public lands is one strategy Oregon ranchers use to manage their cattle and forages. With public land permits for spring and summer grazing, ranchers optimize available nutrition for their herds and give their low-elevation land a chance to grow the grass hay and alfalfa that will get the animals through the winter.
By late morning the cattle are settled onto Bureau of Land Management land and Kerr's family has joined him in a pick-up truck. His three-year-old daughter, decked out in jeans and chaps, peppers him with questions about the morning's cattle drive. When Kerr saddles up to hunt a lost calf, she wants to go with him. But she can't find her hat, and it's hard to be a cowboy without a hat. It's even harder to be a cowboy without cows.
"Cattle ranching is not easy," Kerr says. "It's not a life that many young people are able to get into on their own, and nothing comes without a cost or a trade."
Surviving as a rancher in Oregon means finding a way to add value to the product, says John Williams, staff chair of OSU Extension Service in Wallowa County, a hotspot for Oregon value-added ranching. High costs associated with ranching, including fuel prices, may be a breaking point, despite increasing demand for beef in the U.S. and abroad.
"Last year was the first time since 1947 that more beef was exported from the U.S. than imported," says Williams. "We should be doing pretty well, but our costs often outpace sales. We need better infrastructure and the ability to capture new markets."
Markets and infrastructure are in many ways related. In Oregon, developing new markets means developing "branded beef," says David Bohnert, an OSU ruminant nutritionist and beef cattle specialist at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center in Burns. Branded beef is sold under a certain description, such as natural, organic, or grass-fed, or more specifically under business names such as Painted Hills Natural Beef and Country Natural.
"There is definite growth in natural, organic, grass-finished, and branded products," says Bohnert. "It's a challenging way of ranching, but it's attractive because of the associated premium price. If our ranchers can get into these markets they can make it profitable, but it's not for everybody. Right now maybe five percent of beef operations in the state target the niche markets."
The Harvey Ranch isn't one of those operations. Harvey cattle are sold mostly through online auction to larger beef operations. After purchase they are shipped to feed lots where they spend the last few months before slaughter eating a grain-based diet that results in increased body weight and changes in body composition to include a higher percentage of rich, marbled fat. This is different from the lean, grass-finished beef being sold in many specialty stores and high-end restaurants today.
Most people have been raised eating corn-finished beef, says Lea Ann Kinman, the manager of OSU's Clark Meat Center, an on-campus facility where students learn livestock anatomy and butchery, and where the public can purchase OSU-raised beef and other meats. She sees a shift in consumer demand toward grass-finished.
"The consumers we're hearing from really want beef from the niche markets," says Kinman. "We see a high level of concern for the welfare of the animal. Consumers want to know more about how the cattle were cared for prior to harvest."
The transition from traditional ranching operations to those that respond to demands for new, value-added products is not easy, according to Chad Mueller, an OSU researcher focused on beef cattle systems from conception to consumption.
"To be competitive and to give consumers what they want, we have to take advantage of what we have," says Mueller. Although beef cattle and forages make up the number one agricultural commodity in Oregon (with farmgate sales of $709 million in 2010), Oregon isn't great year-round cattle country in regards to available feed, says Mueller. OSU research is focusing on how to help producers succeed in the market.
Mueller is studying the genetics of marbling in beef cattle. Increased marbling is usually related to increased economic potential, and it is possible to select for hereditary traits that result in more marbled, intramuscular fat deposits, says Mueller. Fat is also related to taste, and for people used to eating corn-finished beef, it's something that they find lacking in some of the leaner branded products.
"We want the taste and the management practices to be what the consumer is demanding," says Mueller. "However, we have to keep an eye toward the overall efficiency of the animal in this landscape." Efficiency in beef cattle is related to the amount of food a cow needs to put on a specific amount of weight. Corn is almost twice as efficient as grass to put weight on most cattle. But not all cattle are the same, and Mueller is studying a breed of New Zealand cattle that are highly efficient on grass.
Other important challenges facing niche market producers take place off the grazing grounds. Closure of packing plants, a lack of small processing facilities, and a growing list of regulations face niche market cattle operations throughout the Pacific Northwest, says Lauren Gwin, a resource economics research associate at OSU. In the last three decades, there has been a steady decline in meat processing facilities across much of the West. These are the facilities that turn animals into food, and despite the necessity of their work, many communities have prohibited their presence, says Gwin. Existing small processors also struggle, because there hasn't been enough year-round demand for their services.
"Beef is a seasonal crop, although we don't usually think of it in those terms," says Gwin. Most ranchers in niche markets, especially those finishing animals on grass, process their animals in the fall. The winter months can be slow for processors, so it's risky business, with high costs and thin margins, says Gwin.
The need to support a small processing industry led to Gwin's work as co-coordinator of the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network. "Our goal is to expand small-scale processing, so that meat processors and the people who depend on them thrive," says Gwin.
"It's easy to blame the lack of local processors for the hardships of some of the specialty producers, but that's not the whole challenge," she says. "Commercial buyers and consumers have grown accustomed to inexpensive, readily available, safe meat. Now it will cost more, and many aren't yet willing to pay for it."
