This is Jaime Albers, graphic designer for the Angus Journal, with the December 5, 2023, update from the AJ Daily. Today’s update contains a story announcing the 2024 candidates for Angus Herdsman of the Year, a story about help available for how to navigate the new FDA prescription rules for livestock antibiotics, and a story about how cold temperatures can affect cattle performance.
2024 Angus Herdsman of the Year Candidates Announced
Adapted from a release by Katelyn Engel, Angus Communications
While many aspire to live the life of a herdsman, the actual demands of the job are more physically and mentally challenging than what most people realize. The Herdsman of the Year Award honors Angus enthusiasts who have dedicated themselves to the management, decision-making and improvement of a specific herd. Peers select the award winner through voting, hosted by the American Angus Association®.
Voting will begin Dec. 15 and all votes must be submitted by noon Central Standard Time on Jan. 4, 2024. To be eligible to vote, exhibitors must have entered at least one of the following shows in 2023: Cattlemen’s Congress, National Western Stock Show, Western National Angus Futurity, Atlantic National, American Royal or North American International Livestock Exposition.
To read more, including information about the candidates, go to angus.org.
See What You Need for Recent FDA Prescription Rules
Adapted from a release by Zoetis Services LLC
Zoetis is offering help to guide you through recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules that require a veterinarian’s prescription for several medically important livestock antibiotics that were previously available over-the-counter.
Take these steps for a smoother transition:
• Confirm you have a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Establish or reestablish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship now.
• Review your operation. Work with your veterinarian to evaluate the disease pressures that affect your operation.
• Focus on prevention. Consider products for disease prevention as part of your livestock management.
Visit our site to see all Zoetis products affected and get more tips about the veterinarian-client-patient relationship and working with your veterinarian during this process.
For more information, click on the link in this episode’s description.
Don’t Let Cold Weather Freeze Cattle Performance This Winter
Adapted from a release by Wyatt Bechtel, Filament, for Purina Animal Nutrition
Maybe you can’t tell the difference between 15° and 32° F after spending a few minutes outside, but your cattle can.
Elizabeth Belew, cattle nutritionist with Purina Animal Nutrition, says, “Slight changes in temperature can have a considerable impact on energy and cow nutritional requirements.”
Cold stress occurs when cattle require more energy to sustain basic bodily functions at a specific temperature, called the lower critical temperature. The lower critical temperature helps us understand when cows start experiencing cold stress.
Belew says, “As temperatures decrease, cow nutritional requirements increase. Add in precipitation or wind, and requirements increase even more.”
If cows are shorted on nutrition during cold stress, it can have a domino effect on performance.
The full story is available at the link in this episode’s description.
The AJ Daily is compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor for the Angus Journal. For more Angus news, visit angusjournal.net.