This is Andy Blumer, Angus Media web services team lead, with the March 15, 2022, update from the AJ Daily. Today’s update contains information about hardware disease in beef cattle, an opportunity to apply to compete in Farm Bureau’s Ag Innovation Challenge, and details about the upcoming 2022 Stockmanship and Stewardship events.

Hardware Disease in Beef Cattle

Adapted from an article by Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University

Hardware disease is a common term for bovine traumatic reticuloperitonitis. It is usually caused by the ingestion of metallic objects like nails, screws or wire. The piece of metal settles in the compartment of the stomach called the reticulum. The weight of the object and the anatomy of the reticulum is a virtual guarantee the metal will remain in the reticulum.

Contractions of the reticulum result in the metal irritating or penetrating the lining of the stomach. If the stomach lining is penetrated, the object potentially gains access to the heart. This results in several possible scenarios, including local infection, leakage of fluid from the reticulum and, the most severe, a puncture of the sac around the heart. To read more, visit angusbeefbulletin.com/extra and select the health and nutrition tab.

Entrepreneurs Wanted: Apply by April 29 for Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge

Adapted from a release by the American Farm Bureau Federation

The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is seeking entrepreneurs to apply online for the 2023 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. Now in its ninth year, this national business competition showcases U.S. startup companies developing innovative solutions to challenges faced by America’s farmers, ranchers and rural communities.

Farm Bureau is offering $165,000 in startup funds throughout the course of the competition, which will culminate in the top 10 semi-finalists competing in a live pitch competition in front of Farm Bureau members, investors and industry representatives at the American Farm Bureau Federation Convention in January 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. For more information or to apply, visit fb.org.

Adapted from a release by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

Registration is now open for three Stockmanship & Stewardship regional events, with the first stop in Blacksburg, Virginia, in May. During each event producers can become Beef Quality Assurance certified, network with fellow cattlemen and women, participate in hands-on demonstrations led by stockmanship experts including Curt Pate and Ron Gill, and learn cutting-edge operation techniques.

2022 Stockmanship & Stewardship events include:

• Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, May 20-21,

• Leavenworth, Kansas, June 16-18, and

• Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, Aug. 12-13.

Curt Pate, Stockmanship & Stewardship clinician, and cattle handling expert, says, “In today’s world, no matter the beef production system you are involved with, stockmanship and stewardship are more important than ever.”

For more information or to register, visit ncba.org.

The AJ Daily is compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor for theAngus Journal. For more Angus news, visit angusjournal.net.