Back at the Harvey Ranch, Kerr has temporarily left the cattle to graze, as he heads back to the ranch where haying is getting underway. In a few weeks he'll again saddle up and move the herd higher into the mountains, providing the land with rest and the animals with fresh forage. It's a cycle that will continue for months, and if everything goes well, for years.
The 1,200-acre Harvey Ranch in southeastern Oregon was donated to Oregon State University in 1987 by Glenn and Mildred Harvey. The original homestead provided pasture for sheep, and since 1917 the ranch has been producing beef cattle. For the last quarter century, OSU's Harvey Ranch managers have kept the ranch profitable, even during volatile times for the industry. Kerr, a graduate of OSU's Department of Animal Sciences, took over management of the ranch in early 2011.
"H'up, h'up, cows," Kerr calls as he gathers the herd for the slow drive up the valley toward the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Moving cattle from low-elevation private lands to high-elevation public lands is one strategy Oregon ranchers use to manage their cattle and forages. With public land permits for spring and summer grazing, ranchers optimize available nutrition for their herds and give their low-elevation land a chance to grow the grass hay and alfalfa that will get the animals through the winter.
By late morning the cattle are settled onto Bureau of Land Management land and Kerr's family has joined him in a pick-up truck. His three-year-old daughter, decked out in jeans and chaps, peppers him with questions about the morning's cattle drive. When Kerr saddles up to hunt a lost calf, she wants to go with him. But she can't find her hat, and it's hard to be a cowboy without a hat. It's even harder to be a cowboy without cows.
"Cattle ranching is not easy," Kerr says. "It's not a life that many young people are able to get into on their own, and nothing comes without a cost or a trade."
Surviving as a rancher in Oregon means finding a way to add value to the product, says John Williams, staff chair of OSU Extension Service in Wallowa County, a hotspot for Oregon value-added ranching. High costs associated with ranching, including fuel prices, may be a breaking point, despite increasing demand for beef in the U.S. and abroad.
"Last year was the first time since 1947 that more beef was exported from the U.S. than imported," says Williams. "We should be doing pretty well, but our costs often outpace sales. We need better infrastructure and the ability to capture new markets."
Markets and infrastructure are in many ways related. In Oregon, developing new markets means developing "branded beef," says David Bohnert, an OSU ruminant nutritionist and beef cattle specialist at the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center in Burns. Branded beef is sold under a certain description, such as natural, organic, or grass-fed, or more specifically under business names such as Painted Hills Natural Beef and Country Natural.
"There is definite growth in natural, organic, grass-finished, and branded products," says Bohnert. "It's a challenging way of ranching, but it's attractive because of the associated premium price. If our ranchers can get into these markets they can make it profitable, but it's not for everybody. Right now maybe five percent of beef operations in the state target the niche markets."
- Jared Kerr moves cattle from OSU's Harvey Ranch in Lake County to summer pastures on the Fremont-Winema National Forest. Photo by Aimee Lyn Brown.
Most people have been raised eating corn-finished beef, says Lea Ann Kinman, the manager of OSU's Clark Meat Center, an on-campus facility where students learn livestock anatomy and butchery, and where the public can purchase OSU-raised beef and other meats. She sees a shift in consumer demand toward grass-finished.
"The consumers we're hearing from really want beef from the niche markets," says Kinman. "We see a high level of concern for the welfare of the animal. Consumers want to know more about how the cattle were cared for prior to harvest."
The transition from traditional ranching operations to those that respond to demands for new, value-added products is not easy, according to Chad Mueller, an OSU researcher focused on beef cattle systems from conception to consumption.
"To be competitive and to give consumers what they want, we have to take advantage of what we have," says Mueller. Although beef cattle and forages make up the number one agricultural commodity in Oregon (with farmgate sales of $709 million in 2010), Oregon isn't great year-round cattle country in regards to available feed, says Mueller. OSU research is focusing on how to help producers succeed in the market.
Mueller is studying the genetics of marbling in beef cattle. Increased marbling is usually related to increased economic potential, and it is possible to select for hereditary traits that result in more marbled, intramuscular fat deposits, says Mueller. Fat is also related to taste, and for people used to eating corn-finished beef, it's something that they find lacking in some of the leaner branded products.
- Lea Ann Kinman breaks down a side of beef at OSU's Clark Meat Center, where students learn the art and science of butchery. Photo by Lynn Ketchum.
Other important challenges facing niche market producers take place off the grazing grounds. Closure of packing plants, a lack of small processing facilities, and a growing list of regulations face niche market cattle operations throughout the Pacific Northwest, says Lauren Gwin, a resource economics research associate at OSU. In the last three decades, there has been a steady decline in meat processing facilities across much of the West. These are the facilities that turn animals into food, and despite the necessity of their work, many communities have prohibited their presence, says Gwin. Existing small processors also struggle, because there hasn't been enough year-round demand for their services.
"Beef is a seasonal crop, although we don't usually think of it in those terms," says Gwin. Most ranchers in niche markets, especially those finishing animals on grass, process their animals in the fall. The winter months can be slow for processors, so it's risky business, with high costs and thin margins, says Gwin.
- From the genetics of marbling to the economics of marketing, OSU research is helping brand Oregon beef. Photo by Lynn Ketchum.
"It's easy to blame the lack of local processors for the hardships of some of the specialty producers, but that's not the whole challenge," she says. "Commercial buyers and consumers have grown accustomed to inexpensive, readily available, safe meat. Now it will cost more, and many aren't yet willing to pay for it."
Back at the Harvey Ranch, Kerr has temporarily left the cattle to graze, as he heads back to the ranch where haying is getting underway. In a few weeks he'll again saddle up and move the herd higher into the mountains, providing the land with rest and the animals with fresh forage. It's a cycle that will continue for months, and if everything goes well, for years.
http://oregonprogress.oregonstate.edu/fall-2011/branding-oregon-beef
IT IS IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
by: Clifford Mitchell
Running errands or going to town, today, is more of an adventure than an enjoyable experience. Big retail stores often make customers feel like they are lost on a remote island. Staring down a long row of merchandise, trying to get exactly what you need, could be like searching for the proverbial “needle in a haystack.” There is no expert available to give recommendations, just a minimum wage shelve stocker who is watching the clock. Paying for said merchandise can also bring out prehistoric behavior for some as they jockey for position in line with an actual person rather than doing self-checkout.
Most remember the days when businesses worked to get customers to walk through the front door. Picking up needed supplies often endeared shop owners to the people who came in and they began to know the needs of each individual. It was not uncommon for the clerk or proprietor to inquire about patron's folks, children or siblings. Shop owners were experts on everything from A to Z and if a question could not be answered; it would be before the customer came to town the next time. These personal relationships may be missed in the retail world, but offer a unique opportunity for those involved in the seedstock business.
“Livestock is our passion. Developing relationships with our customers comes really natural to us. Eighty to 90 percent of the genetics we have are the same as other seedstock producers. Customer service allows us to differentiate our program,” says Darrell Silveira, Silveira Bros., Firebaugh.
“We're not in the bull business; we're in the customer service business. I firmly believe this sets us apart from other seedstock outfits,” says Dan Byrd, Byrd Cattle Co., Red Bluff.
To provide adequate customer service, the seedstock producer must wear many hats. Much like the store keeper in the old one-stop shop; his patrons could buy everything from hardware to baked goods and he had to be the expert.
“We can't use all of our customer service tools if we don't have a personal relationship with our customer,” Byrd says. “There is a big education factor in providing proper customer service. The professional cowmen, who buy our bulls, have driven us to provide things like DNA markers and RFI data. If people want this information, we have to provide it.”
“Most of our customers realize the importance of data, once they know what its worth,” Silveira says. “It's very difficult to share information and data if our customers aren't aware of these numbers. It's also hard to explain the data unless we have a personal relationship. Education is part of our job as a seedstock producer and it's a very competitive business.”
Commercial cattlemen often look to their seedstock provider for direction or begin working with certain operations because of a customer service promise. For most, if these promises are upheld, a relationship, on some level, is formed.
“What attracted me to my seedstock provider was the fact they stood behind their cattle. They were one of the first to try and identify low input genetics. Byrd Cattle Co. was pro-active about gathering data, education and information exchange,” says Justin Greer, Springville.
“I buy most of my bulls from Silveira Bros. I try to buy the best bulls I can to keep inching forward and improving a little each year. If I can retain good heifers and improve weaning weights a little every year, I am happy,” says LarryHomen, Kings City.
“Our guarantee is 100 percent. We stand behind our cattle,” Silveira says. “If a customer has a problem with one of our bulls during breeding season, we try to deliver a replacement to his ranch. It's really important for our customer to get cows bred.”
“We RFI test all of our bulls because to the feedlot operator that is a big profit driver. Hopefully, this will also translate into lower input cow herds, especially with costs we are facing today,” Byrd says. “Everything we do is to help our customers improve profit.”
Numbers seem to drive the beef industry. Expected Progeny Differences come in many different shapes and forms. Working through data and compiling the numbers for customers is only half the battle.
“My needs from a data standpoint could be different than the next customer. I am a numbers guy, but the numbers have to fit in a certain package that is pleasing to look at,” Greer says. “I need a moderate bull that is good phenotypically and can cover the country. Bottom line, if the bulls don't work it doesn't matter what customer service tools are available.”
‘We send bulls into different country. Cattle have to be versatile, moderate and easy-fleshing,” Byrd says. “They also have to be docile and pleasing to the eye.”
“Anytime we can explain to our customers or potential buyers the value of the genetics, the better off we are as an industry,” Silveira says. “It's a great feeling when we are having a bull sale and our bulls are better than last years offering. We have to supply bulls that are a little better each year.”
The customer service tool box comes with many options. Personal contact may be a thing of the past for some with cell phones and internet, but like working cows on horseback, this tradition is still one of the most basic forms of communication, but it gets the job done.
“We try to visit every customer at least once a year. If we know the operation, we know what kind of bulls they need and we can help with mating decisions. We can take the opportunity to keep them abreast what's going on in the industry through these personal visits and spending time with our customers,” Byrd says. “I am amazed at the number of fourth and fifth generation ranchers I visit who tell me they have been buying bulls for 100 years and I am the first seedstock supplier to visit their ranch.”
“We probably don't take advantage of the internet enough as a customer service tool. More and more of our customers are computer savvy,” Silveira says. “We try to visit as many of our customers as we can and I encourage all of our customers to visit the ranch sometime other than sale day to view the operation.”
Ranch visits are a tremendous educational tool. Commercial cattlemen and seedstock producers can form a bond walking through a set of cattle. Proper perspective with these visits may allow both producers to make improvements.
“There is nothing better than visiting our customer's ranch. We get to know them on a personal level and we both learn a lot,” Silveira says. “Often times, I end up learning more than my customer. We can get a lot of information from the ranch visit and see how our genetics perform. It is amazing how excited you can get when you are talking about a set of cattle.”
“One of the keys to our customer service program is that personal visit. Some of the people we have gotten to know are our best friends,” Byrd says. “Getting out in the country and seeing our genetics helps a lot. I can see things like disposition and how they're holding up. The information I get on a ranch visit helps us make changes or allows us to help customers make better selections.”
Marketing customer calves has been a topic of discussion for a while. In what seems like a long time ago, outfits wanted to instigate buy-back programs and that was the industry buzzword. Today, helping market customer cattle has evolved with the many different programs that are available.
“I really don't like it when my customers use the word sell their calves. I want to help them market their calves. It's easy for my customers to get caught up in all the work it takes raising them the other 364 days a year and not focus on marketing that calf crop one day out of the year,” Byrd says. “Marketing my customer's calves starts with genetics and builds from there. We want to add the bells and whistles, like age and source or all natural. Angus Source is a great place to start for most of our customers.”
“We try to make our customers aware what's available from a marketing standpoint. We like for them to enroll their calves in Angus Source,” Silveira says. “This is a great age and source verification tool for our customers.”
Documenting age and source, health and genetics is nothing new for a lot of commercial cattlemen. Facilitating information exchange up and down the chain is where programs like Angus Source can benefit cattlemen. Enrollment in these information based programs may also have other benefits.
“I have been using Angus Source since 2005, after visiting with Darrell, because he thought it would be good to advertise what we had to sell. It has been a very helpful tool. We're keeping better records and tracking our genetics,” Homen says. “When I know I am going to sell my calves, I can call the association and they'll list my cattle on the internet. It allows my cattle to get exposed to a lot of buyers.”
“Angus Source is a great tool because anybody has access to that information. This system allows potential buyers know the average EPDs of the bulls you have been using,” Silveira says. “I encourage my customers to let the association know when they are going to sell their calves. Most of our customers sell on the video. We attend every video sale because this is a great place to see a lot of our customers in one place.”
“Working with our customers we can help them utilize different programs, depending on how sophisticated their management is. I encourage our customers to get their calves NHTC (carcasses can be marketed to Europe) or GAP (carcasses can be marketed to Whole Foods) certified because that just gives them more opportunities to market the cattle,” Byrd says. “We'll send out an e-mail, when our customers are marketing cattle, to 40 feedlots and order buyers with a description of the calves. We're in the seats at every video auction and encourage our customers to attend also.”
Forging relationships through the industry does not have to stop with the seedstock provider. Forming a network or looking to foster these relationships can help in the long run.
“We invite professionals to speak at the sale and encourage our customers to visit with these folks. Most folks think when the truck pulls away from the loading chute that's the end of the relationship with the buyer,” Byrd says. “I tell them it's the beginning and to follow their calves through because they will learn a lot. If I can network my customers together who are involved in different segments of the industry, hopefully I can make several customers happy.”
“I purchase some stocker calves and the Byrd's have been good to connect us with sources of calves that work for this program,” Greer says. “Calves cost so much today, we need every advantage we can get. I have added value because I know the genetics and how they perform. Hopefully, I can see the advantages on the selling end.”
Technology has a hand in everything ranchers do anymore. Whether it is something as simple as the bar code on the vaccine bottle or the ability to a reach wide range audience without ever leaving the ranch, it impacts each operation differently.
“I sell my cattle with Western Video and have for years,” Homen says. “It is great exposure to a lot of buyers and I like selling cattle in load lots. Selling on the video highlights our health and genetics. I'll keep selling my cattle the same way every year.”
“I market my calves through Roundup Internet Livestock Marketing. I like the fact I can give an honest description to a network of buyers that can bid on them,” Greer says. “We're dealing in load lots and it's a good outlet to create an audience. It works well for me because we can get top dollar and the cattle never have to leave the ranch.”
Some seedstock outfits may choose the big retailer approach; leaving customers to fend for themselves in a pretty tough environment. It seems successful programs value the relationships and experience tells commercial producers to appreciate these contacts.
“Maybe I came to my seedstock provider after a little trial and error, but we wound up developing a good relationship. They are confident in their product and stand behind it,” Greer says. “Consistency of the product allowed me to find genetics that fit what we like phenotypically, with moderate EPDs.”
“The industry is important to our family and it's easy to share the passion. We have a philosophy that it's easier to retain a customer than to find a new one,” Silveira says. “We get very excited when new tests or new data becomes available. This is a very expensive and competitive industry. We need to use all of our tools to provide the best bull possible. If our customer isn't financially successful he won't be back.”
“We always have to be one step in front of the competition and maintain that edge. When we help customers market their calves, we want to them to get the most money for those calves that day,” Byrd says. “It is expensive to evaluate our genetics, but that‘s what our customer wants. It starts with genetics, but if we're not in the people business, we don't survive.”
http://cattletoday.com/archive/2011/December/CT2634.php
Running errands or going to town, today, is more of an adventure than an enjoyable experience. Big retail stores often make customers feel like they are lost on a remote island. Staring down a long row of merchandise, trying to get exactly what you need, could be like searching for the proverbial “needle in a haystack.” There is no expert available to give recommendations, just a minimum wage shelve stocker who is watching the clock. Paying for said merchandise can also bring out prehistoric behavior for some as they jockey for position in line with an actual person rather than doing self-checkout.
Most remember the days when businesses worked to get customers to walk through the front door. Picking up needed supplies often endeared shop owners to the people who came in and they began to know the needs of each individual. It was not uncommon for the clerk or proprietor to inquire about patron's folks, children or siblings. Shop owners were experts on everything from A to Z and if a question could not be answered; it would be before the customer came to town the next time. These personal relationships may be missed in the retail world, but offer a unique opportunity for those involved in the seedstock business.
“Livestock is our passion. Developing relationships with our customers comes really natural to us. Eighty to 90 percent of the genetics we have are the same as other seedstock producers. Customer service allows us to differentiate our program,” says Darrell Silveira, Silveira Bros., Firebaugh.
“We're not in the bull business; we're in the customer service business. I firmly believe this sets us apart from other seedstock outfits,” says Dan Byrd, Byrd Cattle Co., Red Bluff.
To provide adequate customer service, the seedstock producer must wear many hats. Much like the store keeper in the old one-stop shop; his patrons could buy everything from hardware to baked goods and he had to be the expert.
“We can't use all of our customer service tools if we don't have a personal relationship with our customer,” Byrd says. “There is a big education factor in providing proper customer service. The professional cowmen, who buy our bulls, have driven us to provide things like DNA markers and RFI data. If people want this information, we have to provide it.”
“Most of our customers realize the importance of data, once they know what its worth,” Silveira says. “It's very difficult to share information and data if our customers aren't aware of these numbers. It's also hard to explain the data unless we have a personal relationship. Education is part of our job as a seedstock producer and it's a very competitive business.”
Commercial cattlemen often look to their seedstock provider for direction or begin working with certain operations because of a customer service promise. For most, if these promises are upheld, a relationship, on some level, is formed.
“What attracted me to my seedstock provider was the fact they stood behind their cattle. They were one of the first to try and identify low input genetics. Byrd Cattle Co. was pro-active about gathering data, education and information exchange,” says Justin Greer, Springville.
“I buy most of my bulls from Silveira Bros. I try to buy the best bulls I can to keep inching forward and improving a little each year. If I can retain good heifers and improve weaning weights a little every year, I am happy,” says LarryHomen, Kings City.
“Our guarantee is 100 percent. We stand behind our cattle,” Silveira says. “If a customer has a problem with one of our bulls during breeding season, we try to deliver a replacement to his ranch. It's really important for our customer to get cows bred.”
“We RFI test all of our bulls because to the feedlot operator that is a big profit driver. Hopefully, this will also translate into lower input cow herds, especially with costs we are facing today,” Byrd says. “Everything we do is to help our customers improve profit.”
Numbers seem to drive the beef industry. Expected Progeny Differences come in many different shapes and forms. Working through data and compiling the numbers for customers is only half the battle.
“My needs from a data standpoint could be different than the next customer. I am a numbers guy, but the numbers have to fit in a certain package that is pleasing to look at,” Greer says. “I need a moderate bull that is good phenotypically and can cover the country. Bottom line, if the bulls don't work it doesn't matter what customer service tools are available.”
‘We send bulls into different country. Cattle have to be versatile, moderate and easy-fleshing,” Byrd says. “They also have to be docile and pleasing to the eye.”
“Anytime we can explain to our customers or potential buyers the value of the genetics, the better off we are as an industry,” Silveira says. “It's a great feeling when we are having a bull sale and our bulls are better than last years offering. We have to supply bulls that are a little better each year.”
The customer service tool box comes with many options. Personal contact may be a thing of the past for some with cell phones and internet, but like working cows on horseback, this tradition is still one of the most basic forms of communication, but it gets the job done.
“We try to visit every customer at least once a year. If we know the operation, we know what kind of bulls they need and we can help with mating decisions. We can take the opportunity to keep them abreast what's going on in the industry through these personal visits and spending time with our customers,” Byrd says. “I am amazed at the number of fourth and fifth generation ranchers I visit who tell me they have been buying bulls for 100 years and I am the first seedstock supplier to visit their ranch.”
“We probably don't take advantage of the internet enough as a customer service tool. More and more of our customers are computer savvy,” Silveira says. “We try to visit as many of our customers as we can and I encourage all of our customers to visit the ranch sometime other than sale day to view the operation.”
Ranch visits are a tremendous educational tool. Commercial cattlemen and seedstock producers can form a bond walking through a set of cattle. Proper perspective with these visits may allow both producers to make improvements.
“There is nothing better than visiting our customer's ranch. We get to know them on a personal level and we both learn a lot,” Silveira says. “Often times, I end up learning more than my customer. We can get a lot of information from the ranch visit and see how our genetics perform. It is amazing how excited you can get when you are talking about a set of cattle.”
“One of the keys to our customer service program is that personal visit. Some of the people we have gotten to know are our best friends,” Byrd says. “Getting out in the country and seeing our genetics helps a lot. I can see things like disposition and how they're holding up. The information I get on a ranch visit helps us make changes or allows us to help customers make better selections.”
Marketing customer calves has been a topic of discussion for a while. In what seems like a long time ago, outfits wanted to instigate buy-back programs and that was the industry buzzword. Today, helping market customer cattle has evolved with the many different programs that are available.
“I really don't like it when my customers use the word sell their calves. I want to help them market their calves. It's easy for my customers to get caught up in all the work it takes raising them the other 364 days a year and not focus on marketing that calf crop one day out of the year,” Byrd says. “Marketing my customer's calves starts with genetics and builds from there. We want to add the bells and whistles, like age and source or all natural. Angus Source is a great place to start for most of our customers.”
“We try to make our customers aware what's available from a marketing standpoint. We like for them to enroll their calves in Angus Source,” Silveira says. “This is a great age and source verification tool for our customers.”
Documenting age and source, health and genetics is nothing new for a lot of commercial cattlemen. Facilitating information exchange up and down the chain is where programs like Angus Source can benefit cattlemen. Enrollment in these information based programs may also have other benefits.
“I have been using Angus Source since 2005, after visiting with Darrell, because he thought it would be good to advertise what we had to sell. It has been a very helpful tool. We're keeping better records and tracking our genetics,” Homen says. “When I know I am going to sell my calves, I can call the association and they'll list my cattle on the internet. It allows my cattle to get exposed to a lot of buyers.”
“Angus Source is a great tool because anybody has access to that information. This system allows potential buyers know the average EPDs of the bulls you have been using,” Silveira says. “I encourage my customers to let the association know when they are going to sell their calves. Most of our customers sell on the video. We attend every video sale because this is a great place to see a lot of our customers in one place.”
“Working with our customers we can help them utilize different programs, depending on how sophisticated their management is. I encourage our customers to get their calves NHTC (carcasses can be marketed to Europe) or GAP (carcasses can be marketed to Whole Foods) certified because that just gives them more opportunities to market the cattle,” Byrd says. “We'll send out an e-mail, when our customers are marketing cattle, to 40 feedlots and order buyers with a description of the calves. We're in the seats at every video auction and encourage our customers to attend also.”
Forging relationships through the industry does not have to stop with the seedstock provider. Forming a network or looking to foster these relationships can help in the long run.
“We invite professionals to speak at the sale and encourage our customers to visit with these folks. Most folks think when the truck pulls away from the loading chute that's the end of the relationship with the buyer,” Byrd says. “I tell them it's the beginning and to follow their calves through because they will learn a lot. If I can network my customers together who are involved in different segments of the industry, hopefully I can make several customers happy.”
“I purchase some stocker calves and the Byrd's have been good to connect us with sources of calves that work for this program,” Greer says. “Calves cost so much today, we need every advantage we can get. I have added value because I know the genetics and how they perform. Hopefully, I can see the advantages on the selling end.”
Technology has a hand in everything ranchers do anymore. Whether it is something as simple as the bar code on the vaccine bottle or the ability to a reach wide range audience without ever leaving the ranch, it impacts each operation differently.
“I sell my cattle with Western Video and have for years,” Homen says. “It is great exposure to a lot of buyers and I like selling cattle in load lots. Selling on the video highlights our health and genetics. I'll keep selling my cattle the same way every year.”
“I market my calves through Roundup Internet Livestock Marketing. I like the fact I can give an honest description to a network of buyers that can bid on them,” Greer says. “We're dealing in load lots and it's a good outlet to create an audience. It works well for me because we can get top dollar and the cattle never have to leave the ranch.”
Some seedstock outfits may choose the big retailer approach; leaving customers to fend for themselves in a pretty tough environment. It seems successful programs value the relationships and experience tells commercial producers to appreciate these contacts.
“Maybe I came to my seedstock provider after a little trial and error, but we wound up developing a good relationship. They are confident in their product and stand behind it,” Greer says. “Consistency of the product allowed me to find genetics that fit what we like phenotypically, with moderate EPDs.”
“The industry is important to our family and it's easy to share the passion. We have a philosophy that it's easier to retain a customer than to find a new one,” Silveira says. “We get very excited when new tests or new data becomes available. This is a very expensive and competitive industry. We need to use all of our tools to provide the best bull possible. If our customer isn't financially successful he won't be back.”
“We always have to be one step in front of the competition and maintain that edge. When we help customers market their calves, we want to them to get the most money for those calves that day,” Byrd says. “It is expensive to evaluate our genetics, but that‘s what our customer wants. It starts with genetics, but if we're not in the people business, we don't survive.”
http://cattletoday.com/archive/2011/December/CT2634.php
Software brasileño gratuito permite controlar el riego en la agricultura
Un software desarrollado por ingenieros brasileños y que puede ser bajado gratuitamente en la internet le permite a los agricultores medir la cantidad adecuada de agua que necesitan sus cultivos a partir de las condiciones climáticas de las áreas agrícolas.
El programa informático para la gestión racional del agua en sistemas agrícolas de riego fue desarrollado por investigadores de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad del Estado de Sao Paulo (Unesp), informó hoy la Fundación de Apoyo a la Investigación en el Estado de Sao Paulo (Fapesp), que financió parte del proyecto.
El programa, bautizado como "Sistema de Manejo de Agricultura de Riego" (SMAI, por sus siglas en portugués), fue ideado por el ingeniero Fernando Braz Tangeriono Hernández, investigador del Área de Hidráulica y Riego de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Unesp.
"El sistema puede ser usado en cualquier tipo de cultivo y es muy versátil. Si el agricultor dispone de todas las variables climáticas, podrá usarlas para calcular la evaporación-transpiración en su área de cultivo y, consecuentemente, la cantidad de agua que tiene que reponer", explicó el ingeniero.
"En caso de que le falte el dato sobre alguna variable climática, podrá calcularla gracias a las ecuaciones disponibles en el programa", agregó.
El software es resultado de una investigación sobre disponibilidad de agua en cuencas hidrográficas con cambios en el uso de la tierra en la que participaron el analista de sistemas Jean Carlos Quaresma Mariano y el ingeniero ambiental Gilmar Oliveira Santos.
Su principal función es calcular con rapidez y eficacia la evaporación-transpiración, que es la pérdida del agua del suelo por evaporación y la pérdida de agua de la planta por transpiración.
El software puede hacer los cálculos tanto para un cultivo estándar como para una especie vegetal específica.
El sistema tiene como base la ecuación Penman-Monteith, que es la misma fórmula empleada por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO).
Según Hernández, la principal ventaja de la herramienta es su fácil uso."Una guía le muestra al usuario cómo ingresar los datos a partir de una planilla. Creemos que el usuario no tendrá dificultades para utilizarla", afirmó.
De acuerdo con el ingeniero, otra ventaja es que el sistema puede ser usado en cualquier región sin necesidad de adaptaciones.
"Tal vez la mayor dificultad sea que el usuario disponga de las variables climáticas de la región de interés y también la divulgación de las mismas diariamente", aseguró.
http://www.laestrella.com.pa/online/noticias/2011/12/12/software-brasileno-gratuito-permite-controlar-el-riego-en-la-agricultura.asp
El programa informático para la gestión racional del agua en sistemas agrícolas de riego fue desarrollado por investigadores de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad del Estado de Sao Paulo (Unesp), informó hoy la Fundación de Apoyo a la Investigación en el Estado de Sao Paulo (Fapesp), que financió parte del proyecto.
El programa, bautizado como "Sistema de Manejo de Agricultura de Riego" (SMAI, por sus siglas en portugués), fue ideado por el ingeniero Fernando Braz Tangeriono Hernández, investigador del Área de Hidráulica y Riego de la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Unesp.
"El sistema puede ser usado en cualquier tipo de cultivo y es muy versátil. Si el agricultor dispone de todas las variables climáticas, podrá usarlas para calcular la evaporación-transpiración en su área de cultivo y, consecuentemente, la cantidad de agua que tiene que reponer", explicó el ingeniero.
"En caso de que le falte el dato sobre alguna variable climática, podrá calcularla gracias a las ecuaciones disponibles en el programa", agregó.
El software es resultado de una investigación sobre disponibilidad de agua en cuencas hidrográficas con cambios en el uso de la tierra en la que participaron el analista de sistemas Jean Carlos Quaresma Mariano y el ingeniero ambiental Gilmar Oliveira Santos.
Su principal función es calcular con rapidez y eficacia la evaporación-transpiración, que es la pérdida del agua del suelo por evaporación y la pérdida de agua de la planta por transpiración.
El software puede hacer los cálculos tanto para un cultivo estándar como para una especie vegetal específica.
El sistema tiene como base la ecuación Penman-Monteith, que es la misma fórmula empleada por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO).
Según Hernández, la principal ventaja de la herramienta es su fácil uso."Una guía le muestra al usuario cómo ingresar los datos a partir de una planilla. Creemos que el usuario no tendrá dificultades para utilizarla", afirmó.
De acuerdo con el ingeniero, otra ventaja es que el sistema puede ser usado en cualquier región sin necesidad de adaptaciones.
"Tal vez la mayor dificultad sea que el usuario disponga de las variables climáticas de la región de interés y también la divulgación de las mismas diariamente", aseguró.
http://www.laestrella.com.pa/online/noticias/2011/12/12/software-brasileno-gratuito-permite-controlar-el-riego-en-la-agricultura.asp
New CR9080 maximises harvest windows
IF YOU'RE studying harvesting windows, look no further than the Esperance district as an example.
It's almost akin to Melbourne's four-seasons-in-one-day.
And this harvest has been classic Melbourne weather with rain, some hail and some shine.
In November, there were long delays as farmers waited for crop moisture levels to drop before cranking up headers.
And there is general agreement that this harvest has presented itself with challenges in harvesting hard-to-thresh crops.
According to Staines Esperance salesman Dale Guest, the above scenario is the reason why more farmers are swinging to bigger headers to get the job done quickly.
"Productivity has become a bit of a cliché but it's what everybody wants when a harvest opportunity presents itself," he said. "The whole focus throughout the Esperance district is to get the crop off as quickly as possible to minimise any weather damage," he said.
While he has been demonstrating New Holland's flagship model the CR9090, there is still plenty of demand for the company's previous flagship, the CR9080, which boasts a power rating of 390kW (523hp)and satisfies the needs of most farmers.
The CR9090 will find its place in a niche where broadacre farmers with larger crop programs want higher capacity machines to reduce harvest time and associated costs.
The CR9080 will achieve the same result, albeit on a slightly smaller scale.
The reason why is that it is a very productive machine, particularly in heavier crop conditions which were apparent when Dale recently assessed the performance of two CR9080s on a customer's property at Lort River.
According to Dale, drivers immediately appreciated the extra grunt with a full box travelling over boggy country and the spacious cab.
That power also is appreciated by owners who have taken the option to add a chopper when using a spreader while cutting low.
Another eye-catcher was a cleaner engine bay area, amid the dust and material which can be created when harvesting lupins, wheat and especially barley.
On hot days, "catch" areas are revealed on headers for dust and straw build-up and in this aspect, CR9080 owners have made positive comments related to easy clean down.
Clean-out doors on the grain tanks are easily removed to ensure cross augers can be thoroughly cleaned, especially when moving to a different crop.
It seems there is a never-ending story about cab improvements as manufacturers continue to tweak cabs with more visibility, more space and more comfort.
This is the case with the CR9080.
The CR9080 also maximises productivity with large threshing capacity and a large cleaning area, contributing to an improved sample.
The twin rotor and self-leveling shoe also results in less grain damage, increased capacity while reducing grain loss.
But if the CR9090 and CR9080 are beyond your reach, New Holland also has a CR9070 in the same pedigree for smaller harvest operations.
http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/state/machinery-and-equipment/machinery/new-cr9080-maximises-harvest-windows/2385300.aspx?storypage=0
It's almost akin to Melbourne's four-seasons-in-one-day.
And this harvest has been classic Melbourne weather with rain, some hail and some shine.
In November, there were long delays as farmers waited for crop moisture levels to drop before cranking up headers.
And there is general agreement that this harvest has presented itself with challenges in harvesting hard-to-thresh crops.
According to Staines Esperance salesman Dale Guest, the above scenario is the reason why more farmers are swinging to bigger headers to get the job done quickly.
"Productivity has become a bit of a cliché but it's what everybody wants when a harvest opportunity presents itself," he said. "The whole focus throughout the Esperance district is to get the crop off as quickly as possible to minimise any weather damage," he said.
While he has been demonstrating New Holland's flagship model the CR9090, there is still plenty of demand for the company's previous flagship, the CR9080, which boasts a power rating of 390kW (523hp)and satisfies the needs of most farmers.
The CR9090 will find its place in a niche where broadacre farmers with larger crop programs want higher capacity machines to reduce harvest time and associated costs.
The CR9080 will achieve the same result, albeit on a slightly smaller scale.
The reason why is that it is a very productive machine, particularly in heavier crop conditions which were apparent when Dale recently assessed the performance of two CR9080s on a customer's property at Lort River.
According to Dale, drivers immediately appreciated the extra grunt with a full box travelling over boggy country and the spacious cab.
That power also is appreciated by owners who have taken the option to add a chopper when using a spreader while cutting low.
Another eye-catcher was a cleaner engine bay area, amid the dust and material which can be created when harvesting lupins, wheat and especially barley.
On hot days, "catch" areas are revealed on headers for dust and straw build-up and in this aspect, CR9080 owners have made positive comments related to easy clean down.
Clean-out doors on the grain tanks are easily removed to ensure cross augers can be thoroughly cleaned, especially when moving to a different crop.
It seems there is a never-ending story about cab improvements as manufacturers continue to tweak cabs with more visibility, more space and more comfort.
This is the case with the CR9080.
The CR9080 also maximises productivity with large threshing capacity and a large cleaning area, contributing to an improved sample.
The twin rotor and self-leveling shoe also results in less grain damage, increased capacity while reducing grain loss.
But if the CR9090 and CR9080 are beyond your reach, New Holland also has a CR9070 in the same pedigree for smaller harvest operations.
http://fw.farmonline.com.au/news/state/machinery-and-equipment/machinery/new-cr9080-maximises-harvest-windows/2385300.aspx?storypage=0
